Tenor Titans! The Wayne Escoffery & Jimmy Greeen Quintet featuring Buster Williams & Lenny White
Smoke Jazz Club2751 Broadway, New York 10025
Tenor saxophonists Wayne Escoffery and Jimmy Greene lead this five-piece Tenor Titans! date with pianist David Kikoski, bassist Buster Williams and drummer Lenny White. The pairing brings together two strong modern-jazz tenor voices with a shared connection reaching back to studies with Jackie McLean. Expect the horns to be the focal point, with Kikoski, Williams and White supplying the piano-trio foundation for a hard-swinging quintet set.
Escoffery and Greene have each built distinct voices while carrying forward the tradition of passionate tenor playing. Jazzwise calls Escoffery’s sound “a contemporary mix of Coltrane, Shorter, and Henderson influences,” adding that it is “already personal” and that “his technique is superb.” His credits include performances and recordings with Tom Harrell, the Mingus Big Band, Eric Reed and Herbie Hancock. Greene has worked with Ron Carter, Horace Silver, Freddie Hubbard, Harrell and Kenny Barron. Harrell says Greene is “phenomenal,” praising his “really creative imagination and beautiful feeling” and describing his tone as “big and warm and beautiful.”
Smoke Jazz Club offers a refined evening where jazz takes center stage in a space defined by its candlelit tables, plush red velvet curtains, exposed brick walls, and antique chandeliers. The club spans two connected rooms: one designed for focused listening with impeccable acoustics and iconic jazz photography, and a second lounge featuring a historic full-length bar and café seating. Guests can enjoy classic American cuisine during the first set, which begins at 7pm, creating a supper club experience that blends dining with world-class performances. The venue showcases a mix of legendary artists, contemporary masters, and emerging talents, making each night a unique encounter with jazz artistry. The recent expansion has enhanced comfort without losing the close proximity to the stage that defines the club’s appeal.