At NYC's Iridium Jazz Club
New York—After recent success in Austin, “Jeff Lofton's 1950s Miles Davis Tribute" makes its New York debut Saturday, August 21, at 12:00 midnight, at the Iridium Jazz Club, 1650 Broadway. Tickets are $20.00. Lofton, an Austin-based jazz trumpeter, composer and bandleader, presented the show at One World Theatre in March, with media sponsor NPR-affiliate KUT 90.5 FM. The tribute features compositions and interpretations made famous by the first great Miles Davis Quintet during 1950-1959 and includes selections from “Kind of Blue."
“Listen up Miles Davis fans..." from the Austin American-Statesman and ..." channels Miles Davis..." from The Daily Texan were early reviews when Lofton arrived from South Carolina in 2007 as a mostly unknown to Austin's music scene. Word-of-mouth about his new, unique sound drew jazz fans to the debut of “Jeff Lofton's 1950s Miles Davis Tribute" at the historic Victory Grill in September 2007. Soon his shows were being described as ..."crazy good and crazy crowded..." by the Austin American-Statesman. Lofton presented the tribute again at the Scat Jazz Lounge in Ft. Worth, and in collaboration with the University of Texas' Blanton Museum's hosting of the touring “Birth of the Cool" exhibit.
In November Lofton released his second jazz album, “Jazz to the People." The Austin Chronicle placed “Jazz to the People" in the list of “Top 9 Austin Albums of 2009," and chose the Jeff Lofton Quartet as the critic's pick for best jazz band for their annual poll. The Austin NPR affiliated, KUT 90.5, chose “Jazz to the People" as one of the “Top 10 Albums of 2009: DJ Picks." Called ..." a delightfully swingin' affair..." by the Austin Chronicle, the self-produced album is receiving airplay from San Diego to New Orleans to Harlem and abroad."Jazz to the People" includes nine original compositions and interpretations of “Georgia on My Mind"and “Crazy," and features Alex Coke on sax, Red Young on piano, Chris Jones on bass and Masumi Jones on drums. Danielle Howle performs vocals on “Crazy."
Lofton is known in Austin for taking jazz to mainstream venues usually known for hosting blues and folk, such as Antone's,and Momo's . In 2008 Lofton performed at the fourteenth annual Jazz at St. James Festival in Austin, which featured jazz legends Curtis Fuller and David “Fathead" Newman. In 2009 the Jeff Lofton Quartet, featuring legendary jazz vocalist Donna Hightower, opened for Javon Jackson at the Jazz at St. James Festival. In June the Jeff Lofton Quartet performed at the San Antonio Arts and Jazz Festival.
Lofton was featured in the music category of the Austin American-Statesman's 2010 Out and About 500 list. The reader-nominated list includes 15 categories of what the paper describes as people “who are everywhere, all the time, often doing good, weaving the social fabric of Austin. Five hundred social units—couples or singles ..."
Lofton's listing includes his wife, writer/publicist Dean Lofton, and says, “Austin has elaborated a long jazz history. Yet this South Carolina couple recently gave the scene a jump start with their ubiquitous presence and articulate advocacy."
The Music category includes nationally renowned musicians such as Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks; industry producers such as Terry Lickona of the “Austin City Limits" KLRU/PBS television show; and entertainment giants such as Charles Attal and Charlie Jones of C3. Other categories include a wide-range of names known well-beyond Austin, from Dan Rather to Willie Nelson.
To honor Lofton's contribution to the local jazz scene, Austin's mayor proclaimed January 15, 2009, as “Jeff Lofton Day" in the live music capital of the world. The Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau selected Lofton's original, “Shana's Song," for the “Austin Music Vol. 8" compilation CD, released in February 2009. The Austin American-Statesman included Lofton in the “2009 Fortunate 500: Music" list.
Lofton recorded his first jazz album, “Jazz Therapy," in 2005, with the Jeff Lofton Quartet. The self-produced CD mixes old style be-bop with modern forms of jazz in the tradition of Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and John Coltrane. “Jazz Therapy" includes Roland Haynes on piano, Reggie Sullivan on bass and Kenneth Salters on drums.
New York—After recent success in Austin, “Jeff Lofton's 1950s Miles Davis Tribute" makes its New York debut Saturday, August 21, at 12:00 midnight, at the Iridium Jazz Club, 1650 Broadway. Tickets are $20.00. Lofton, an Austin-based jazz trumpeter, composer and bandleader, presented the show at One World Theatre in March, with media sponsor NPR-affiliate KUT 90.5 FM. The tribute features compositions and interpretations made famous by the first great Miles Davis Quintet during 1950-1959 and includes selections from “Kind of Blue."
“Listen up Miles Davis fans..." from the Austin American-Statesman and ..." channels Miles Davis..." from The Daily Texan were early reviews when Lofton arrived from South Carolina in 2007 as a mostly unknown to Austin's music scene. Word-of-mouth about his new, unique sound drew jazz fans to the debut of “Jeff Lofton's 1950s Miles Davis Tribute" at the historic Victory Grill in September 2007. Soon his shows were being described as ..."crazy good and crazy crowded..." by the Austin American-Statesman. Lofton presented the tribute again at the Scat Jazz Lounge in Ft. Worth, and in collaboration with the University of Texas' Blanton Museum's hosting of the touring “Birth of the Cool" exhibit.
In November Lofton released his second jazz album, “Jazz to the People." The Austin Chronicle placed “Jazz to the People" in the list of “Top 9 Austin Albums of 2009," and chose the Jeff Lofton Quartet as the critic's pick for best jazz band for their annual poll. The Austin NPR affiliated, KUT 90.5, chose “Jazz to the People" as one of the “Top 10 Albums of 2009: DJ Picks." Called ..." a delightfully swingin' affair..." by the Austin Chronicle, the self-produced album is receiving airplay from San Diego to New Orleans to Harlem and abroad."Jazz to the People" includes nine original compositions and interpretations of “Georgia on My Mind"and “Crazy," and features Alex Coke on sax, Red Young on piano, Chris Jones on bass and Masumi Jones on drums. Danielle Howle performs vocals on “Crazy."
Lofton is known in Austin for taking jazz to mainstream venues usually known for hosting blues and folk, such as Antone's,and Momo's . In 2008 Lofton performed at the fourteenth annual Jazz at St. James Festival in Austin, which featured jazz legends Curtis Fuller and David “Fathead" Newman. In 2009 the Jeff Lofton Quartet, featuring legendary jazz vocalist Donna Hightower, opened for Javon Jackson at the Jazz at St. James Festival. In June the Jeff Lofton Quartet performed at the San Antonio Arts and Jazz Festival.
Lofton was featured in the music category of the Austin American-Statesman's 2010 Out and About 500 list. The reader-nominated list includes 15 categories of what the paper describes as people “who are everywhere, all the time, often doing good, weaving the social fabric of Austin. Five hundred social units—couples or singles ..."
Lofton's listing includes his wife, writer/publicist Dean Lofton, and says, “Austin has elaborated a long jazz history. Yet this South Carolina couple recently gave the scene a jump start with their ubiquitous presence and articulate advocacy."
The Music category includes nationally renowned musicians such as Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks; industry producers such as Terry Lickona of the “Austin City Limits" KLRU/PBS television show; and entertainment giants such as Charles Attal and Charlie Jones of C3. Other categories include a wide-range of names known well-beyond Austin, from Dan Rather to Willie Nelson.
To honor Lofton's contribution to the local jazz scene, Austin's mayor proclaimed January 15, 2009, as “Jeff Lofton Day" in the live music capital of the world. The Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau selected Lofton's original, “Shana's Song," for the “Austin Music Vol. 8" compilation CD, released in February 2009. The Austin American-Statesman included Lofton in the “2009 Fortunate 500: Music" list.
Lofton recorded his first jazz album, “Jazz Therapy," in 2005, with the Jeff Lofton Quartet. The self-produced CD mixes old style be-bop with modern forms of jazz in the tradition of Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and John Coltrane. “Jazz Therapy" includes Roland Haynes on piano, Reggie Sullivan on bass and Kenneth Salters on drums.
