Home » Member Page

Greg Skaff

Greg Skaff is a NYC-based musician and composer whose skills and reputation place him among the premier guitarists in jazz.

About Me

Greg Skaff is a NYC-based musician and composer whose skills and reputation place him among the premier guitarists in jazz. The native Kansan, whose first professional job was a five-year stay in the band of saxophone titan Stanley Turrentine, has flourished on the New York City jazz scene since the 1980s. He has worked with past masters Ruth Brown, Freddie Hubbard, David “Fathead” Newman and Gloria Lynne, as well as notables Ron Carter, Bobby Watson, Ben Allison, Bruce Barth, Pat Bianchi, Orrin Evans, Joe Farnsworth, David Hazeltine, Mike LeDonne, Victor Lewis, Ralph Peterson, Jr., Jim Rotondi, and E. J. Strickland.

At the helm of his acclaimed trio, Greg has commanded the attention of discriminating listeners in club and festival performances throughout the country. A few of the NYC clubs he has played include the Blue Note, Birdland, Smalls, Mezzrow, Iridium, Zinc Bar, and Minton's Playhouse. Overseas, his trio has triumphed at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy.

Greg’s six feature albums have been well-received by jazz fans everywhere. His most recent record, Polaris, on the SMK Jazz label, is a trio featuring two NEA Jazz Masters, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Albert “Tootie” Heath. Chris Hovan at All About Jazz calls the record, “genuinely sublime music that is sure to be remembered as one of 2021's most memorable releases.”

My Jazz Story

I love jazz because... I was first exposed to jazz... I met [musician name]... The best show I ever attended was... The first jazz record I bought was... My advice to new listeners... Or whatever else you have in mind.