Wayne Escoffery

Since moving to New York City in 2000, tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery has become one of the Jazz world’s most talented rising stars and in-demand sidemen. He began his professional NY career touring and recording with The Eric Reed Septet. In 2001 he became a steady member of the Mingus Big Band/Orchestra/Dynasty, The Lonnie Plaxico Group, and Abdulah Ibrahim’s Akaya.

Then in 2004 Grammy award winning producer, arranger and trumpet player Don Sickler asked Wayne to be a part of Ben Riley’s Monk legacy Septet; an innovative piano-less group dedicated to carrying on the legacy of jazz great Thelonious Monk. At this time Wayne was also touring with Jazz At Lincoln Center’s Music of the Masters consisting of two groups of musicians hand picked by Wynton Marsalis. The Music of Dexter Gordon featured Wayne with Saxophonists Jimmy Greene and Gerry Welden; backed by Dexter Gordon alumni George Cables, Rufus Reid and Leroy Williams. The Music of Miles Davis featured Wayne with trumpet great Eddie Henderson and alto saxophonist Steve Wilson in the front line; backed by David Kikoski, Ed Howard and Miles Davis veteran Jimmy Cobb on drums.

In 2006 Wayne secured one of the most coveted gigs in jazz: a frontline position in Tom Harrell’s working quintet. In addition to being a part of some of the last true “apprenticeship” opportunities of our era, he has delivered two studio dates as a leader on the Nagel-Heyer label "Times Change" in 2001 and "Intuition" in 2004.

In a review of the latter AllAboutJazz.com's Senior Editor John Kelman wrote “Escoffery's command of the instrument is impressive, able to navigate broad intervallic leaps with a sound that is robust in all registers,” Critics have also called him “[A] young, self- assured, hard-swinging tenor saxophonist.” (Ben Ratliff - The New York Times) “a skillful, musical player” (Chris Kelsey, JazzTimes) and “a thoughtful and ambitious composer” (Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide).

In October of 2006 Wayne signed with Savant Records, founded and run by noted record industry legend Joe Fields and his highly respected son Barney. His first CD for Savant called "Veneration" (released in March of 2007) was recorded live at Smoke Jazz Club in NYC and features Joe Locke on vibes, Hans Glawichnig on bass, and Lewis Nash on drums.

Despite his musical talent Wayne (born on February 23rd 1975 in London, England) grew up in a relatively non-musical household. In 1983, he and his mother moved to the United States eventually settling in New Haven, Connecticut in 1986. He always enjoyed singing whatever music he heard but it wasn’t until his relocation to New Haven that his formal musical education began. At age eleven Wayne joined The New Haven Trinity Boys Choir, an internationally known Boys Choir that toured and recorded annually. At this time he also began taking private saxophone lessons and playing the tenor saxophone in school bands. By the time he was sixteen he left the Choir and began a more intensive study of the saxophone, attending The Jazz Mobile in New York City, The Neighborhood Music School and The Educational Center for the Arts, both in New Haven. During his senior year in high School, he attended the Artist’s Collective in Hartford, Ct. It was there that he met Jackie McLean, the world-renowned alto saxophonist and founder of both The Artist’s Collective and the jazz program at The Hartt School. McLean gave Escoffery a full scholarship to attend The Hartt School, where he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance, and became known as one of McLean’s prize pupils. While at Hartt, Wayne played with such jazz greats as Curtis Fuller, Eddie Henderson, Philip Harper, Albert Heath, and many others. He then attended The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at The New England Conservatory in Boston. It was a full scholarship two-year college program, accepting a small select group of the world’s most talented young jazz artists every two years. At the Institute, he toured with Herbie Hancock and studied with George Coleman, Jimmy Heath, Don Braden, Clark Terry, Ron Carter, Barry Harris, Charlie Persip and other Jazz masters.

Wayne Escoffery: Alone!

by David Bixler
December 5, 2024

In the summer of 2023 saxophonist Wayne Escoffery found himself in Europe processing changes in his personal life while at the same time nursing a broken finger that prohibited him from playing his horn. He used this time of reflection to compose the music presented on his new record Alone on Smoke Sessions Records, which features pianist Gerald Clayton, bassist Ron Carter, and Carl Allen on drums. In this episode of LINER NOTES Wayne speaks of the challenge of creating ...

Radio & Podcasts

Meet Tanya Tobias-Tomis and Daniel Kelly from Jazz at The Lake

by Cheryl K.
September 9, 2024

In this hour, an interview with Executive Director Tanya Tobias-Tomis and Artistic Director and Curator Daniel Kelly of this year's 40th Jazz at the Lake in Shepard Park, Lake George, NY, September 12-15, 2024. Playlist Wayne Escoffery “The Ice Queen" from Alone (Smoke Sessions) 8:16 Daniel Kelly “Obfyor" from Emerge (BJU) 6:09 Jahari Stampley “Power" from Still Listening (Jahari Stampley) 4:16 Michael Mayo “I Wish" from Fly (Mack Avenue) 3:27 Ben Wendel “I Saw You Say" from Understory: ...

Album Review

Amina Figarova & Matsiko World Orphan Choir: Suite For Africa

Read "Suite For Africa" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
July 12, 2024

Happenstance played a hand in two of pianist Amina Figarova's finest recordings. The first time around it was September Suite (Munich Records, 2005). Though based in the Netherlands at the time, Figarova was staying in New York City when the planes flew into the World Trade Center buildings on September 11th, 2001. The music for the album was her reaction to the event, to the grief and mourning it caused. Heading a superb sextet, she created a beautiful ode to ...

Album Review

Wayne Escoffery: Like Minds

by Dave Linn
June 21, 2023

Wayne Escoffery was born in London and raised in New Haven, Connecticut. He began playing the saxophone at the age of 11, later studying at the Educational Center for the Arts in New Haven and the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. In the late 1990s, Escoffery started gaining recognition on the jazz scene with his tenure in the Eric Reed Septet and later joining the Mingus Big Band. After completing his studies, Escoffery moved to New ...

Interview

Wayne Escoffery: Still Forging Ahead

by R.J. DeLuke
May 22, 2023

Saxophonist Wayne Escoffery has a long, ongoing association with the Mingus Big Band organization, including a Grammy for Mingus Big Band Live at Jazz Standard (Jazz Workshop, Inc., Sue Mingus Music, 2010). His career also includes a special relationship with trumpeter Tom Harrell, with whom he has played for many years. All that is enough to carry a strong career. But Escoffery is more than that. His career is multifaceted, documented by his own bands and CDs. He's ...

Liner Notes

Tom Harrell: Number Five

by John Kelman
April 24, 2023

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," they say, and since coming to HighNote in 2007, trumpeter Tom Harrell has lived by that old adage, utilizing the same quintet for its auspicious debut, Light On, and three subsequent recordings, culminating in 2011's outstanding Time of the Sun. Number Five continues Harrell's winning streak with the same line-up, but if each successive recording has reflected the ongoing growth of one of today's most compelling small groups--the chemistry deeper and the interaction ...

Liner Notes

Steve Davis: Correlations

Source: Michael Ricci
February 23, 2015

All About Jazz is celebrating Wayne Escoffery's birthday today! Since moving to New York City in 2000, tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery has become one of the Jazz world’s most talented rising stars and in-demand sidemen. He began his professional NY career touring and recording with The Eric Reed Septet. In 2001 he became a steady member of the Mingus Big Band/Orchestra/Dynasty, The Lonnie Plaxico Group, and Abdulah Ibrahim’s Akaya. Then in 2004 Grammy award winning producer... Read more. Place our ...
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“[A] young, self-assured, hard-swinging tenor saxophonist.” —Ben Ratliff, The New York Times

“A powerful, passionate player.” Bill Milkowski, Jazz Times Magazine

“This is a talented youngster capable of long, flowing lines, noteworthy creativity, and a broad range of expressiveness.” —J. Robert Bragonier, All About Jazz

“One of the most talented, poetic artists.” —Sue Mingus, widow of Bassist Charles Mingus

“His sound is arguably a contemporary mix of Coltrane, Shorter and Henderson influences, but is already personal... His technique is superb...” —Tony Hall, Jazzwise Magazine

Primary Instrument

Saxophone, tenor

Location

New York City

Credentials/Background

To teach private saxophone lessons, Jazz ensemble classes, theory classes, Jazz improvisation classes, Humanities/Music History Courses or any music related courses.

Wayne has been fortunate enough to study with some of the greatest jazz musicians in the world. Some of them include Jackie McLean, Ron Carter, George Coleman, Clark Terry, and Barry Harris. He also has first hand experience playing with word class jazz musicians such as Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter.

While presently a working part of the New York City Jazz scene, Wayne leads his own group and performs internationally with The Mingus Band, and Abdullah Ibrahim. He has experience introducing music to all ages and has learned the history of American Music from many of the innovators of the last five decades.

EDUCATION: 1993-97 Bachelor of Music, The Hartt School 1997-99 Master of Music, The New England Conservatory 1997-99 Diploma of Completion, The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance

EXPERIENCE: 1994-97 Instructor, The Artist’s Collective Private saxophone instructor, theory teacher and history teacher. Ages 10 – 35. Taught proficiency on the saxophone, Jazz improvisation, basic Jazz History, and all levels of theory.
1997-99 Thelonious Monk Institute Jazz Ambassador; The Thelonious Monk Institute Jazz Ambassadors went to different schools in and out of the country to give master classes on Jazz/American Music History and Jazz Improvisation. This included trips to New Hampshire, Washington D.C., South America and Jamaica.
1999-present Private Instructor, Bromley Studios Private saxophone and beginner flute instruction. Ages 11-45
1999-present Private Instructor, City College Private saxophone instruction at the College level.
2000-present Adjunct Faculty, The Hartt School Private saxophone instruction at the college level. Assistant to Prof. Jackie McLean during saxophone masterclasses.