Rory and Nalani Jazz Trio

Rory Hoffman (piano, guitar, saxophone & vocals) and Nalani, (bass & vocals) are a masterful combo that reaches back to the classics and pulls them forth with their own contemporary interpretation of the great American song book. Their playful and heartfelt vocal duets coupled with a surprising versatility of instrumentation, vocal expression, and musical chemistry will tease, inspire, and touch you.
Rory Hoffman
Nashville based multi-instrumentalist Rory Hoffman was raised on a small ranch in North Dakota where he grew up recording and touring with the family Gospel band. He started teaching himself to play guitar and piano at age 3 and by age 5 he was the drummer in the family band. He currently plays over a dozen stringed, keyboard and wind instruments.
Rory has played the Grand Ole Opry numerous times, as a soloist and as a sideman with Ricky Skaggs, Kathy Mattea and John Cowan. Working with these stars and others has enabled him to play several notable festivals, including Telluride with John Cowan, and Djangofest as part of the John Jorgenson quintet. Kacey Musgraves has asked Rory to play on her Christmas album, and to be part of the 2016 tour promoting that release. He has performed in Norway, Italy and Jamaica thus far and deeply enjoys any opportunities to travel the world, experiencing the culture and sharing music. When not out on the road touring, Rory is proud to be in several local Nashville bands, including 50 Shades of Hay, and the Gypsy hombres.
"Just Jazz Guitar" and "Guitar Player" magazines have written feature articles about Hoffman's unique guitar style. Rory is 2-time winner of Musician of the Year from Nashville's ICMA, and is a 2012 inductee into the South Dakota Country Music Hall of Fame.
Rory's personal musical career was jumpstarted in 1999 upon winning Grand Champion Instrumentalist at the Christian Artist Seminar in the Rockies. In 2001 he traveled to Nashville for the first time to record his Gospel instrumental CD, "Blind Faith". He then helped form Depot Music Productions, based in Mobridge South Dakota. There he self-produced his second album "fishin'", this time choosing country music as his theme. While with Depot Music, Rory produced several other studio projects for local and regional artists.
Rory moved to Nashville in the spring of 2008. Three years later in 2011 he released his 3rd album, "Swing Expedition". On this project, he demonstrates his abilities and inventiveness on almost every instrument he plays. Tunes range from a gypsy jazz arrangement of a Star Wars Theme, a bossa nova rendition of a classic country song, to an all-harmonica treatment of a Cole Porter Standard.
Tour de Fourth, Rory's latest album, entered the world in 2016. Rather than focus on a certain style of music, this album features music that demonstrates Rory's skill and diverse interests in country, western swing, jazz, polka, latin, gypsy jazz, bluegrass and gospel music. It is a mix of original songs, and fresh arrangements of standards. Rory is proud to feature over 25 friends, all superb Nashville musicians.
Nalani
Originally from Niwot, Colorado and now based in Nashville, bassist Nalani grew up around music with excellent mentors, becoming determined to keep music in her life and has been enjoying an ever-blossoming career. As young as 12, she would sit in on band rehearsals and perform at local venues. Getting the live experience was key to her development as a musician, and so was her determination.
After traveling to Nashville for the first time and attending five-time Grammy winner Victor Wooten's Bass Nature Camp Nalani was at a pivot point in her life, and soon after was able to learn, gain valuable knowledge and inspiration from musicians such as the Wooten brothers, Marcus Miller, Rhonda Smith, Michael Manring, Steve Bailey, Anthony Wellington, the legendary Chuck Rainey, James Moody, Roy Hargrove and David Sanborn.
At Bass Nature Reunion Camp, Esperanza Spalding helped inspire Nalani to choose William Paterson University and she made the move to New Jersey. After graduating, she lived and worked in New York, performing weekly in Asbury Park in Jersey with a Latin Jazz Band, and ended up honing her skills as a solo act while living in San Angelo, Texas. In San Angelo, Nalani opened for Samantha Fish in front of a crowd of 5,000 people, and in December 2013 the Wooten Brothers invited her to be a guest on their tour bus to experience living on the road, traveling from venue to venue. The Wooten Brothers welcomed her and mentored her wholeheartedly. It was this trip that inspired Nalani to study from “the Teacha” Regi Wooten, and ultimately inspired her to move to Nashville to study under his mastery, devoting herself to music as her career.
After a short acoustic tour in the fall of 2014, Nalani quickly established herself in the Nashville music community and at various jams. She took advantage of Regi Wooten’s mentorship at every chance, and in the first couple of years of living in Nashville, got many opportunities to play in various acts of every genre. She served as musical director for various artists and started getting more high-profile gigs with artists such as Kevin Max of DC Talk. The connections Nalani made at Bass Nature Camp, Marcus Miller’s Jazz cruises, and the NAMM Show became valuable elements of her musical life. She adopted Chuck Rainey as her “Bass Godfather” and assisted at his Rhythm Intensive summer camp, where she connected with many musicians, including Bobby Vega of Tower of Power, and legendary session player, Jerry Jemmott. In 2017 Nalani was taken under the masterful wings of established players Tom Barney (Saturday night life, Steely Dan, Lion king on Broadway) and Bakithi Kumalo (bass for Paul Simon).
Nalani is a truly exciting performer and entertainer, the energy she gets from her bandmates and the crowd is both liberating and fun and is reverberated back to listeners tenfold. Nalani's style embodies and pulls from a lot of the old school stuff that makes people dance and the intensity of rock and roll, and she merges genres; jazz roots for improvisation, funk for groove, and rock for intensity and entertainment. With her background in jazz and ample experience in funk and motown, she's an electrifying and experimental performer.

This show is 21 and over only. All sales are final and we unfortunately cannot offer any refunds. Additional tickets may be available at the door on the day of the show even if it is sold out online.

Please try to arrive 15 minutes prior to the show start time. If you do not arrive within 45 minutes after the show start time on your ticket your seat may be resold to other patrons at the door. If you arrive after 45 minutes from the start time of the show and your ticket has been resold, although we cannot guarantee it, we will try our best to make space for you to attend the show.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Rudy's Jazz Room, 809 Gleaves Street, Nashville, United States