Mike Wofford

Mike Wofford (born February 28, 1938 in San Antonio, Texas), is a jazz pianist, raised in San Diego, California.

He is best known as an accompanist to and music director for singers Sarah Vaughan (in the 1970s), Ella Fitzgerald (1989–1992) and others. That stated, he was known in the jazz community going back to the 1960s for the albums Strawberry Wine and Summer Night. He settled in Los Angeles and performed with Shorty Rogers, Teddy Edwards, Bud Shank, Red Norvo, Chet Baker, Joe Pass, Quincy Jones, Oliver Nelson, Shelly Manne and Zoot Sims, among many others. In the 1970s he toured Europe with Manne and Lee Konitz, in the 1980s Japan with Manne, Harry "Sweets" Edison and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, and Japan and Brazil with Benny Carter. Resettling in San Diego, he performed with Kenny Burrell, Benny Golson, Art Farmer, Charlie Haden, Slide Hampton, Clifford Jordan, Ray Brown, Charles McPherson and others.

He also took part in much non jazz session work, including John Lennon's 1975 release, Rock 'n' Roll, and in 1973, briefly toured with former Byrds frontman Roger McGuinn.

On August 13, 2012 Wofford was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 22nd Annual San Diego Music Awards

Discography

As leader

• Strawberry Wine with John Doling, John Guerin, 1966
• Sure Thing with Tom Azarello, Monty Budwig, John Guerin, Jim Plank, Andy Simpkins, 1967
• Summer Night with Monty Budwig, John Guerin, 1967, Milestone Records
• Scott Joplin: Interpretations '76 with Chuck Domanico, Shelly Manne, 1976
• Afterthoughts, Solo album, 1978
• Mike Wofford Trio Plays Jerome Kern with Jim Plank, Andy Simpkins, 1980
• Mike Wofford Quartet Plays Jerome Kern, Vol. 2 with Jim Plank, Andy Simpkins, 1980
• Plays Jerome Kern, Vol. 3 with Jim Plank, Andy Simpkins, 1981
• Funkallero with Sherman Ferguson, Andy Simpkins, Paul Sundford, 1987
• Plays Gerald Wilson: Gerald's People with Richie Gajate Garcia, Rufus Reid, 1988
• Live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Vol. 18, Solo album, 1992
• Synergy with Joe LaBarbera, Rob Thorsen, 1998
• Time Cafe with Duncan Moore, Darek Oleszkiewicz, 2001
• Live at Athenaeum Jazz with Victor Lewis, Peter Washington, 2004

As sideman

With Kenny Burrell

• Both Feet on the Ground (Fantasy, 1973)

With Gil Fuller

• Night Flight (Pacific Jazz, 1965)

With John Klemmer

• Constant Throb (Impulse!, 1971)

With Shelly Manne

• Jazz Gunn (Atlantic, 1967)
• Perk Up (Concord Jazz, 1967 [1976])
• Daktari (Atlantic, 1967)
• Alive in London (Contemporary, 1970)
• Mannekind (Mainstream, 1972)
• Essence (Galaxy, 1977)
• French Concert (Galaxy, 1977 [1979]) with Lee Konitz

With Oliver Nelson

• Skull Session (Flying Dutchman, 1975)
• Stolen Moments (East Wind, 1975)

With Howard Roberts

• Antelope Freeway (Impulse!, 1971)
• Equinox Express Elevator (Impulse!, 1972)

With Sonny Stitt

• Dumpy Mama (Flying Dutchman, 1975)

With Gerald Wilson

• California Soul (Pacific Jazz, 1968)
• Lomelin (Discovery, 1981)

External links

• All Music
• Mike Wofford's homepage
• Mike Wofford Interview NAMM Oral History Library (2010)