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Holly Hofmann

Born near Cleveland, Ohio, Holly began playing jazz standards with her father, a jazz guitarist. Her formal education included studying with Maurice Sharp, principal flutist of the Cleveland Orchestra and earning B.M. from Cleveland Institute of Music and M.M. from University of Northern Colorado. She moved from Colorado to San Diego in the late 80s and began playing with pianist Mike Wofford, and bassist Bob Magnusson. She recorded her first CD with them in 1989. It was during this time in the early nineties she booked a four night national jazz program in San Diego’s Horton Grand Hotel. At this time, Holly began touring with pianist Bill Cunliffe. The two toured festivals and chamber venues worldwide, presenting both jazz and classical compositions in brilliantly seamless arrangements. They recorded Just Duet, Vol. 1 and 2 and Live at Birdland in a quartet with legendary bassist Ray Brown and drummer Victor Lewis.

Holly and Ray began working in New York at the Village Vangard on a yearly basis in the mid 90s and in 2000 Brown began taking her on tours of the US and Europe as a guest with his trio. Also, in 2000 she married Mike Wofford, often touring with him in a quartet setting with Brown and Victor Lewis. In addition to her own quartet she has worked with Slide Hampton, Frank Wess, Kenny Barron, Cedar Walton, John Clayton, Houston Person, Regina Carter and Kevin Mahogany, among many others.

Currently Holly is Music Director for several series and festivals including Jazz in the City in New Brunswick, NJ and Jazz at Newport in Oregon. She’s recorded eleven CDs as a leader, the newest released this year with husband Mike Wofford: Live at Athenaeum Jazz, Vol. 2 on Capri Records.

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6
Album Review

Holly Hofmann: Low Life: The Alto Flute Project

Read "Low Life: The Alto Flute Project" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Holly Hofmann, one of the jazz world's premier flutists, explores a deeper-toned territory with Low Life: The Alto Flute Project. Primarily a conventional C flautist--with an impressive discography--Hofmann has broken out the lower tone of the alto flute in her concerts, and occasionally on record. Now it's time for a full length CD featuring her expertise on the instrument. The range of the alto flute is limited, requiring an artist to say more with less. Hofmann and her ...

7
Multiple Reviews

Furthering The Flute In Jazz: Holly Hofmann and Bill McBirnie

Read "Furthering The Flute In Jazz: Holly Hofmann and Bill McBirnie" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Long gone are the days when the flute was only seen as a jazz novelty or a saxophonist's double. Once upon a time you could count the number of notable jazz flautists on a hand (or two), but the ranks have swelled a little bit over the years, and those leading the charge today aren't content with working the same exact angles as their predecessors. An ambitious crop of flute players are out there shaking things up ...

110
Album Review

Holly Hofman / Mike Wofford: Live at Athenaeum Jazz, Volume 2

Read "Live at Athenaeum Jazz, Volume 2" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza


Holly Hofmann (flute) and Mike Wofford (piano) make beautiful music together. The husband and wife have teamed for several acclaimed recordings including Flutology, Minor Miracle, and Further Adventures, all on Capri Records. They continue with another superb set of duets on Live at Athenaeum Jazz, Volume 2.

Both Hofmann and Wofford have a concentrated sense for the lyrical, adding an air of romanticism and injecting a sense of humor into their playing, all of which hinges on an emotional pith. ...

138
Album Review

Holly Hofmann / Mike Wofford: Live at Athenaeum Jazz, Volume 2

Read "Live at Athenaeum Jazz, Volume 2" reviewed by Michael P. Gladstone


Flutist Holly Hofmann's Live at Athenaeum Jazz, Volume 2 was recorded during the summer of 2006 at San Diego' s Athenaeum Jazz Music and Arts Library, in duet with musical partner/husband, Mike Wofford. Prior to the quartet recording Minor Miracle (Capri, 2005) Wofford's piano trio released the well-received Live at Athenaeum Jazz (Capri, 2004).

Though earlier efforts may be hard to come by, Hofmann's recent signing with Colorado-based Capri means she is now on a larger indie label. ...

124
Album Review

Holly Hofmann / Mike Wofford: Live at Athenaeum Jazz, Volume 2

Read "Live at Athenaeum Jazz, Volume 2" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


San Diego isn't known as a jazz town in the same way New York or Chicago are, but this city in the southwest corner of the country has its fair share of fine venues for the music, and boasts some first rate artists as well.One of the best places to hear San Diego jazz is the Athenaeum Music and Arts Library's Music Room, an intimate setting with no audience member more than twenty feet from the performers. On ...

104
Album Review

Holly Hofmann: Minor Miracle

Read "Minor Miracle" reviewed by Jack Bowers


The flute is a hard sell for a small core of jazz purists who'd rather it were confined to the precincts of the local symphony orchestra. At best a change of pace, at worst a nuisance. Those who feel that way had best stop reading at this point while I sing the praises of Holly Hofmann, a flutist (or is it flautist?) with a pleasing sound, exemplary technique and irrepressible swing in her soul.

Hofmann's latest album (and tenth overall) ...

106
Album Review

Holly Hofmann: Minor Miracle

Read "Minor Miracle" reviewed by Jim Santella


Oozing with genuine charm, flutist Holly Hofmann interprets mainstream jazz the way it's supposed to be. Her view of the world has been seasoned by mentors and musical partners such as Ray Brown, Mike Wofford, Bill Cunliffe, and John Clayton.

Hofmann's father, a jazz guitarist, influenced her career choices, and her parents ensured her a thorough grounding in the fine arts. She received her first flute at age five. While studying with Maurice Sharp, the principal flutist of ...

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Recording

Acclaimed Flutist Holly Hofmann Celebrates Release of New Capri CD Three's Company with February - April Performances

Acclaimed Flutist Holly Hofmann Celebrates Release of New Capri CD Three's Company with February - April Performances

Source: Braithwaite & Katz Communications

“Holly Hofmann possesses one of the most exquisite flute tones in jazz. She also demonstrates a sure technique, inventive ideas, a secure sense of swing and a broad emotional range." -- David Franklin, JazzTimes

“Hearing Bill Cunliffe on CD is always a major treat... his playing is inventive, melodic, and soulful." -- Ernie Rideout, Keyboard Magazine

The acclaimed flutist Holly Hofmann celebrates the release of her new Capri CD “Three's Company" with performances:

February 12 - 14 Newport Beach ...

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Performance / Tour

Lee Konitz, Marilyn Crispell, Geri Allen, Ray Brown, Holly Hofmann...

Lee Konitz, Marilyn Crispell, Geri Allen, Ray Brown, Holly Hofmann...

Source: All About Jazz

BYRONIK.COM - March 9, 2002

Sax man Konitz comes late to the party but brings three women By MICHAEL C. BURGESS BYRONIK.COM — March 9, 2002

The talents of three supremely accomplished female jazz performers: pianists Marilyn Crispell and Geri Allen, and flutist Holly Hofmann, are to be showcased by the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library in its Spring 2002 Jazz at The Neurosciences Institute concerts, San Diego, CA.

And, for the first ...

"Holly Hofmann has single-handedly destroyed the stereotype of the delicate female flutist, thanks to her muscular attack and improvisational abandon." --Los Angeles Times

"Along with Hubert Laws, Holly is frankly the best jazz flute player today." --Phil Woods

"Holly Hofmann is a leading force in changing the perception of jazz flute. While she can interpret ballads with unabashed lyricism she is just as likely to tear through a blues, artfully employing honks and growls." --Andrew Gilbert, Bay Area Jazz Writer

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