Eric Hoffman & Ken Hatfield

Stirrings Still

(Arthur Circle Music)

April 19, 2023

Reviewed by Tracy Adams

Ken Hatfield is well known and highly regarded for his contributions to the jazz-guitar world. He has had great success as a composer and arranger and as a performer. In his latest recording, Stirrings Still, he has brought in baritone Eric Hoffman to create a vocally focused set. The results are, at best, uneven.

Hatfield composed half of the tunes himself, sometimes with other lyricists and sometimes by taking on both roles. His music deserves better. Whether written by him or others, the lyrics often consist of rambling streams of hazy memory that lose the listener in a fog of wistful reminiscence.

“Lonely Nocturne” is a delightful exception; the lyrics are actually a Langston Hughes poem and worthy of Hatfield’s musical partnership. On “Most Every Day” Hatfield is somewhat successful in the wordsmith role, faring better on an upbeat topic.

“Most Every Day” is also vocalist Hoffman’s best endeavor. He brings more energy to this faster-paced song, an energy that his voice needs. On nearly all the other tracks, his tone is sad and tired, and he slides around the pitches like a child taking first steps on an ice-skating rink, most of the time hanging on the low side of the melody. This is true on both the originals and the standards; his tone works well in “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most,” (Tommy Wolf/Fran Landesman), but that is an exception.

If you aren’t familiar with Hatfield, this album would not be a bad introduction. If you’re looking for great new material or new takes on old favorites or to discover a singer you shouldn’t miss, this is probably not the recording for you.