Rory Hoffman and I had dinner Friday night and went to the floor of the NAMM show Saturday.

I have had the honor of meeting and playing with some of the world's best. In high school, a sax player named "Duke" Madison took me to play at the NARCO hospital in Lexington. It was a Federal drug treatment facility. Sadly, a great number of the jazz giants from around the world went through there for treatment.

In California as a 17 year old "scrub" on the Steve Allen show, Ray Brown and Ella, my "LA Mom", introduced me to the finest from the show and the area. That was a "who's who" of the bebop world. In the years since, I've backed up many other top players and performers, including several Grammy winners.

I can tell you with some measure of credibility (in my mind-at least-LOL), that Rory has a place in that exclusive club. He is one of the finest multi-instrument players I've ever met and heard.

On keys and guitar, he's a "monster". He briefly played the new Nord C-2 and a Wetcher guitar, and quickly drew a crowd. Film crews for various music shows and the daily video review that is played on a proprietary channel in the area motels during the show followed him.

Not only does he have fantastic chops, but he easily moves from Django style to fusion and jazz standards, covering everything in between.

He impressed the other real pros. Here's a guy who moved from ND to the most competitive music environment in the country, and he's really made a name for himself in the last 14 months or so. He has the talent, dedication and drive to get to where he deserves to be in time.

On Saturday, I had to leave to make a job in Lexington just before he was playing in the Q-Lighting booth with Bill Laurence, the world-renown pick-up designer/manufacturer. Bob Burris, a friend and designer of a high end hand-wired tube head who is also the Q-Lighting engineer is going to talk to him about an endorsement contract. Previously, Rory demoed for Blade.

Even though he's young enough to be my kid (in fact, Logan, my son, loaned him his badge, and he was my "adopted" son for an hour or so), he taught me a few things:

1. When I first heard of him, I identified him as a gospel/country player...two of my least favorite types of music. I'm telling you, this old man would have to struggle to keep up with Rory playing MY type of jazz. The lesson is NEVER have a pre-conceived idea about a player or style before really hearing it/them.

2. Rory plays a guitar on his lap, strumming/picking it with his LEFT hand and playing the most intricate of lead lines and changes/chord inversions with his right hand without reversing the strings. The lesson is, don't think that there is only one way to do things correctly.

3. I've been feeling a little overwhelmed since an accident that left me with some damage and numbness in my left hand and arm.
The lesson is, considering what Rory has overcome, I need to get off my "pity horse" and get on with the program.

Rory is at the top of the list of pro's here, in my mind. And while I won't completely excommunicate Logan and Ben from the family, he's one I'm proud to recognize as my "adopted son".

I have plans to bring him to Lexington to work on a film score in the future...to play the parts I generally play. He'll do a better job.

The internet is great, but you can't really see the full story about the folks you meet on-line until you sit and visit.

It's an honor to know Rory. I've been in this business over 50 years, and he'll always be in the top tier of my list of pro's of substance.

Thanks, Rory for a fabulous visit.


Russ



[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 07-20-2009).]

You should get a purty good underscore out of the lad...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIvNxF89qkA

Wow... Wow... wow...

I hardly know what to say. Geez Russ, I think I need to hire you to be my promotions guy. Yikes. Thanks for all the kind words.

I know there are a few here who have met Russ, and I already knew what kind of character he had when he decided to do that project asking some of us to recommend nonprofits/charities that he might donate to. But what a terrific person with a great personality! He started guiding me around like he'd been doing it for years. (I had my cane with me the first night, as I usually do when I first meet people, just in case things were awkward or he ran me into stuff just being careless or unused to it. Didn't bring it with me the next day at Namm, because I figured I'd probably set it down in some booth and forget about it, plus I was completely comfortable with him guiding me around.)

Dinner was great, although I'm still pretty sure I must have eaten about 80% of the calamari myself. Lol, it was good. Russ is very easy to talk to. There wasn't a single moment where there was one of those moments where nobody could think of something to say.

Thanks Russ for letting me and my friends use your badges. I wish you could have stayed longer. I hope it isn't too long before I see you again.

Rory

Rory be hot! Rory be very hot! Incredible guitar work!

I will donate all my guitars to charity and feel like doing the same with the keyboards.
What a talent!
DonM

Incredbile talent!!! A couple of years ago you posted you're version of " Oh,Lonesome Me" arranged as a Bossa. I still play that every now and then. It's got to be one of the best renditions of that tune, I've ever heard.

... and that's an UNDERSTATEMENT !!!!!!
EXCELLENT !!! ...

And I don't care where you had that calamari, but if you guys want the BEST you've got to come to RI ...
right, Steve?

t.

As good or better than anything I've ever seen or heard on the 'net. In case anyone was wondering what a 'pro's pro' is, you are looking at it. In the immortal words of Diki, "Wow, wow, wow". Excellence has never been defined by genre' and I've got a feeling that Rory could make even Schlager sound good . And I agree with DomM; a lot of guitar players who watch this are going to take their collection of guitars and burn them. Nobody, NOBODY, 'learns' that kind of musicianship; you either got it or you don't. Man, all this time I thought only liberal democrats had that kind of talent (just kidding you guy ).

Good luck, man, you've certainly got the goods.

chas

[This message has been edited by cgiles (edited 07-20-2009).]

Mac, thanks so much for posting the link to Rory's work.

Probably most important of all, he's a GOOD person. I've always believed that the most talented people are the nicest, and that pretty much describes Rory. All that talent and modest as can be. He'll blow you away on keyboards, too!

And Rory, it seemed like we had been going places together for years. My bass player all through college was my life-long friend, Johnnie Ballard. We were friends for over 40 years. He died last year, but every year, we'd make a big event out of checking out the new cars. He knew every change and could identify the make, model and year of any vehicle he could touch in about 30 seconds.

Walking around was bitter-sweet for me, because it brought back 40 years of great memories. We were on the road together in the Dick Clark Caravan of Stars tour one summer-about 1964, I think, and had a standing weekly lunch for 35 of the 40 years; until he got ill and couldn't be as mobile as he once was. In my heart, I'd been there before, and it felt good!

Here's hoping Rory get's all the recognition and success he so rightfully deserves.

And don't worry about old Russ getting short-changed in the calamari department.

Russ (burp) Lay



[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 07-20-2009).]

T, you got that right about Calamari. I remember when my grand daddy use to buy it for about 19 cents a pound and use it as fish bait, now it's a gourment food. Makes you wonder.

Rory is fine accordionist as well.
Ciao,
Jerry

That is fantastic playing. I really am knocked out. Wow .... words can't describe how much I enjoyed hearing Rory play that guitar. Hmmm I think I better go practice my guitar a lot more after watching that

Oh my! This guy is the real deal. No hype here... nothin' but the facts. Thanks to you for bringin' it up... and thanks to mac for the link. Impressive. Chops to die for.

Dave Rice

Thanks all. I've never posted that link here because it's guitar, not arranger keys. But thanks for watching and commenting. Glad you enjoyed it.

If you want a different type of sample of Rory's playing, there's a Utube clip of him playing Autumn Leaves in a small bar in Nashville...no band or other players. Sorry, didn't keep the url...it's easy to find, though. This one impresses me more than the tune already posted.


Beautiful!


Russ


[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 07-21-2009).]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdJCEkk8EDQ&feature=related

Thanks, Diki. Rory does have a Yamaha S900, I think, and I'm sure he tears that up as well. I heard him on a new Nord C2 for a few minutes and he waas stopping traffic.


Russ

Wow!!! Not only is Rory so technically proficient to knock your socks off, but, just as important, he has the music in him. A true gift from God. Also, probably somewhat of a rarity among musicians of his caliber, he's completely at ease with his audience. Talks to them like he's having a conversation. And, on top of all that, he sings well too! And.....on top of that, he seems to be a genuine humble guy in a world suffering a severe shortage of humility!

I'm not sure I ever want to listen to Stevie Ray again!

Rory, if you're reading this, my thanks to you for the years of dedicated work you put into learning your craft so that we (and the rest of your listening audience) could be the beneficiaries.

Best of luck in whatever direction you take the music.

Lucky

Gracious! It's too much. There's way too much agreement and good will in this thread. I'm starting to feel I'm in the wrong forum. Come on, somebody's got to tell me I suck, just to restore some normalcy and make sure my humility stays in check. At the very least someone has to chime in and remind us that this has nothing to do with general arranger discussion.

I don't really have much keys footage, because I don't play the keys backward, or hold my keyboard like a guitar, so it's pretty boring. Lol

Thanks again everybody,Rory

Rory,
as I have commented before in some occasions, I think you reside in a very narrow slice of the top list of performers I have heard. I finally understand that talent is something you feel, and I felt it.

Having said that, I feel obliged to remind you that:

1) you suck,
2) this is an arranger forum

Is that better now?
Theodore

I have just spoken with the Ketron people in Italy, and they assure me that the Audya will make me sound "just like Rory".
At least I think that's what they said, since I don't speak Italian.
BTW, Rory, you remind me of a close friend, Richard Wells, who has since moved away. He also can not see, nor could his two brothers. Until I saw the clip of Rory, I thought they were the most talented performers I'd ever seen. My friend Richard plays keys, harmonica, sax, flute, clarinet, guitar and BAGPIPES.
Also sings VERY much like Rory.
His brother Talmadge excels on guitar and keyboard and sings great. The third brother, Charles is equally talented but I have seen him much less.
They all have perfect pitch. I used to try to fool Richard by just playing a random dischord and he could instantly tell me every note I hit.
Richard decided some years ago to dedicate his music to his church ministry and will not play in bars any more. There are some very blessed congregations now!
I suppose when you are missing your sight, you must develop the other senses to compensate. My hat is off to you Rory, as it has always been to the Wells brothers.
DonM

That is an incredible performance.
Tks very much Russ for sharing.
Regards from Brazil
Chico

Brother Rory, I'll just wait until our paths cross on some stage somewhere.

And, of course, I'll do my darndest to chop yer head.

Wouldn't have it any other way.


Straightahead,


--Mac

I am disappointed that Rory mentions all those instruments plus pizza and belches but nothing about the accordion.
Rory,
I'm still waiting for Jeremy's CD using the Arpeggio - please mention that fact to him when you speak to him next.
Ciao,
Jerry

That flat-top playing style really allows him to do some things that sound so impressive. Thanks, Diki... for sending us the link. Sounds like George Van Epps and Andres Segovia rolled into one instrument. I can see why Russ was so excited. Thanks, guys. A really enjoyable performance.

Dave Rice
http://www.ShowCaseYourMusic.com/DaveRice

Lol, I created my profile back in what, 2002? Forgot to mention accordion then. Actually, I did a lot of accordion as a kid, and then all but stopped laying it in my late teens through most of my 20's. Though I'd pull it out from time to time just to remember how it worked. Then, very ironically, when I moved to Nashville I started getting work as an accordionist. I began playing a few songs per gig on accordion with the Gypsy Hombres, and next thing you know I'm getting people asking me to do sessions and gigs exclusively on acordion. One never knows how things are gonna go. I've rediscovered the fun of the accordion again. Though I never really lost it, just wasn't playing any music where it fit there for a few years.

Jerry, your Arpeggio definitely found a good home with Jeremy. e's a very good player. The album he produced does have quite a bit of accordion in it, but mostly as just pad/texture, not much feature. I've since got myself a pretty nice excelsior; not as nice as the arpeggio, doesn't have the mute. But, it does have midi, and it has a beautiful mussette, which is what I was really after. But Jeremy is really proud of the arpeggio; and it is being used often, by a very able player.
I'll tell him to send you some music from that album.
Best,
Rory