The Transatlantic Guitar Trio features the talents of Richard Smith from the U.K., Germany’s Joscho Stephan and American multi-instrumentalist Rory Hoffman. The group blends “jazz ballads, gypsy swing standards, Travis/Chet Atkins picking, pop music plus some original compositions to create a repertoire of fresh arrangements in the styles of the great guitarists Django Reinhardt, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, and Merle Travis,” according to Boulevard Music, the venue for their show on Saturday. Hoffman told the News about what they have in store for Culver City…
When did you start playing and performing? How did the band form?
I was singing with the family on stage when I was three. I was the drummer for the family band by age five. I started learning/teaching myself to play guitar, piano, harmonica and drums when I was very young.
Describe your sound/style?
Jazz/country, primarily. That being said, I have a large collection of world/ethnic musical instruments as well, so my tastes are varied.
What are your career highlights so far?
I worked as a piano player for Ricky Skaggs for a couple years. I played multiple instruments for Kacey Musgraves Christmas album and Christmas tour. Played the Grand Ole Opry, playing accordion with Riders in the Sky, and I also played the Opry with Kathy Mattea and John Cowan. I was a member of John Jorgenson’s Gypsy Jazz Quintet. I was the 2004 and 2005 ICMA Musician of the Year. And of course, I joined as a founding member of the Transatlantic Guitar Trio in 2019.
What recorded music is available?
I have four albums under my own name, as well as the two albums with the Transatlantic Trio. My latest CD is called Tour De Fourth. I’m also pretty fond, if I do say so myself, of my Swing Expedition album.
What can the audience expect from the set at Boulevard?
The Transatlantic Guitar trio is really a unique blend. Joscho Stephan is a gypsy jazz genius. Richard Smith is absolutely a top shelf fingerstyle player. And I’m playing an archtop jazz guitar. Very different voices, but we come together to create some really virtuosic music. It’s a mix of gypsy jazz, country, maybe Beatles, maybe Jerry Reid, followed by bossa nova. Lots of original music as well.
What else do you have coming up?
The trio plays all through September. Then I go back to Nashville for a month to work locally; everything from Oktoberfest gigs to country on Broadway, to jazz at Rudy’s and at Gannon’s. Then the trio goes to Europe in November. 2025 starts out with me on a couple of weeks of cruise ships, beginning with the Mollie B Polka Cruise, then the Country Music Cruise.
The Transatlantic Trio, featuring Richard Smith, Joshco Stephan and Rory Hoffman, perform at 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 21 at Boulevard Music. Go to boulevardmusic.com for more information.
Elsewhere this week
The Culver Hotel will be hosting the likes of Sylvia & the Rhythm Boys, and Scotty Bramer. Go to culverhotel.com for more info.
There’s a full program of music at the Cinema Bar this week, as usual. The Hot Club of Los Angeles plays every Monday, and Wednesdays are singer/songwriter and open mic night. Other artists performing this week include Jim Doyle & Co., Bruce Ray White, Tom Gramlich, Coyote Moon, Sons of the Engineers, and more. Go to thecinemabar.com for more info.