entertainment

Ambiente To Host February’s “Thirst4Architecture”

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A networking event for fans of Modernist design.t4a-2015_sm

The Ambiente Collection, a showroom of contemporary and modernist furniture in Raleigh, will host the “Thirst4Architecture,” a networking event sponsored by North Carolina Modernist Houses (NCMH) and Emilie Huin/501 Realty, on Friday, February 27, from 6-8 p.m.

Free and open to the public, T4A events are opportunities for architects, artists, building managers, contractors, engineers, furniture dealers, realtors, and anyone else interested in Modernist residential design to connect and create strategic alliances in a casual environment. The hosts provide refreshments and other entertainment while introducing T4A participants to their businesses.
Ambiente started as a Scandinavian furniture store 30 years ago. Today, the store represents contemporary and modern furniture from over 200 manufacturers from around the world.
The Ambiente Collection is located at 10700 World Trade Boulevard off I-40 West in Raleigh (919.572.2870). For directions, visit www.ambientefurniture.com.

For more information on NCMH and the locations for future Thirst4Architecture events, visit www.ncmodernist.org.

About NC Modernist Houses:

North Carolina Modernist Houses (NCMH) is an award-winning, 501C3 nonprofit organizations established in 2007 and dedicated to documenting, preserving, and promoting Modernist residential design. The website is now the largest open digital archive for Modernist residential design in America. NCMH also hosts popular architecture events every month and frequent home tours, giving the public access to the most exciting residential architecture, past and present. These tours and events raise awareness and help preserve these “livable works of art” for future generations.

 

For more information: www.ncmodernist.org.

 

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The Marc Hoffman Duo To Perform in New Jazz Club in Raleigh

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BetDeez Jazz Lounge welcomes Charlotte-area recording artist

Marc Hoffman, composer, pianist, vocalist, recording artist

 

February 6, 2011 (RALEIGH, NC) – The Marc Hoffman Duo, led by pianist and vocalist Marc Hoffman with a special guest on bass, will make its debut appearance at BetDeez Jazz Lounge in Raleigh on Saturday, February 19, from 9 p.m. until midnight.

 

Hoffman and his duo, trio and quartet are well known in the Charlotte area for their appearances at jazz clubs, concerts, and other special events, most recently at the Ritz Carlton in uptown Charlotte. They have also performed nationally and internationally for music festivals and corporate events, and have entertained crowds at the North Charleston Coliseum in Charleston SC; the Speedway Motorsports Inc. and the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, both in Charlotte; the Annual Old Town Blues & Jazz Festival in Rock Hill, SC; and the Grove Park Inn in Asheville.

 

The BetDeez Jazz Lounge performance will introduce Raleigh-area music fans to Hoffman’s eclectic repertoire of original jazz combined with his own arrangements of standards and popular tunes, from Cole Porter to Billy Joel.

 

A native of Salisbury, NC, Marc Hoffman is a Virillion Music recording artist and a member of BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc). His latest CD, Curioso, is an all-original collection of tunes representing as many styles of jazz as there are tracks on the CD.  Curioso followed the release of a single track from the CD entitled “Hefti” (a tribute to his former composition professor, the late Neal Hefti), that DJ Jellyroll Justice of WWOZ in New Orleans says “makes you smile with its delicate riffs and uplifting swing.”

 

BetDeez is a private, members-only club that caters to over-30, smooth jazz fans and adheres to a specific dress code. The club is located at 4860 Grove Barton Road, Suite 104, Raleigh, NC 27613. For more information, visit www.betdeez.com or call 919-571-2999.

 

For more information on Marc Hoffman, visit www.marchoffman.com.

 

About Marc Hoffman:


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 David Ott, Leo Arnaud, Neil Hefti, and Sherwood Shafffer. A member of BMI and the American Composer’s Forum, he is founder and artistic director of the Salisbury School of Music. For more information, visit www.marchoffman.com and www.myspace.com/marchoffman. He is also available on the Internet Movie Database (IMDB), All About Jazz.com, and on Facebook under Marc Hoffman Music.

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New York City Jazz DJ Weighs In On “Curioso”

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WLTW-FM’s Helen Little comments on Marc Hoffman’s eclectic CD.

(CHARLOTTE, NC) – Helen Little, the midday DJ for WLTW-FM (106.7) in New York City, recently reviewed Curioso, the all-original jazz CD by Marc Hoffman that Virillion Music released this year. Her comments underscored the eclectic intention of the compilation.

 

Of the title track, “Curioso,” Little said: “’Curioso’ is one of my more favored. It was bright, fun, yet not too simplistic. It seems to have a very visual sound to it, with captivating changes.” (Gary Dalkin of Film Music on the Web has called it “an amiable stroll though classic piano, bass, drums, jazz trio territory.”)

 

Another stand-out for Little is “Aila Leya,” the only vocal tune on the CD and intentionally reminiscent of the jazz-rock of the late ‘70s, early ‘80s. “It has a mild Lyle Mays-[Pat] Metheny-esque feel to it,” she said.

 

Likewise, “Pontified put me in mind of JL Ponty,” she said, as was the composer’s intention.

 

“This track was Inspired by my appreciation for Jean Luc Ponty, especially his music from the late ‘70s to early ‘80s,” Hoffman said. “And I had the pleasure of personally giving Ponty a copy of the tune when I first wrote it.”

 

Yet the “most interesting and engaging track” on the CD to this New York DJ is “Q,” a lyrical dialogue and a tribute to the strength of one of Hoffman’s piano students at the Salisbury School of Music in Salisbury, NC where he is Artistic Director. His student was battling a life-threatening illness at the time he wrote the tune.

 

“Her calm strength was so inspiring,” he recalls.

 

Overall, Little said she “liked the variety of musical textures” on Curioso.

 

“And eclecticism was the point,” Hoffman said. “I wanted to represent as many styles of jazz as there are tracks on the CD. To have a radio personality like Helen Little note the variety of musical textures is quite a compliment.”

 

Curioso has enjoyed air time on the famous WWOZ-FM in New Orleans, the NPR station WFSS-FM in at Fayetteville State University, KTU Jazz Radio in Kaunus, Lithuania, and on “All That Jazz with Brian Parker” in Malaga, Spain.

 

MP3 versions of all tracks on Curioso are available on iTunes and at CDBaby.com. Selected tunes can be heard on Marc Hoffman’s website www.marchoffman.com.

 

WLTW-FM’s studios are located on the Avenue of Americas in New York City. For more information, visit www.1067litefm.com.

 

About Marc Hoffman:

Marc Hoffman

Curioso, an all-original, eclectic jazz CD, is Hoffman’s third recording through Virillion Music. It follows “Long Way Home,” featuring piano music that blends jazz, easy listening and Hoffman’s unique style of composition and performance; and his jazz-flavored “Christmas Time” collection of original tunes and new arrangements of traditional seasonal standards. Curioso began as a compilation of various jazz tunes Hoffman wrote over two years initially entitled simply “Jazz.” After excellent feedback, Hoffman decided to remix and re-master all tracks for wide release and to re-name the CD for his personal favorite in the collection, “Curioso.” For more information on the artist visit www.marchoffman.com.

 

Marc Hoffman Trio To Perform For Final “Friday Night Out”

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Jazz and pop favorites are on the playlist

Marc Hoffman

October 3, 2010 (SALISBURY, NC) – The Marc Hoffman Trio, led by composer/recording artist Marc Hoffman, will perform for the last Friday Night Out family festival in downtown Salisbury this year on Friday, October 8, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

With Terry Peoples on bass and Chris Garges on drums, the trio will serve up many songs from Hoffman’s new all-original jazz CD, Curioso, as well as other jazz and pop favorites.

This show follows Hoffman’s performance on October 1 at the City Club of Rock Hill during the sixth annual Old Time Blues & Jazz Festival in Rock Hill, SC.

Curioso features several tracks that were inspired by other jazz musician’s work. “Hefti” channels the light, lyrical work of Hoffman’s former composition professor, the late Neal Hefti. “Pontified” is Hoffman’s take on the late ‘70s music of Jean-Luc Ponty. “Introspective” is reminiscent of David Benoit’s smooth jazz. And Vince Guaraldi’s influence is apparent on the title tune, “Curioso.”

Virillion Music released the CD this summer. Tracks can be heard on Marc Hoffman’s website, www.marchoffman.com, and at CDBaby, Amazon, and iTunes.

Friday Night Out is a free family event featuring music, food, free trolley rides, the Ghost Walk and other entertainment, as well as late-night shopping throughout downtown Salisbury. Fun for kids includes inflatables, face painting, and more.

Downtown Salisbury, Inc., sponsors Friday Night Out events each first Friday from April through October. “Many thanks to Betz McKeown and Downtown Salisbury for asking us back this year,” Hoffman said.

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 Marc Hoffman and his work, visit www.marchoffman.com and www.myspace.com/marchoffman. He is also available on Facebook under Marc Hoffman Music.

2nd Annual “Epicurious Vino Challenge” Set For June 5

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Popular event combines chefs, wines, charity.

May 13, 2010 (RALEIGH, NC) – Celebrated professional chefs from Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, and Goldsboro are gearing up to compete in the second annual Epicurious Vino Challenge, a fundraising event that challenges the chefs to create original dishes using Hinnant Family Vineyards’ internationally award-winning wines as key ingredients.

The 2010 Epicurious Vino Challenge will be held at the Hinnant Family Vineyards in Pine Level, NC, on Saturday, June 5, from 6:30 – 10 p.m. Hinnant Family Vineyards is the largest muscadine vineyard in North Carolina, spreading over 80 acres between Raleigh and Goldsboro. All proceeds will benefit a child or an adult with disabilities in RHA Howell’s Bear Creek, Walnut Creek, and Magnolia Place residential centers.

Presented by RHA Howell and sponsored by Hinnant Family Vineyards, US Foodservice Raleigh, and Fallon Benefits Group, the challenge requires the participating chefs to select the name of a Hinnant wine from a hat. Executive chefs from US Foodservice will serve as judges to determine which chef used his or her wine to create the most extraordinary dish.

Chefs already signed up to compete in the 2010 event include Tom Armstrong of Vinnie’s Steakhouse & Tavern in Raleigh, Colleen Speaks of Posh Nosh Catering in Raleigh, Brian Battistella of Batttistella’s New Orleans Kitchen in downtown Raleigh, Pat Walston of House-Autry in Four Oaks, personal chef Melinda McGuirk of Charlotte, Martin Nessley of Sunset Grille in Durham, Robbie Lilly of Sisters Garden, and Belo Shelton of Thrills From The Grill.  Other chefs will be announced prior to the event.

Open to the public, the 2010 Epicurious Vino Challenge will also include live jazz, signature martinis, award-winning wines, a chef’s auction, and a chance to win a $1000 gift from Barnes Jewelers. Participants will also sample the chef’s creations. Tickets are $50 each or $400 for a table of 10. Dress is “snappy cocktail.”

“Last year’s event was so well received — by the chefs and the public — that we couldn’t wait to do it again,” said Debbie Valentine, RHA’s director of marketing and events. “It was a truly magical evening. And with all of our tables nearly sold out, we raised $18,500. We hope to do even better this year to help us continue our mission to serve children and adults with disabilities and their families.”

Tickets are available at www.rhahowell.org. All major credit cards are accepted.

For more information on the 2010 Epicurious Vino Challenge, contact Debbie Valentine at dvalentine@rhanet.org or call 919-941-0530.

About RHA Howell, Inc.:

RHA Howell is a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization that has been helping people with disabilities and special needs, and their families, make choices to live more independently for more than 35 years. Integrity, high standards for quality, and hard work are at the core of every RHA Howell disability assistance program. Proven leaders in caring for people, RHA Howell, Inc. is a pioneering force in the field of human services, particularly supporting infants and children. For more information, go to www.rhahowell.org.

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