Mike Wofford/Holly Hofmann Quintet Feat. Terell Stafford

The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library Jazz at the Neurosciences series concludes on Saturday, November 26, with a special CD release event by the Mike Wofford/Holly Hofmann Quintet featuring Terell Stafford on trumpet, Rob Thorsen on bass, and Richard Sellers on drums. Recognized by DownBeat as "one of the outstanding pianists of our time," Mike Wofford's first performances date to the 1960s with the legendary Lighthouse All-Stars and the bands of Shelly Manne, Teddy Edwards, Chet Baker, Bud Shank and Shorty Rogers. From the 70s to the 90s, Wofford toured with artists such as Lee Konitz, Benny Carter, and Zoot Sims, and as pianist and music director for both Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald. His wife and co-leader in this quintet, Holly Hofmann, is one of the Athenaeum's favorite performers. JazzTimes commented, "[Hofmann] possesses one of the most exquisite flute tones in jazz." They are joined by one of today's leading jazz trumpeters, the extraordinary Terell Stafford. Of this new project, Mike Wofford writes, "Holly's and my first co-led quintet CD, Turn Signal, will be released by Capri Records in January 2012, but we will be performing the music and signing CDs for our Athenaeum audience a month in advance. The feel and approach of this recording is dedicated to some of the greats of jazz I've long admired, among them Horace Silver, Richard Twardzik and Oliver Nelson."