Nashville's Rory Hoffman was playing in the Heritage booth at NAMM 2004 when a guy asked if he could sit in. Rory had no idea who he was until after they played a tune and the guy said "Hi! I'm Kenny Burrell". Right after that, Henry Johnson joined them for "But Beautiful" and some blues. Rory talked on a TV Show about playing with Kenny that day and said he was sorry there was no tape. Surprise, Rory! Here is Rory Hoffman's story of that day:
"Back in 2004, I was at the NAMM show in California, demoing for Blade guitars. During my time off, I'd go around to the various archtop booths and play, because I did not own any archtop guitars at the time and wasn't playing nearly as much jazz and swing as I get to do now.
Anyway, As would often happen, people would come up and ask me about how I play, and if they could pick a tune with me. So, I'm at the Heritage booth, and this happens. After me and this other guy play a tune, wherein we are trying to negotiate whether or not it's going to be 12-bar or 24-bar blues, he introduces himself to me as Kenny Burrell. HOLY MOLY! I just picked with a jazz guitar legend! He is about to do a demo at the Heritage booth, and asks me to continue to sit in with HIM during his set. So myself, Henry Johnson, and Kenny Burrell proceed to do 2 more songs.
Several years pass, and I often thought about that moment of my life and lamented there was no video of this once-in-a-lifetime event. I mean, I don't know how many people have played with the giant Kenny Burrell informally in the middle of the crazy NAMM show, but it can't be many.
Last year, I tell this story on a "Learn and Master Guitar" session that Steve Krenz does for Gibson Guitars. And by some stroke of fate, a guy name Malcolm MacDonald watches this video and hears me tell the story. And he is the one person on earth who ACTUALLY DOES have video of me playing with Kenny and Henry. So, 9 years after the event happens, I finally learn that it was documented, and here, for your viewing and listening consideration, is Kenny Burrell, Henry Johnson, and me, playing at the Heritage booth at NAMM 2004." -Rory Hoffman.
LINK to Rory's appearance on "Learn and Master Guitar" (He tells the Kenny Burrell story @12:00):
• Jazz Guitar with Rory ...
Rory's friend Marc Rosen sent the following note:
"Check out Rory's performance at Guitar Town Copper Mountain ... He told me the story behind this ... He had no idea that he was jammin' with the Master Himself ... but was thinking while they were playing ... Man ... this guy shounds like Kenny Burrell!!!! You hear his surprise when Kenny introduces himself ... Rory is an amazing talent and of course Kenny Burrell is a legend.
P.S.: Henry Johnson ain't no slouch, either!"
You will like this, too - Rory and Tommy Emmanuel. "Rory Hoffman - Guitar Town - 8-9-14 Copper Mtn." • Rory Hoffman - Guitar ...
At 20:28 someone said it looks like Kenny's talking to Eric Clapton. No, he's talking to me. You know, I get that "you look like Clapton" all the time. I usually say "No, Clapton looks like me, but there the resemblance ends!" I had loaned the handkerchief to Kenny to clean his neck and took the opportunity to introduce myself. Kenny said "Nice to meet you," and I said "Actually, I met you at the London House when you played there in 1974." We had a nice laugh about that, and later joined the Heritage owners for dinner, a great time.