Current Concert Season

We are excited to announce that Grammy award-winning saxophonist and two-time Downbeat Critics Poll winner for both Tenor and Soprano saxophones, Wayne Escoffery, will direct this year’s Yale Jazz Ensemble(s) (big band and combos). Escoffery has performed as guest artist with the YJE big band several times, and will make his directorial debut at tonight’s performance.
The year 2022 marks the centennial of the birth of one of the most important composers in Jazz and the first African American musician to have the entire body of his work acquired by the Library or Congress — bassist Charles Mingus. This concert will explore the music of two of Mingus’ greatest influences, Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk, with music from Ellington’s seminal albums “Far East Suite” and “And His Mother Called Him Bill”, and Monk favorites “Let’s Cool One” and “Reflections.”