Like Minds

SAXOPHONIST/COMPOSER WAYNE ESCOFFERY CELEBRATES the chemistry shared by his closest musical collaborators on Like Minds featuring special guest appearances by renowned vocalist Gregory Porter, legendary trumpeter Tom Harrell, innovative guitarist Mike Moreno, and vital percussionist Daniel Sadownick who join Escoffery’s highly acclaimed working quartet of pianist David Kikoski, bassist Ugonna Okegwo, and drummer Mark Whitfield Jr.

These musicians may approach music with a similar mindset, but all arrived from very different places. Escoffery grew up in London, England, moving often throughout his adolescence before settling in Connecticut, where he studied with the legendary saxophonist Jackie McLean. He teaches there now at Yale University, where his mother worked in an administrative position, as well as at NJPAC in New Jersey. A Grammy Award and DownBeat Critics’ Poll winner, he is one of the musical directors of The Mingus Big Band and has performed with a who’s who of jazz including Herbie Hancock, Tom Harrell, Ron Carter, Ben Riley, Al Foster, Monty Alexander, Eddie Henderson, Wallace Roney, and others.”

“I wanted to explore the deep connections that we all share,” Escoffery explains. “All of these musicians are important parts of my musical development, and everyone on the album was chosen specifically for their sound and for what I knew they would add. I don’t think anyone else could play this music quite like they do.”

This set of music has been worked out on bandstands across the globe since the world reawakened, but more importantly, it reflects the chemistry and empathy shared by gifted musicians who share deep roots and Like Minds.