MARCH 2010

Flutist Holly Hofmann and pianist Bill Cunliffe have been collaborating for over 20 years, during this time they have ironed out all the wrinkles playing together creating a velvety smooth sound that has reached the pinnacle of cohesiveness in their recent album, “Three’s Company, their 3^rd outing as a duet and their 4^th overall. Four of the 8 tracks recorded for Capri Records-a Bailey, Colorado based firm- are flute and piano duos while the other selections feature special guests, Regina Carter-violin, Alvester Garnett-drums, Ken Peplowski-clarinet and Terell Stafford on trumpet each taking their turn accompanying Ms. Hofmann and Mr. Cunliffe.

Holly is highly acclaimed as one of the finest flute players in jazz and Bill is a highly regarded composer, educator and pianist whom is well known to Colorado jazz fans because of his appearance in the annual Vail Jazz Festival and Jazz Camp every September. Both Hofmann and Cunliffe have classical music training which can be heard throughout the album when they blend their classical background with their love for swing producing music that is hard not to tap your foot to. All of the invited guests shine brightly in their roles adding a magnificent presence to the album. There’s an old adage that two’s company and three’s a crowd, for this CD, two is wonderful and three is marvelous.