Rancho Bernardo Library starting new jazz series

By Emily Sorensen

The Friends of the Rancho Bernardo Library are expanding their musical repertoire with a new free jazz concert series, which begins Wednesday, Oct. 10 with jazz flutist Holly Hofmann and pianist Mike Wofford.

Holly Hofmann and Mike Wofford, who will be performing at the Rancho Bernardo Library as part of the new jazz concert series. Photo courtesy of Mark Keller

The new concert series is the brainchild of Donald Bunin, a jazz musician himself and member of the Friends of the Library. Bunin, a retired engineering executive who has played jazz-style drums since childhood, said he came up with the idea to try a jazz series at the library to help showcase some of San Diego’s talented jazz musicians.

“There are some really great jazz musicians in San Diego,” said Bunin, “some internationally known, and some local musicians.”

Bunin told his idea to Harvey Levine, the producer of the library’s classical music series and board member of the RB Friends of the Library, who loved it. “He said it sounds like a good idea, we got to try it,” said Bunin.

The series currently has three shows lined up, with the Gilbert Castellanos Group scheduled to perform on Jan. 9, and the Peter Sprague Quartet on April 10. Bunin said they don’t plan on having more than four or five jazz shows a year at the library.

Bunin was especially excited for Hofmann and Wofford to perform the inaugural concert. “[Hofmann] is a fantastic woman who is recognized as one of the top jazz flute players,” said Bunin. “And she’s a superb band leader. This is a woman operating in what is primarily a man’s world.” He also praised Wofford, saying Wofford was “a really renowned jazz pianist.” Wofford is an experienced performer and has played with many of the jazz greats, including jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald toward the end of her career.

All concerts will start at 6:30 p.m. and last until about 7:45 p.m., and will take place in the Community Room of the Rancho Bernardo Branch Library, 17110 Bernardo Center Drive. Call the library at 858-538-8163 for more information.

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Posted by Emily Sorensen on Oct 5 2012. Filed under Entertainment, Featured Story, Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry