Tenor Titans! The Wayne Escoffery & Jimmy Greeen Quintet featuring Buster Williams & Lenny White
Smoke Jazz Club2751 Broadway, New York 10025
Tenor Titans! brings tenor saxophonists Wayne Escoffery and Jimmy Greene together at Smoke Jazz Club for a dinner show built around two distinct modern-jazz voices. They lead a quintet with pianist David Kikoski, bassist Buster Williams, and drummer Lenny White. The program places Escoffery and Greene's tenor dialogue at the front of a seasoned rhythm section, with the pair drawing on a musical connection that goes back to studying with Jackie McLean.
Escoffery and Greene are presented as forceful, individual players in the hard-swinging tenor tradition. Jazzwise called 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, among others. Harrell says of Greene: “Jimmy is phenomenal. He has a really creative imagination and beautiful feeling. His tone is 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.