July 27, 2010 (CHARLOTTE, NC) – When composer Marc Hoffman of Salisbury was commissioned to create arrange and orchestrate a musical background for Atrinea Health’s website, he was challenged to create an atmosphere of hope and strength derived from a sense of the American heartland.
Atrinea is a physician-owned and operated franchise organization that offers doctors who are struggling to keep their practices viable in the current economy an alternative to selling out to large hospitals or groups where they become employees.
Lou Bruno, creative director of Bruno Advertising in Santa Fe, New Mexico, brought Hoffman into the project.
“Lou and Atrinea were seeking a piece with a feeling of American heritage and the strength of the heartland,” said Hoffman, who is known in the Charlotte area primarily as a performer with this jazz quartet and as founder of the Salisbury School of Music. “It was my goal to capture the sound most often referred to as Americana.”
To do that, Hoffman found inspiration in “hymn-like melodies influenced by German church music — harmonization with open fourths and fifths, brass, percussion, and, perhaps of most importantly, ample ‘space’ implied by long note values and rests,” he said. “These elements were brought together by Aaron Copland and have since been associated with the vast American landscape. There’s a sense hope and opportunity in this style. I thought it suited the Atrinea model perfectly.”
Atrinea’s mission was also inspirational, he said: “Atrinea Health is doing its part to assure a smooth transition in the changing landscape of healthcare in the US. I was honored to contribute to this exciting opportunity for healthcare providers.”
The background music Hoffman created is now live at www.atrineahealthfranchise.com.
This is the second background composition Hoffman has created this year for a website. In March, he completed an ethereal music bed for www.bushloper.com, a website devoted to Michael Green’s research and exploration into the “Bigfoot,” or Sasquatch, phenomenon.
“It was a pleasure working with Lou Bruno and the Bruno Advertising Agency on the Atrinea composition,” he said. “Bruno Agency has a strong reputation for delivering quality work, and I was delighted to be included in the project.”
For more information on Marc Hoffman, visit www.marchoffman.com.
For more information on Atrinea Health, go to www.atrineahealth.com. For more information on Bruno Advertising: www.brunoadvertising.com.
July 13, 2010 (CHARLOTTE, NC) – Virillion Music recording artist Marc Hoffman has announced the release of Curioso, an all-original jazz CD that features Hoffman on keyboard and vocals, Tim Gordon (Mr. Groove) on sax, Grammy nominee John Sharp on guitar, Terry Peoples and Nathan Scott on bass, and Gray Fallin (The Brubakers), Mike Lanier and Ryan Scott on drums and percussion.
Curioso follows the release of a single track from the CD several weeks ago entitled “Hefti,” Hoffman’s tribute to his former composition professor, the late Neal Hefti.
” ‘Hefti’ makes you smile with its delicate riffs and uplifting swing,” said DJ Jelly Roll Justice of WWOZ-FM in New Orleans.
” ‘Hefti’ is one of those great tunes that is instantly recognizable within two to four notes [of the opening lick] — no easy achievement, and very satisfying, “ said Preston Ryback, composer, arranger, orchestrator, and owner of Shore Club Studios in Vancouver, BC.
The Curioso project began as a compilation of various jazz tunes Hoffman had written over two years, representing as many styles of jazz as there are tracks on the CD. He initially entitled the quickly mastered collection “Jazz” and intended to use it to pitch tunes to TV and film projects.
“After circulating what I thought was the finished product for a few months, I was delighted by the response,” Hoffman said. “So, two years after the initial project was completed, I decided to remix and re-master all tracks for wide release and at the same time rename the CD Curioso after my favorite piece in the collection.”
Producer and engineer Jerod Jacobs of Charlotte, NC, co-mixed and co-mastered the CD with Hoffman.
Curioso combines tunes that are inspired by other musicians’ work with tracks that were inspired by events in the artist’s life. Besides, “Hefti,” which channels the light, lyrical work of Neal Hefti, there’s “Pontified,” Hoffman’s take on the late ‘70s music of Jean-Luc Ponty; “Introspective,” smooth jazz reminiscent of David Benoit; and the Vince Guaraldi influence apparent on Curioso.
For “Q,” Hoffman wanted to capture what he observed as the “calm strength” of a former piano student of his who was battling a brain tumor during the three years he worked with her. A friend who died suddenly inspired “Bender.”
“I imagined a desolate night in NYC as a reflection of my sadness over his passing.” Hoffman said.
Other tracks are more lighthearted, such as “Thumbs,” which evolved from a spontaneous rhythm Hoffman started playing on his desk one day, “literally with my thumbs.” “Dog Days,” which features “a soulful sax solo by Tim Gordon,” represents a winding down during the Dog Days of summer. And “G Min” is a modern jazz swing piece that offers up a John Sharp guitar solo.
Hoffman is as well-known for his vocal performances as his instrumentals, but “Curioso” contains only one vocal piece, “Aila Leya.” He explains:
“I was looking for syllables that fit the melody and sang the first thing that came to mind. I then went to a word meaning reference and found that both of these actually mean something! This one is reminiscent of the jazz-rock of the late ‘70s to early ‘80s.”
When Hoffman circulated the initial release of the collection, Gary Dalkin, editor of Film Music on the Web, wrote in a review: “Hoffman brings a light, fluid grace to his eloquent improvisations, the tone largely optimistic though shot through with an enquiring spirit which adds an intriguing melodic quirk to the disc.”
Tracks from the new CD can be heard on Marc Hoffman’s website www.marchoffman.com and at:
– Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Curioso/dp/B003V2RK34/ref=sr_shvl_album_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1278950891&sr=301-2
– CDbaby.com:
Search “marc hoffman”
– iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/curioso/id381207594?i=381207648&ign-mpt=uo%3D4.
For more information on Marc Hoffman, visit www.marchoffman.com.
For more information on Virillion Music, go to www.marchoffman.com/virillion.htm.
June 16, 2010 (CHARLOTTE, NC) — Recording artist Marc Hoffman will be performing instrumental original jazz tunes and standards on Thursday, June 17, noon – 2 p.m., at the Hearst Tower Plaza, 214 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202. The concert, free and open to the public, is part of the Hearst Tower Summer Music Series.
Hoffman’s appearance precedes the release of “Curioso,” a remixed and remastered CD compilation of original jazz tunes, including the single “Hefti,” a tribute to the late Neal Hefti.
Hoffman will perform again at the Hearst Tower Plaza on August 5.
For more information on Marc Hoffman and to hear samples of his music, visit www.marchoffman.com.
For more information on the Hearst Tower Summer Music Series, go to http://hearsttower.info/ and click on “building events.”
Marc Hoffman and Sean Tarleton bring blasts from the past to downtown Salisbury.
June 5, 2010 (SALISBURY, NC) – Billy Joel, Elton John, Steely Dan and Todd Rundgren will provide some of the inspiration for an evening of live music in downtown Salisbury when the Marc Hoffman Duo performs at The Blue Vine on Friday, June 11, from 9-11:30 p.m.
Singer/composer/pianist Marc Hoffman and bassist Sean Tarleton have prepared a playlist for the evening’s performance that “you just don’t hear that often,” Hoffman said. “I love to perform these ‘70s songs, so it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
As a pianist and vocalist, Hoffman, a Salisbury native, regularly performs a repertoire of original jazz and his own arrangements of standards, ballads, and pop – including ‘70s hits. He often performs with his trio, which includes Terry Peoples on bass and Brian Sullivan on drums, but works as a soloist and with other ensembles as well at concerts, festivals, and other public and private events. He and Tarleton performed Motown and jazz together at The Blue Vine in April.
Hoffman’s appearance at The Blue Vine precedes the impending release of his CD “Curioso,” a remixed and remastered compilation of original jazz tunes for Virillion Music.
Sean Tarleton has appeared and recorded with a long list of entertainers that includes jazz artists Toshiko Akiyoshi, Lew Tabackin, Robert Conti, Nat Adderly, Randy Brecker, Gary Starling, Phil Woods, Les DeMerle, Bunky Green, the alternative rock trio Dear John, and actor Mickey Rooney.
The Blue Vine Wine Shop & Wine Bar is located at 209 S. Main Street, Salisbury. For more information, visit www.thebluevine.com.
For more information on Marc Hoffman, visit www.marchoffman.com.
Recording artist Marc Hoffman will perform original selections from his upcoming remixed and remastered jazz CD “Curioso” as well as original arrangements of standards, ballads, and pop tunes on Friday, May 7, from noon-2 p.m. for the Friday Acoustics Concert Series at Founder’s Hall in downtown Charlotte, 100 North Tryon Street, Bank of America Corporate Center. The solo show is free and open to the public.
“Hefti” precedes release of new CD
April 14, 2010 (CHARLOTTE, NC) — Ahead of the release of his remixed and remastered CD Curioso, North Carolina jazz composer/performer Marc Hoffman has released a single entitled “Hefti” that’s dedicated to Neal Hefti, the popular composer and arranger most people remember for the “Odd Couple,” “Batman,” and “Barefoot in the Park” theme songs.
Hoffman studied film composition under Neal Hefti at the University of Southern California. And like much of Hefti’s more popular tunes, Hoffman’s “Hefti” is light and effervescent, with a catchy piano motif that listeners will find themselves whistling hours later.
“Neal was one of the best composers/arrangers of the 20th century and one of the nicest guys in the world,” said Hoffman, who originally recorded the single in 2008. “He oversaw a six-week session at USC, and during that time I became more familiar with his music. In later years I began including his tunes in my own performances, and in 2006 I wrote ‘Hefti’ as a tribute. I sent him a copy of the CD before it was even mastered, and I’m so glad I did. He called to thank me a few weeks later. That meant more to me than I can express.” (Neal Hefti died in October 2008).
The single (3:49) features Marc Hoffman on piano, Tim Gordon on sax, Terry Peoples on bass, and Mike Lanier on drums. It can be heard on Hoffman’s website, www.marchoffman.com. A video of a performance of “Hefti” is available on YouTube.
A prolific composer and performer (solo, trio, quartet and orchestra), Marc Hoffman’s previous CDs include Long Way Home, a collection of original piano solos; Christmas Time, a jazz-flavored CD with new tunes and new arrangements of traditional favorites; and Dream of God, a collection of original and traditional songs. Upcoming performances include an April 22 solo appearance at Founder’s Hall in downtown Charlotte, NC, as part of the Acoustic Concert Series, and an April 23 performance of the Marc Hoffman Trio at The Blue Vine in Salisbury, NC. For details, go to www.marchoffman.com/calendar.htm.
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March 29, 2010 (SALISBURY, NC) — Music Composer-turned-author Marc Hoffman will appear at the Rowan Public Library in Salisbury, NC, on Tuesday, April 13, at 7 p.m., to discuss the process of self-publishing his first upcoming children’s book “Sleep, Little Child.” His appearance is part of the library’s National Library Week celebration.
“Sleep, Little Child” is based on a lullaby that Hoffman, a Salisbury native, wrote in 1999. He decided to turn it into a children’s book shortly after his daughter was born four years ago. And the long process began.
A key component for any children’s book is illustrations. Hoffman will discuss the process he went through to find the right illustrator for his book.
“I interviewed several qualified artists who didn’t have the time or were intimidated by the process,” he said recently. Finally, through an artist friend, he found Tony Waters, a published author and experienced illustrator of several successful children’s books.
Hoffman will then discuss his long search for the right publisher, and why he ultimately decided to self-publish his book rather than go through traditional book publishers.
“One of the main reasons I decided to publish the book myself was because an illustrator told me about his inability to get the rights back from a publisher of one of his titles when he wanted to do a second edition,” Hoffman said. “I knew then that I’d rather go through the process of self-publishing rather than lose the rights to my work.”
Once that decision was made, his next step was to find the right printer.
“I probably received samples from 20 printers before I found the right one for my book,” he said. He contracted with Asia Pacific Offset Printing, which publishes materials for the Smithsonian Institution.
“Sleep, Little Child” was supposed to be ready by National Library Week, but, as Hoffman will point out in his presentation, any self-publishing endeavor inevitably runs into a hitch or two along the way.
“You have to be prepared for delays and a host of other issues when you decide to publish your own book,” he said, “but in my view, it’s completely worth it.”
For the library presentation, Hoffman will allow participants to listen the CD of the lullaby that will be included in the book when it’s available. He’ll also take questions from the audience.
MySpace members can hear Hoffman’s recording of the lullaby, “Sleep, Little Child,” by going to http://www.myspace.com/marchoffman and scrolling down at the Pop Out Player.
The American Library Association’s National Library Week is an annual celebration of the contributions of the nation’s libraries and librarians. All types of libraries – school, public, academic and special – participate. For more information on Rowan Public Library and its National Library Week activities, go to http://www.rowancountync.gov. Click on “Government” then select Rowan Public Library under “Departments.”
For more information on Marc Hoffman, visit www.marchoffman.com.
About Marc Hoffman:
Composer/pianist/vocalist Marc Hoffman received his degree in composition from the North Carolina School of the Arts and studied film composition at USC. He also attended The Dartington International Summer School of Music in Devon, England. His composition teachers have included John Corigliano, Leo Arnaud, Neil Hefti, and Sherwood Shafffer. A member of BMI and the American Composer’s Forum, he is also founder and artistic director of the Salisbury School of Music. He lives in Salisbury with is wife, Anne, and their daughter August. For more information on Marc Hoffman and his work, visit www.marchoffman.com. He is also available on Facebook under Marc Hoffman Music, on MySpace, and on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb.com).
Original jazz and a variety of standards are on the play list
March 15, 2010 (CHARLOTTE, NC) — Recording artist Marc Hoffman will bring his original jazz to Founders Hall on Friday, March 26, when he performs during the Friday Acoustic Concert Series from noon to 2 p.m.
Hoffman, a composer, pianist and vocalist, has been performing at Founders Hall since 2004. Along with original jazz compositions, both instrumental and vocal, his upcoming solo performance will include his own arrangements of standards, ballads and pop tunes.
Gary Dalkin, editor of Film Music on the Web, has described Hoffman’s original music as “somewhere between the contemporary approach of Windham Hill with a nod in the direction of Aaron Copland… Marc Hoffman may just be too talented for his own good. At least for a world that expects artists to do one thing then keep doing it over with minimal variation equating to maximum commercial gain. Hoffman’s gifts range from contemporary classical composer to singer-songwriter.”
In 2007, Hoffman released his all-original CD “Curioso” to critical acclaim. This followed the release of “Christmas Time” (2006), a jazz-flavored CD with new tunes and new arrangements of traditional music; “Long Way Home” (2003), a collection of original piano solos; and “Dream of God” (2003), a collection of original and traditional Christian songs. He is currently preparing for the release of a new jazz CD this spring.
Hoffman’s upcoming solo show is free and open to the public. Founder’s Hall is located at 100 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28255, at the Bank of America Corporate Center. For more information, go to www.foundershall.com.
For more information on Marc Hoffman, visit www.marchoffman.com
Posted on BigfootLunchClub.com:
March 13, 2010 — The Carolina Newswire reports Composer/pianist/vocalist/author Marc Hoffman has been tapped to compose a soundtrack or music bed for the website bushloper.net. Marc Hoffman received his degree in composition from the North Carolina School of the Arts and studied film composition at the University of Southern California.
Although some would argue you should never “force” a visitor to listen to a soundtrack on your site, visitors should have an option to mute the music. That said, this music bed composed by Marc Hoffman is perfect “background” music. Its tasteful and only loops once.
The article continues to describe the music.
Going for “intriguing rather than scary, with an element of mystery reflecting mankind’s enduring curiosity about Bigfoot,” Hoffman utilized a string orchestra and added a pan flute “to represent nature.”
Almost immediately apparent after landing on the site is also Hoffman’s use of a Bell Tree. “Bells have been used as a ‘calling’ device for centuries,” he said. “I thought using bells here signified the researcher’s method’s in ‘calling; for Bigfoot.”
Near the end of the piece, “Bigfoot” howls in the background. To create that effect, Hoffman had Greene’s young grandson, Evan Racz, howl, then he manipulated the audio file to get the effect.
Visit the site below and listen to this poetic interpretation of Sasquatch and Bigfooting. It is awe inspiring and definitely makes you want to get your Squatch-on! Yeah we just said that.
EXTERNAL LINKS
www.bushloper.net
The entire song
Carolina News Wire Article
March 11, 2010 (CHARLOTTE, NC) – North Carolina composer and musician Marc Hoffman has arranged and orchestrated the music bed for an unusual website devoted to Sasquatch – or Bigfoot – explorations and research.
The music bed is for the home page of Bushloper.net, the website of Bigfoot researcher Michael Greene. Greene, who holds a Master’s degree in Behavioral Psychology and is a court-qualified Questioned Documents Examiner, has spent the past 20 years on Bigfoot-oriented explorations from Bella Coola, British Columbia to the Everglades of Florida and in North Carolina. He is a member of the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization.
Going for “intriguing rather than scary, with an element of mystery reflecting mankind’s enduring curiosity about Bigfoot,” Hoffman utilized a string orchestra and added a pan flute “to represent nature.”
Almost immediately apparent after landing on the site is also Hoffman’s use of a Bell Tree. “Bells have been used as a ‘calling’ device for centuries,” he said. “I thought using bells here signified the researcher’s method’s in ‘calling’ for Bigfoot.”
Near the end of the piece, “Bigfoot” howls in the background. To create that effect, Hoffman had Greene’s young grandson, Evan Racz, howl, then he manipulated the audio file to get the effect.
An analog synthesizer pad provides a sustained chord for the bed that creates an ethereal, “otherworldly” effect.
Hoffman also arranged and wrote the intro for a song on the site, a recording of “The Sasquatch Song,” sung by Katelyn Racz with melody and lyrics by Greene’s wife, Carol.
Hoffman wrote and recorded the website’s background music two months ago, but it was only recently added to the site.
“It was great fun working on this project,” Hoffman said. “Michael is fascinating and I have enjoyed getting to know him and his work.”
The word “Bushloper” is from the French courier de bois, the name the English gave to Frenchmen who lived with Native Americans and led parties against the British during the French and Indian War.
To hear Hoffman’s music bed – and to learn more about Mike Greene’s research — visit www.bushloper.net.
For more information on Marc Hoffman, go to www.marchoffman.com.