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"Jazz is a
backdrop for popular American music," Austin-based jazz trumpeter Jeff
Lofton said in a recent interview with The Monitor. "Some think it's too
complicated, sophisticated, or hear one artist playing avant-garde jazz and
say, 'I don't like it.' But it's a myriad of cultures and diversity and
connected to other music."
JEFF LOFTON (Jazz Trumpet)
Based in - USA
"Jazz is a
backdrop for popular American music," Austin-based jazz trumpeter Jeff
Lofton said in a recent interview with The Monitor. "Some think it's too
complicated, sophisticated, or hear one artist playing avant-garde jazz and
say, 'I don't like it.' But it's a myriad of cultures and diversity and
connected to other music."
Lofton garnered attention in Austin's music scene by kicking off his Sunday
Night Jazz series at the historic Victory Grill with the Jeff Lofton Quintet in
"An Evening of the Music of Miles Davis" show featuring all Miles'
tunes from the 1950's. The well-received show was soon scheduled at the
Elephant Room, Austin's famed jazz club. The Elephant Room was recently named
one of the top 50 jazz clubs in America by Downbeat magazine, and made Wynton
Marsalis' top 10 list of jazz clubs in USA Today. On April 24, Lofton returns
to the Elephant Room for a new All Miles 1950s show.
Since relocating to
Austin last year, Lofton has shared the stage with the Marc Devine Trio at
Reed's Jazz and Supper Club, the Sean Hopper Quartet at Central Markets, and
frequently sits in at the Elephant Room's Mike Mardecai Jazz Jam on Monday nights.
Other recent Austin performances include Central Market Westgate, Central
Market Central, Club 40, the Light Bar, Club 1808, Jerry's Artarama Artist
Market and a Barack Obama fund raising event. Recent Texas shows outside of
Austin include Kirby's Fine Dining in San Antonio, Cine El Rey historic theatre
and Espana Mediterranean Cuisine in McAllen, and Shenanigan's in Brownsville.
Lofton debuted his first jazz CD, 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. In addition
to Lofton on trumpet, the CD also includes Roland Haynes on piano, Reggie
Sullivan on bass and Kenneth Salters on drums.
Born in Germany to American parents, Lofton grew up in Columbia, South
Carolina, where he studied music composition at the University of South
Carolina. Playing trumpet for thirty years, Lofton has spent time on the road
in Chicago and New York City. He has performed with such musical talents as
Austin's own guitarist Jim Mings, saxophonist Rene Sandoval, Ron Westray and
Wycliff Gordon of the Wynton Marsalis septet, Fred Wesley of the James Brown
horn section, Fred Hampton of the Chicago A.A.C.M., and South Carolina musicians
Skip Pearson, Robert Gardner, Dr. Dick Goodwin, Dr. John Enkey, Teddy Linder
and many others.
Lofton also works as an R&B and hip-hop producer, producing such artists as
Legend and The Gutsmen. As a winner of the juried competition, Lofton was an
artist in the music category of the South Carolina Arts Commission's Arts in
Education Roster. The program provides grants for work in educational settings
statewide. He currently leads jazz clinics for high school students in Austin.
In Columbia, The Jeff Lofton Quartet had a strong local following from a
long-running Friday night show at Meritage in the Vista, as well as
performances at Mac's on Main. Lofton is also well known for the Jazz Therapy
Jazz Quintet featuring himself and Skip Pearson performing on Sundays at the
club Group Therapy. Other groups Lofton has played with include Defellas (an
avant guard jazz group), Deja Voodoo (a hip hop/jazz fusion group) and Wadada
(a reggae group).
For more information please follow this link -
www.myspace.com/jeffloftonquartet
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