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MIKE WOFFORD Having appeared on over a hundred recordings as a sideman, pianist Mike Wofford now continues to record and perform primarily as a leader. He has received critical acclaim for his “Live at Maybeck” volume 18 in the Concord Records solo piano series, and for his 2001 trio release “Time Café” on Azica. His 2004 CD “Live at Athenaeum Jazz” on Capri Records features bassist Peter Washington and drummer Victor Lewis. In 2007, Capri released “Live at Athenaeum Jazz, Vol. 2”, a duo CD with flutist Holly Hofmann. A native Texan, Wofford was raised in San Diego, California, where he resides currently. His mother was a professional singer, and he began studying piano at age seven. At eighteen, he moved to Los Angeles and entered the jazz scene there during the 1960s. His first professional performances were with the legendary Lighthouse All-Stars and the bands of Shelly Manne, Teddy Edwards, Chet Baker, Bud Shank and Shorty Rogers. It was during this time that he appeared on his first jazz recordings, with Mel Torme, Gary Burton and Joe Pass. He also subsequently recorded his first albums on Epic and Discovery under his own name. In the 1970s, Mike toured Europe with Shelly Manne and Lee Konitz, and also South America, Europe and Japan as pianist and music director for Sarah Vaughan. His most active touring schedule began in the early 1980s in Japan with Shelly Manne, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, and Zoot Sims. In 1988, he returned to Japan with the Benny Carter Orchestra and in the fall of that same year traveled to Brazil with the Benny Carter Quartet. In 1989, he became pianist and music director for Ella Fitzgerald until her retirement in 1992. He was also house pianist during this time at San Diego’s two national jazz clubs, Elario’s and the Horton Grand Hotel. At these venues he performed with Kenny Burrell, Benny Golson, Art Farmer, Charlie Haden, Slide Hampton, Clifford Jordan, and Ray Brown, among many others. Wofford currently performs and tours with his own groups and as co-leader in a quartet with his wife, Holly Hofmann. He is also now appearing with and arranging for their rhythm section with string orchestra configuration dedicated to the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim. He continues to be one of the most in-demand sidemen and arrangers in jazz, having worked this year alone with Charles McPherson, Kevin Mahogany, Houston Person, Joe LaBarbera, James Moody, Phil Woods, Frank Wess and Red Holloway. Jazz legend Benny Golson has said, “I could sum up Mike in one word: quintessential. He is the essence of a jazz pianist in his purest and most concentrated form.” Of Mike, Shelly Manne said, “[He] is outstanding…a musician’s pianist….He inspires as he plays.” Tom Burns |