Welcome Jazz Fans! Join Jeff's email newsletter list and follow on social media ! 

Jeff Lofton

Austin-based jazz trumpeter and composer

 
 
 
 
 
 

Compared to What

by Jeff Lofton, ft. Murali Coryell on vocal and guitar, 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"...as good as the real thing..." - San Antonio Express-News

"Lofton and his band were the keepers of the original cool jazz flame ... his connection with Davis' legacy was palpable."  -   Killeen Daily Herald

 "bop nirvana" - Raoul Hernandez, Austin Chronicle

"Lofton's tribute to Davis like living history lesson."- Austin American-Statesman

"...rejoice Kind of Blue fans." - Austin Monthly

"...channels Miles Davis..." - The Daily Texan

"A Lesson in Jazz" - Johnny Goudie's "How Did I Get Here?" podcast

"Trumpeter's Lofty Goal: Recreating History" - Austin American-Statesman

"Listen up Miles Davis fans..." - Austin American-Statesman

"When Austin trumpeter, composer and bandleader Jeff Lofton is brought up for discussion, it's not long before you hear comparisons to Miles Davis. It's easy to see why: Lofton's skill is astounding..."  - NPR affiliate KUTX / KUT.org

Voted: '13-'14 Best Horn Player; '10-'11 Best Jazz Band - Austin Music Awards


 PREVIOUS PERFORMANCES 

  • Iridium Jazz Club, New York, NY
  • Stateside at the Paramount, Austin, Texas
  • The Carver Cultural Community Center, San Antonio, TX.  Recorded and broadcast for KRTU Jazz 91.7 FM's ten-year anniversary Year of Jazz series.
  • Scottish Rite Theater, Austin, TX
  • Scat Jazz Lounge, Ft. Worth, TX
  • One World Theater, Austin, TX
  • Blanton Museum of Art, University of Texas, Austin, TX
  • The Historic Victory Grill, Austin, TX
  • The Cultural Activities Center, Temple TX 

 

Jeff Lofton's 1950s Miles Davis Tribute
History and Biography
Jazz trumpeter, composer and bandleader Jeff Loftonstudied composition at the University of South Carolina and moved to Austin in 2007 at the age of 40. Since then his career has grown from being mostly unknown, to a local favorite and to national and international recognition. 

"Listen up Miles Davis fans..." from the Austin American-Statesman and "... channels Miles Davis..." from the Daily Texan were some of the early reviews when Lofton arrived in Austin, and debuted the tribute show at the historic Victory Grill. Mostly unknown to the local jazz scene, word-of-mouth drew people to hear his unique sound at small bars in East Austin. Soon his shows were being described as "...crazy good and crazy crowded."(Joe Gross, Austin American-Statesman).

In March of 2010 "Jeff Lofton's 1950s Miles Davis Tribute" drew a large crowd at One World Theatre with the help of media sponsor NPR affiliate KUT/KUTX, though competing with opening night of SXSW in nearby downtown Austin.  The show has been also been featured in the New Faces Series at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York, and at the Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas along with the "Birth of the Cool" exhibit. As part of the 2011-12 season at The Carver Cultural Community Center in San Antonio, the show was recorded and broadcast for KRTU Jazz 91.7 FM's ten-year anniversary Year of Jazz series. The show has also been presented at the Scottish Rite Theater in Austin; Scat Jazz Lounge in Ft. Worth, The Cultural Activities Center in Temple and the One World Theater in Austin. 

Lofton was recently featured in Japanese Airlines magazine, and as an American Icon in a national ad campaign for Macy's. Lofton opened TEDxAustin in 2012 accompanied by pianist and composer Graham Reynolds, he was voted Best Horn Player '13-'14 and Best Jazz Band '10-'11 at the Austin Music Awards during SXSW; January 15, 2009 was named "Jeff Lofton Day" by the City of Austin; and he was inducted into the Texas Music Museum. Lofton's debut at Snug Harbor in New Orleans included renowned drummer Jason Marsalis.

Shana's Song

by Jeff Lofton Quartet, Jazz to the People, 2009

Herbie's Time

by Jeff Lofton Quartet, Jazz to the People, 2009

Georgia on My Mind

by Jeff Lofton Quartet, Jazz to the People, 2009

Headless Blues

by Jeff Lofton Quartet, Jazz to the People, 2009

Rose

by Jeff Lofton Quartet, Jazz to the People, 2009

Cart