L-R Dave Kioski, Stefan Lievestro, Wayne Escoffery, Ralph Peterson Photo credit: Ralf Dombrowski

Ralf Dombrowski writes from Munich: 

UK-born saxophonist Wayne Escoffery‘s quartet began a short European tour with two nights at Unterfahrt on Thursday and Friday 13th and 14th August, their only dates in Germany. Alongside Escoffery himself were David Kikoski (piano / Rhodes), Ralph Peterson (Drums) and Stefan Lievestro, replacing Ugonna Ukegwo, who had been unable to do this tour. Their music is hard bop at the more elegant end of the scale. In places it can become almost over-laden, because Kikoski and Peterson are both such busy players with indomitable creative energy. By contrast, there was a real lustre to Escoffery’s playing, and his sound is both mellow and supple. Above he has a tremendous capacity to play in a judicious and articulate way that points the way towards the climaxes. Taken all together, this was a civilized gig which brought to the fore the bandleader’s refined and Coltrane-esque musicality.

Dave Kikoski Photo credit: Ralf Dombrowski

Ralph Peterson Photo credit: Ralf Dombrowski

Wayne Escoffery Photo credit: Ralf Dombrowski

Ralf Dombrowski is an award-winning journalist and festival director based in Munich. Website 

LINK: Short feature about Wayne Escoffery’s first ever visit to the UK as leader of his own group in January 2014