LEGACY OF GIANTS: SAX SUPREME FEAT. WAYNE ESCOFFERY

This evening shines a spotlight on the tenor saxophone and features two true masters of the instrument: Wayne Escoffery and Ben Kraef!



Wayne Escoffery is one of the most gifted saxophonists in American jazz. A musician with respect for the jazz tradition, but one who looks beyond the smoky jazz clubs of the past. For example, his album The Humble Warrior included an interpretation of a choir piece by composer Benjamin Britten, alongside original compositions.

This spring sees the release of the new album Like Minds by The Wayne Escoffery Quartet, which includes collaborations with likeminded jazz giants such as trumpeter Tom Harrell and singer Gregory Porter. Wayne Escoffery made name in Mingus Dynasty, Big Band, and Orchestra. For more than a decade he played tenor and soprano saxophone in the band of trumpet legend Tom Harrell.

With Jeremy Pelt and Jonathan Blake he co-founded the all-star band Black Art Jazz Collective. He has recorded and performed with a who’s who in jazz including Ron Carter, Abdullah Ibrahim, Eddie Henderson, Randy Brecker, and Herbie Hancock. Wayne won a Grammy with the Mingus Big Band, and topped the Downeat Critics Poll in the categories Rising Star Tenor Saxophone, and Rising Star Soprano Saxophone.


Ben Kraef is a German-Montenegrin saxophonist and composer based in Berlin. Ben graduated from the University of Music “Hanns Eisler”, Berlin and obtained a Master of Arts from The City College of New York in 2009 where he was also awarded the Billie Stoller Scholarship to an outstanding scholar and musician in 2008. The list of internationally renowned musicians Ben has been performing and recording with includes luminaries Lalo Schifrin, Fred Hersch, Pee Wee Ellis and Till Brönner as well as pop groups such as „Wir Sind Helden” and the radio big bands of HR and WDR.