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Pianist Marc Hoffman Releases "Late September"

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Hoffman returns to the studio with a new confidence, able to hold his own with the best in the genre. —Gary Dalkin, Film Music On the Web
Virillion Music recording artist Marc Hoffman, well-known throughout North Carolina for his compositions, teaching and performances, has announced the release on Late September, an all-original CD for jazz trio,

Hoffman had a breakthrough jazz release with his well-received Curioso in 2010. Late September includes 11 new pieces with Hoffman on piano, supported by Zack Page on the upright bass and Brian Sullivan on drums.

“The recording is crisp, clear and detailed, yet exudes a warm ambience,” says Gary Dalkin, a music writer and editor for Film Music on the Web. “The whole is a top quality release; whether looking for a striking new jazz trio release or a longtime follower of Hoffman’s career, most listeners are likely to be delighted by ‘Late September.'”

Guests include Tim Gordon, who plays flute on the song “Deeper”; Jon Thornton, who plays the trumpet on “Last Walk”; and Nathan Scott (bass) and Ryan Scott (drums), who join Hoffman on the tracks titled “Mulgroove” and “Dejado Vaya.”

Hoffman says his Late September project started with the title track, which he wrote as an homage to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The piece was written approximately 10 years after the fact, however.

“I decided early on that regardless of the inspiration for the title track, the project itself would not be themed around (it),” Hoffman said. The final product features jazz in a variety of styles, most written for trio—piano, upright bass and drums—though he does note the guest appearances of Gordon on the flute and Thornton on the trumpet.

In his review, Dalkin wrote that Last September continued Hoffman’s “journey into the heartlands of jazz.” Hoffman says he began pursuing his passion for jazz in the early 1990s after he had established himself as a composer and performer of film, theatre, pop and gospel music.

His previous jazz albums include Long Way Home (2003) and Curioso (2010). He also has the jazz-flavored Christmas Time, a collection of original tunes and new arrangements of traditional standards.

“In a field crowded with piano trios,” Dalkin wrote, “Late September sees Hoffman return to the studio with a new confidence, able to hold his own with the best in the genre.”

In his review, Yanow said the music on Late September often sounds “as if it could serve as a soundtrack, either for films or for one’s thoughts.”

“As it turns out,” Yanow continued, “in his career Hoffman has written music for films and plays in addition to works for pop and gospel music. In recent times, he has shifted his focus to melodic jazz where his originals are impossible to categorize.”

Late September is available on iTunes and through CDBaby.com.

About Marc Hoffman:

After establishing himself as a composer and performer of film, theatre, pop, and gospel music, Marc Hoffman began pursuing his passion for jazz in the early 1990s. As a pianist and vocalist, Hoffman performs over 90 dates a year with a repertoire of original jazz and his own arrangements of standards, ballads, and pop. He most often performs with his trio, but works as a soloist and with other ensembles as well, at concerts, festivals, clubs, and other public and private events. Marc’s music has been performed across the US and in the UK and Europe by orchestras, other ensembles and soloists.

Marc Hoffman was born in Salisbury, NC, received a degree in composition from the North Carolina School of the Arts, and completed additional study in film composition at the University of Southern California. He has studied at The Dartington International Summer School of Music in Devon, England. His composition teachers have included David Ott, Leo Arnaud, Neil Hefti, and Sherwood Shaffer. He is a member of BMI and the American Composer’s Forum. Marc is also founder and artistic director of the Salisbury School of Music.

Hoffman’s original instrumental recordings include the newly released Late September—a collection of new pieces featuring jazz trio with guests Tim Gordon on flute and Jon Thornton of trumpet, Curioso—eclectic jazz with Tim Gordon 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, and Long Way Home—new piano music blending jazz, and light classical.

Vocal recordings include Christmas Time, I Will, and Dream of God.

Hoffman’s recent film work includes theme and underscore for the TV series, Scienstars (2016) an original score for 40 Fears for Dalliance Films (2014). Previous fim credits include scoring The Mill (2008) for producer Ralph Singleton and director Grainger Hines, and music historian for the 1985 film, Revolution (1986). In addition, Hoffman has been music supervisor for several films.

In August of 2010, Virillion Music Publishing released Hoffman’s first children’s book, Sleep, Little Child with accompanying CD entitled and based on an original lullaby. Hoffman’s first book and companion DVD, Essential Worship Keyboard was released by Emerald Books in 2007.

He lives in Salisbury, NC with is wife, Anne and young daughter, August.

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Personnel

Album information

Title: Late September | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Virillion Music

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