WAYNE ESCOFFERY

Biography

Wayne Escoffery is a Grammy Award-winning tenor saxophonist born on February 23, 1975, in London, England.[2] He moved to the United States in 1983 and settled in New Haven, Connecticut in 1986, where his formal music education began at age eleven when he joined The New Haven Trinity Boys Choir and started taking private saxophone lessons.[2] Despite growing up in a relatively non-musical household, Escoffery discovered his passion for jazz and studied at the Neighborhood Music School, ACES Educational Center for the Arts, and the Jazzmobile in New York City.[1] He became a protégé of saxophone legend Jackie McLean at The Hartt School, where he graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in jazz performance, and later earned a Master of Music degree from the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at the New England Conservatory, studying under jazz giants including George Coleman, Jimmy Heath, Don Braden, Clark Terry, Ron Carter, Barry Harris, and Charlie Persip.[1]

Since moving to New York City in 1999-2000, Escoffery has established himself as one of the jazz world's most talented and in-demand saxophonists.[1][2] He began his professional New York career as a sideman with the Eric Reed Septet and became a steady member of the Mingus Big Band, Orchestra, and Dynasty from 2001 onwards, contributing to their Grammy Award-winning album "Live at The Jazz Standard."[5] In 2006, he secured a coveted frontline position in Tom Harrell's working quintet, with whom he toured globally and recorded seven studio albums while co-producing four of those releases over more than a decade.[1][4] Escoffery has recorded ten studio albums as a leader and currently leads The Wayne Escoffery Quartet featuring pianist David Kikoski, bassist Ugonna Okegwo, and drummer Ralph Peterson.[1] He is also the founder of the Black Art Jazz Collective and serves as a musical director of The Mingus Big Band.[4]

Escoffery is recognized as a 2014 and 2021 Downbeat Critics Poll Winner for both tenor and soprano saxophones and is known for his beautiful tone, impressive technique, and versatility.[2][4] Over his career, he has performed and recorded with an extensive roster of jazz luminaries including Ron Carter, Ben Riley, Abdulah Ibrahim, Carl Allen, Al Foster, Billy Hart, Eddie Henderson, Rufus Reid, Wallace Roney, Randy Brecker, and Herbie Hancock.[4][5] His work with Jazz At Lincoln Center's Music Of The Masters, a group assembled by Wynton Marsalis to honor the music of Dexter Gordon and Miles Davis, further solidified his reputation as a rising star in contemporary jazz.[3]

Fun Facts

• Despite being born into a non-musical household, Escoffery initially pursued singing in The New Haven Trinity Boys Choir before switching to the tenor saxophone at age 16 after meeting his mentor Jackie McLean.[2][3]
• Escoffery was among the second class of students at the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at the New England Conservatory, studying under an exceptional roster of jazz legends including George Coleman, Jimmy Heath, Don Braden, Clark Terry, Ron Carter, Barry Harris, and Charlie Persip.[1][4]
• In 2006, Escoffery secured what is described as 'one of the most coveted gigs in jazz'—a frontline position in Tom Harrell's working quintet—a position he maintained for over a decade while touring globally and recording seven albums.[4][6]
• Escoffery is a 2014 and 2021 Downbeat Critics Poll Winner for both tenor and soprano saxophones, demonstrating his versatility across multiple saxophone instruments.[4][5]

Associated Acts

• The Brother Thelonious Quintet - tenor saxophone
• Something Else!

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Jackie McLean - World-renowned alto saxophonist and founder of The Artist's Collective and the jazz program at The Hartt School; gave Escoffery a full scholarship and served as his primary mentor during undergraduate studies (Hartt School jazz program) [High school and undergraduate years]
• George Coleman - Jazz saxophonist who taught Escoffery at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance (Thelonious Monk Institute curriculum) [Graduate studies at New England Conservatory]
• Jimmy Heath - Jazz saxophonist and composer who instructed Escoffery at the Thelonious Monk Institute (Thelonious Monk Institute curriculum) [Graduate studies at New England Conservatory]
• Clark Terry - Legendary jazz trumpeter who taught Escoffery at the Thelonious Monk Institute (Thelonious Monk Institute curriculum) [Graduate studies at New England Conservatory]
• Ron Carter - Jazz bassist and composer who instructed Escoffery at the Thelonious Monk Institute (Thelonious Monk Institute curriculum) [Graduate studies at New England Conservatory]
• Barry Harris - Jazz pianist and educator who taught Escoffery at the Thelonious Monk Institute (Thelonious Monk Institute curriculum) [Graduate studies at New England Conservatory]

Key Collaborators

• Tom Harrell - Grammy Award-winning trumpeter; Escoffery held a frontline position in his working quintet for over a decade, touring globally and recording extensively (Tom Harrell Quintet (7 studio albums); co-produced 4 releases) [2006 onwards]
• The Mingus Big Band/Orchestra/Dynasty - Escoffery has been a member and musical director, contributing to Grammy Award-winning recordings (Live at The Jazz Standard (Grammy Award-winning album); multiple recordings) [2000 onwards]
• Eric Reed - Jazz pianist; Escoffery's first professional New York gig was as a sideman with the Eric Reed Septet (Eric Reed Septet) [Early 2000s]
• David Kikoski - Jazz pianist; current member of The Wayne Escoffery Quartet (The Wayne Escoffery Quartet; various Escoffery recordings) [2000s onwards]
• Wynton Marsalis - Jazz trumpeter and composer; assembled Jazz At Lincoln Center's Music Of The Masters group featuring Escoffery (Jazz At Lincoln Center's Music Of The Masters (Dexter Gordon and Miles Davis tribute)) [2000s]
• Abdulah Ibrahim - South African jazz pianist; Escoffery performed with his group Akaya (Akaya) [2001 onwards]
• Ben Riley - Jazz drummer; Escoffery participated in Ben Riley's Monk Legacy Septet, an innovative piano-less group dedicated to Thelonious Monk's legacy (Ben Riley's Monk Legacy Septet) [2004 onwards]

External Links

• Spotify
• [Wikipedia](Not found in search results)
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #hard-bop, #jazz, #post-bop