The Wayne Escoffery & Jimmy Greene Quintet Featuring Buster Williams & Lenny White
Tenor Titans!
Smoke Jazz Club2751 Broadway, New York 10025
Wayne Escoffery and Jimmy Greene lead a two-tenor quintet with pianist David Kikoski, bassist Buster Williams and drummer Lenny White. Their shared history reaches back to studying with Jackie McLean, and this set brings their distinct approaches to modern, hard-swinging tenor jazz into conversation.
Escoffery has performed and recorded with Tom Harrell, the Mingus Big Band, Eric Reed and Herbie Hancock; Jazzwise called his sound “a contemporary mix of Coltrane, Shorter, and Henderson influences, but ... already personal.” Greene has worked with Ron Carter, Horace Silver, Freddie Hubbard, Harrell and Kenny Barron. Harrell praises Greene’s “really creative imagination and beautiful feeling” and his “big and warm and beautiful” tone.
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.