Ellen Hoffman and Ernie Mansfield first met in the early 70’s while studying at University of Illinois School of Music, before losing touch and then reconnecting in 1980 at a wake for John Lennon. They began performing together and in the 90’s were often contributors to the church services at St. Jerome Catholic Church in El Cerrito. This concert was recorded in October 1993 at that church and was released last year by Ernie to raise funds for Ellen who is unable to work due to long Covid and other illnesses.
With Ellen on piano and Ernie on flute and alto flute, what we have here is a wonderful album which shows just what can happen when two musicians know each other so well that they are speaking with the same voice. This is an album of perfect harmony, where two equals are doing all they can to support each other, with the winners very much those who were in attendance. There is a combination of classical pieces and jazz, all arranged to allow both to shine, with no overdubs, just an innate understanding of what the other will be doing. True, Ellen provides more of the accompanist role to Ernie’s “voice”, but that is an incredibly hard job, and I am sure both musicians spent as much time checking each other and giving signals as they were looking at the audience.
This is bright, fresh, invigorating and simply beautiful. Here we have music being taken back to its basics, just two people playing acoustic instruments with no trickery or overdubs, and the simplicity is quite beautiful and a release I have enjoyed immensely.
Rating: 9/10
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Track list:
1. Gymnopedie 02:45
2. Morning of the Carnival / Samba de Orpheus 10:18
3. Blue Monk 03:51
4. Allegro (Sonata in F Major) 01:34
5. Siciliana (Sonata in F Major) 01:11
6. Giga (Sonata in F Major) 02:09
7. Somewhere 02:32
8. Across the Mountains 03:55
9. Difficult to Say Goodbye 02:51
10. Rain Song 03:42
11. Autumn Leaves / Malagueña 05:07
12. A Child Is Born 06:00