Mike Wofford, dead at 87, was pianist of choice for jazz and pop greats alike<\/a><\/p>\nWofford, who died last year at the age of 87, was perhaps best known for having been the pianist and music director for Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. His many other credits include playing with Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Pass and Charlie Haden, John Lennon, James Brown and Joan Baez. Atkinson and Hofmann are now planning a Dec. 30 Athenaeum jazz series concert celebration in Wofford\u2019s honor.<\/p>\n
Of all the many recordings Wofford made over his prodigious career, he singled out his 2003 \u201cLive at Athenaeum Jazz\u201d for its stellar audio quality.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe sound on this SACD (Superior Audio CD) recording is the best I\u2019ve ever captured on a live album,\u201d he enthused in a 2016 San Diego Union-Tribune interview.<\/p>\n
In another U-T interview five years later, Wofford said: \u201cThat hall is a performer\u2019s dream. It\u2019s just big enough to accommodate a reasonable amount of people, but it\u2019s also intimate enough that it feels very personal. Plus, it\u2019s a very user-friendly hall for both musicians and listeners. Holly and I have marveled at the acoustics. I love being there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those exemplary acoustics are a main drawing point for many musicians who have performed at the TSR venue, which until 2012 was known as the Neurosciences Institute Auditorium. It is part of a three-building complex that opened in 2006 after the Neurosciences Institute relocated from New York to La Jolla.<\/p>\n
Its design and striking aesthetics earned a 1997 Honor Awards from the American Institute of Architects for Tod Williams Billie Tsien and Associates and their associate architect, Joseph Wong Design Associates in San Diego.<\/p>\n
![\"Daniel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/sut-l-music-tsrjazz-008.jpg\")
Daniel Atkinson, the founder of La Jolla Athenaeum\u2019s Jazz at Scripps Research concert series, is shown at the entrance to the state-of-the-art venue. (Nelvin C. Cepeda \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)
\n\u2018Incredibly silent\u2019<\/p>\n
The concert hall\u2019s exceptional sonic quality can be credited to the now-deceased acoustician Cyril M. Harris. His other credits include the Conrad Prebys Concert Hall at UC San Diego, the Metropolitan Opera and Avery Fisher Hall in New York, and the currently shuttered Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the things that make the TSR venue remarkable is how incredibly silent it is,\u201d concert series honcho Atkinson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had this experience many times when musicians walk in and they take notice that the room is very, very quiet. One of the reasons is that there is a gap of 6 feet between the ceiling and the roof, and there\u2019s a lot of sound insulation in there. So, when a fighter jet from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar roars over the concert hall \u2014 which is quite close to the flight path \u2014 you can\u2019t hear it at all inside the venue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Intriguingly, the Neurosciences Institute\u2019s two leaders \u2014 Director\/Founder Gerald M. Edelman and Research Director Einar Gall \u2014 were fans of classical music, not jazz, when Atkinson and now-retired Athenaeum Executive Director Erika Torri approached them about launching the Athenaeum jazz series at the Neurosciences Institute before the building has even opened in 2005. Moreover, Gall and Edelman had a different focus in mind at the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe auditorium was built as a scientific lecture hall,\u201d said Gall, who is now on the Athenaeum board.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it was hardly a secret that it was also to be a chamber music venue, which is why we engaged Cyril M. Harris, the acoustician, along with the architects. The institute\u2019s official opening was in the fall of 1995 and there was a chamber music concert involved. After that, the institute offered the use of the hall to dozens of nonprofit performing arts groups in San Diego, including Mainly Mozart.\u201d<\/p>\n
Did Gall, the immediate past president of the La Jolla Symphony and Chorus, become a jazz fan as a result of attending the Athenaeum concerts at the institute?<\/p>\n
\u201cI have gone to many of the concerts and enjoyed them,\u201d he replied. \u201cClearly, Dan has done an outstanding job of programing the jazz series for a long time and it engenders admiration.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the most important two-hour periods I remember in my life was sitting with the great James Moody in between his soundcheck and his concert in the auditorium, in 1996, during the inaugural jazz series. He was such a wonderful and charismatic person, and I learned not just about Moody but about jazz speaking with him. It was a very memorable moment and so was his concert.\u201d<\/p>\n
Neurosciences Institute founder Edelman died in 2014, two years after the now-defunct institute\u00a0relocated to a downtown La Jolla location. In 2012 the auditorium and the Neurosciences Institute\u2019s other two buildings became part of The Scripps Research Institute, which initially discontinued performing arts programs at the venue but changed course after being lobbied by various arts groups, including the Athenaeum.<\/p>\n
Where the Neurosciences Institute did not charge arts groups to use its auditorium, Scripps initiated a paid rental policy that has continued. The organization, which shortened its name from Scripps Research Institute to Scripps Research in 2018, values its role as a venue for cultural organizations in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cScripps Research is proud of its longstanding tradition of supporting San Diego\u2019s vibrant arts and music community,\u201d said\u00a0Chris Emery, Scripps Research\u2019s\u00a0Vice President of Marketing and Communications.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the years, the Scripps Research Auditorium has welcomed extraordinary talent and served as an important gathering place for both the arts and sciences. As we celebrate 30 years of the Athenaeum Jazz Series at Scripps Research, we\u2019re reminded that jazz and science share a spirit of curiosity, creativity and a willingness to explore the unexpected.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Cuban](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SUT-L-MUSIC-TSRJAZZ-01_3149f2.jpeg\")
Cuban pianist, composer and band leader Omar Sosa and his group made their Athenaeum Jazz at TSR concert debut this year on March 27. (Daniel Atkinson)
\nMid-concert medical diagnosis<\/p>\n
The unexpected was a key element at the first Athenaeum Jazz at Neurosciences Institute concert in 1996 by Hammond B-3 jazz organ pioneer Jimmy Smith.<\/p>\n
As I noted in my review of that concert, the painfully over-amplified volume of Smith\u2019s organ during the first half of the performance was disturbing. So were his \u201ccondescending comments about his listeners, band members and even his wife.\u201d<\/p>\n
Happily, the second half of the concert was much better and Smith earned a rousing ovation at the conclusion of his show, which Atkinson later described as a \u201cbaptism of fire\u201d for the series.<\/p>\n
\u201cI learned very swiftly that the Hammond B-3 organ has a volume control right on top of keyboard,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, regardless of what your soundman thinks the keyboard should sound like, the keyboardist will do whatever they please. And Jimmy, who was an all-time great, definitely decided to rock the place with the volume he wanted. That was a good lesson right out of the gate!\u201d<\/p>\n
Perhaps even more memorable \u2014 albeit for a very different reason \u2014 \u00a0was the 1998 duo concert at the same venue by pianist Kenny Barron and bassist Charlie Haden.<\/p>\n
During two consecutive songs, a concertgoer seated near the stage on the far right of the auditorium fell into a deep sleep. His snoring could be heard throughout the auditorium. Haden, who grew increasingly annoyed, glared repeatedly in the man\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n
Prominent La Jolla gastroenterologist Dr. Donald Wolochow was also at the concert, seated midway back in the center. He subsequently wrote a letter \u2014 which was published a week later in the Union-Tribune \u2014 offering what he described as a medical \u201cdiagnoses at a distance\u201d of the snoozing man\u2019s condition. The diagnoses was based purely on the very audible sound of the snoring man (whom Wolochow could not see from his vantage point) as heard from across the auditorium.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe loud snoring,\u201d Dr. Wolochow wrote at the time, \u201cindicates upper airway obstruction found in people with the sleep disorder known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea. These folks literally stop breathing at intervals during nighttime sleep, and have poor-quality sleep as a result. Thus they have daytime (and concert-time) sleepiness, fall asleep at the wheel, etc.\u201d<\/p>\n
The day after the letter was published, the slumbering man in question contacted Wolochow to profusely thank him. After reading the letter, the man had gone to a sleep specialist who tested him and confirmed Wolochow\u2019s diagnosis.<\/p>\n
No subsequent concerts have been disrupted by snoring in the TSR jazz series, where attentive listening, hearty cheers and standing ovations are regular occurrences.<\/p>\n
\u201cDan Atkinson has been a treasure for our community and he knows how deeply grateful we are,\u201d said La Jolla psychologist Carol Randolph. As Athenaeum Friends of Jazz members, she and her husband, attorney Robert Caplan, have helped to provide underwriting for the Athenaeum jazz series at TSR since its inception 30 years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cDan has featured celebrated jazz artists and rising young stars alike in the series,\u201d Randolph continued. \u201cAnd he\u2019s brought them from across the country, Europe and Latin America. Very often we\u2019ve attended some of his concerts not knowing much about the artists and have been thrilled by the experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has brought great musicians here before the rest of the world has caught on. The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center in La Jolla is now presenting a handful of some of he same great jazz artists \u2014\u00a0years later in some cases \u2014 but Dan did it first and he\u2019s done it more broadly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Retired Qualcomm Executive Vice President and General Counsel Lou Lupin is also a longtime supporter of the Athenaeum and its jazz programming.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe series at TSR has been fabulous and I was very sad when the venue was closed for two or more years because of the pandemic,\u201d said Lupin, who is on the Athenaeum\u2019s board.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve seen so many incredible artists there over the years. I cannot lavish enough praise on the remarkable job Dan has done. He has made my life as a jazz listener infinitely richer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although she is something a jazz neophyte, Christie Mitchell \u2014 who became the Athenaeum\u2019s executive director four years ago \u2014 is also quick to sing Atkinson\u2019s praises.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am constantly honored and impressed to be working with Dan and the great musicians he bring here,\u201d said Mitchell, a San Diego native.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs someone relatively new to the series, I see what a special relationship he has with these incredible artists who come back over and over again \u2014 not just because of the auditorium, but because of the connection he has with them and the audiences. That speaks volumes to me and the Athenaeum is super grateful to work with Dan, who has such a dedication to jazz as an art form.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe TSR auditorium is such an incredible venue for us and allows us to present bigger-drawing artists than we can in our jazz series at the Athenaeum itself. So, we\u2019re definitely going to continue to be presenting concerts at the auditorium, hopefully for another 30 years.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Noted](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SUT-L-FALLMUSICPICKS-0920.jpg\")
Noted saxophonist Joshua Redman and his band will open the Athenaeum Jazz at Scripps Institute\u2019s 30th concert season next month. (John Oswald)
\nThe Joshua Redman Quartet<\/p>\n
When: 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 3<\/p>\n
Where: Scripps Research Auditorium, 10620 John Jay Hopkins Drive, La Jolla<\/p>\n
Tickets: $65-$70<\/p>\n
Phone: 858-454-5872<\/p>\n
Online: ljathenaeum.org\/jazz<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The enormous Persian carpet that has been on the stage for numerous Athenaeum Jazz at The Scripps Research…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":507535,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[967,181,6682,74,76,75,420,1696],"class_list":["post-507534","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-diego","tag-entertainment","tag-latest-headlines","tag-music-and-concerts","tag-san-diego","tag-san-diego-headlines","tag-san-diego-news","tag-things-to-do","tag-top-stories-sdut"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/507534","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=507534"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/507534\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/507535"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=507534"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=507534"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=507534"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Grammy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SUT-L-MUSIC-TSRJAZZ-01.jpeg\")
Grammy Award-winning pianist and composer Brad Mehldau has performed multiple sold-out Athenaeum Jazz at TSR concerts. (Daniel Atkinson)