Critics in Austin give trumpeter Jeff Lofton serious kudos for his blend of the old school and new styles of jazz, comparing him to the like of Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and John Coltrane.
That’s quite the accolade to earn in a place revered as the “live music capital of the world” and even more so among countless musicians working to make a name for themselves there.
But now that Lofton is an Austinite, his biggest goal is to boost the city’s jazz scene 10-fold.
For the last 30 years he has spent time honing his talent and performing in premier jazz hubs across the country and says Austin is the perfect place for a musician.
Jazz somehow has played second fiddle to blues, rock and Indie music, most noticeable through the lack of venues for jazz artists.
“It’s a good city in general but as far as jazz, we’re working on it,” said Lofton in a phone interview. “The good thing is you can always find somewhere, anywhere to play.”
Throughout his career, Lofton has spent time on the road in Chicago and New York and studied music composition and jazz at the University of South Carolina.
When family obligations sent him to the Lone Star State he found himself in an ideal place to share his music with a whole new breed of audiences.
“Jazz is in a transition stage,” he said. “It’s becoming more popular and being used a lot more in commercials and in movies...but it needs more artists to continue bringing it to the forefront.
“(Jazz) is a backdrop for popular American music. 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.”
He has performed with such musical talents as Austin’s own guitarist Jim Mings, Ron Westray and Wycliff Gordon of the Wynton Marsalis septet and Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and Fred Wesley of the James Brown horn section, among other accomplished musicians, according to his biography.
He is working on a follow-up to Jazz Therapy, which he released in 2005.
The jazz musician is set to make his Rio Grande Valley debut tonight at Espaņa bar in McAllen.
Lofton released his self-produced album, Jazz Therapy which includes Roland Haynes on piano, Reggie Sullivan on bass and Kenneth Salters on drums.
Since moving to Texas Lofton has performed in some of the most popular Austin jazz clubs alongside the Marc Devine Trio at Reed’s Jazz and Supper Club, the Sean Hopper Quartet at Central Market North.
“When you jazz music you like it,” he said. “People don’t know they will but they do.”
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Jeff Lofton Group
WHEN: Tonight and Saturday, 9 p.m.
WHERE: Espaņa Mediterranean Cuisine, 701 N. Main, McAllen
COST: FREE
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Miriam Ramirez covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4468.
