aaamusic | On 18, Dec 2013

WAYNE ESCOFFERY QUINTET feat. Danny Grissett and Rachel Z

Monday 13th January – Tuesday 14th January 2014

RONNIE SCOTT’S 47 Frith Street, Soho, W1

Ronnie’s is very excited to welcome London-born tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery to play his first London dates as bandleader. For these special shows, Escoffery and his quintet will be playing material from his most recent album ‘The only Son of One’, an album inspired by his childhood in London, focusing on pivotal events during his life as a toddler and teen years. Leaving London to find a better life in the States at such a young age was a profound experience and this album chronicles the emotional, psychological and spiritual journey of a young boy. The shows also offer the opportunity to be the very first to hear material from his forthcoming album ‘The Wayne Escoffery Quintet Live at Firehouse 12’ scheduled for release in March and CDs will be exclusively available at the club to buy.

Escoffery moved to the United States when he was eight years old, eventually settling in Connecticut and since moving to New York City in 2000, the Grammy Award winning musician has become one of the Jazz world’s most talented rising stars and in-demand sidemen. At only 37 he has recorded seven CDs as a leader and been on numerous recordings as a sideman. Escoffery began his professional New York 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 trumpeter Don Sickler asked him 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).

Wayne Escoffery – Tenor Saxophone, Rachel Z – Keyboards, Danny Grissett – Piano, Daryl Hall – Bass, Jason Brown – Drums

+ support The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars

Tickets: £20.00-£35.00

Doors: 6.00pm