Jazz Articles about Wayne Escoffery

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Wayne Escoffery: Respecting His Elders

by Jason Crane
July 2, 2007

On the new episode of The Jazz Session, Jason Crane interviews saxophonist Wayne Escoffery about his life and his new album, Veneration (Savant, 2007). Escoffery was born in London and moved to New Haven, Connecticut as a child. He sang in a boys choir and then got introduced to the saxophone. Choosing the latter, Escoffery moved into the orbit of legendary saxophonist Jackie McLean, eventually attending McLean's Artist Collective and his jazz program at the Hartt School of Music. In ...

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Wayne Escoffery: Veneration: Live at Smoke

by Christopher Shoe
May 22, 2007

Saxophonist Wayne Escoffery's music is influenced by a long line of musicians, and on Veneration: Live at Smoke he takes a moment to pay homage to some of them. However, this live album, recorded at the New York club Smoke, is much more than a dedication to great musicians of the past. The disc showcases some of New York's finest musicians now, who add a spark of their own originality to well-known tunes. The listener is first ...

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Wayne Escoffery: Veneration: Live at Smoke

by Edward Zucker
April 30, 2007

Live at the Village Vanguard: These magical words signified a musician had made it in the world of jazz. For the current generation of musicians, Live at Smoke may now take its place.

Tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery clearly has arrived, as evidenced on Veneration: Live at Smoke. Escoffery, who performs regularly with Tom Harrell, the Mingus Big Band and Ben Riley's Monk Legacy Septet, has honed his chops and is in clear command of his instrument. This outing provides an ...

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Wayne Escoffery: Veneration: Live at Smoke

by C. Michael Bailey
April 20, 2007

Saxophonist Wayne Escoffery has become a hot commodity as of late. Besides his two previous, well-received recordings, Intuition and Times Change, he has also appeared on Wycliffe Gordon and Jay Leonhart's This Rhythm on My Mind and Eric Reed's Happiness, among several other recordings. What emerges on Veneration, Escoffery's new live disc recorded at the New York City club Smoke, is an artist, fully formed and in command.

Escoffery leads a quartet comprised of vibraphonist Joe Locke, bassist ...

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Wayne Escoffery: Intuition

by Elliott Simon
September 25, 2004

I was all prepared to dislike Intuition , the new CD from tenor man Wayne Escoffery. I do admit though that it was my own prejudices coming out. I have a problem with 29-year-old, hazel-eyed, 200-pound, 6 foot 4 sax players with 34-inch waists. I mean someone who looks like they should be posing for the latest in underwear, check that, who has modeled in major advertising campaigns, is not going to be able to blow me away musically. However, ...

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Wayne Escoffery: Intuition

by John Kelman
May 10, 2004

From the circular-breathing introduction to the titular opening track, saxophonist Wayne Escoffery makes clear that his first release, '01's Times Change , was but a calling card, announcing the arrival of a vital new player on the scene. Intuition is a confirmation and, with a band that has spent some time working together, shows what he can do when richer interplay is involved.

Escoffery's command of the instrument is impressive, able to navigate broad intervallic leaps with a sound that ...

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Wayne Escoffery: Times Change

by J. Robert Bragonier
October 8, 2003

Times Change represents the debut album as leader for Wayne Escoffery, whom you may recognize as saxophonist with the Eric Reed Band. While attending the Hartt School, Escoffery studied with Jackie McLean, and the latter’s influence is apparent in his knowledge of jazz history, lean, angular harmonies and muscular tone. Not surprisingly, Escoffery lists Sonny Stitt as another favorite and Jimmy Heath, George Coleman, and Don Braden among his teachers. This is a talented youngster capable of long, flowing lines ...