| Jeff Coffin | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Born | August 5, 1965 |
| Genres | Jazz, Fusion, Alternative Rock, Pop Rock |
| Occupations | Musician, Songwriter, Professor |
| Instruments | Baritone Saxophone Tenor Saxophone Alto Saxophone Soprano Saxophone Clarinet Bass Clarinet Flute Oboe |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Associated acts | Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Dave Matthews Band, Umphrey's McGee, Jonathan Scales, The Mu'tet |
| Website | Jeff Coffin's website |
Jeff Coffin (born August 5, 1965) is an American jazz and alternative rock musician best known as the saxophonist for Dave Matthews Band and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones. In addition to the saxophone, he plays clarinet, flute and oboe.
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After attending the University of New Hampshire, Coffin moved on to study at the University of North Texas, where he graduated with a B.A. in Music Education in 1990. A recipient of a Jazz Studies grant from the NEA, in 1991, he continued to study under the tutelage of Joe Lovano, and began taking students of his own. Although he moved outside the confines of the educational realm, entering the Nashville music scene during the same year, he continued to be interested in teaching about music.[1]
He has been a member of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones since March 1997, and performed on every Flecktones album from 1998's Left of Cool through 2008's "Jingle All the Way".
Coffin is still listed as a band member on the Flecktones website, but he has stated[2] that touring requirements for Dave Matthews Band preclude his touring with The Flecktones. He does not appear on the latest album, Rocket Science, which features original band member Howard Levy in his place.
Coffin has released several albums independent from the Flecktones, most notably the February 2005 release Bloom, recorded during the Flecktones year-long hiatus. He is well known for playing two saxophones (alto and tenor) at the same time, a technique popularized by Roland Kirk. He recently played clarinet for The Waifs new album Sun Dirt Water.
On July 1, 2008, Coffin joined Dave Matthews Band (DMB) for their 2008 summer tour after saxophonist LeRoi Moore was injured in an ATV accident. Though the stint was originally planned to be temporary, Moore died unexpectedly of complications from his injuries on August 19, 2008, and Coffin has remained with the band since. Among other things, he completed the saxophone work Moore had left unfinished on DMB's most recent studio album, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King.
Since the late '90s Jeff has been recording and touring with his own band Mu'tet: Bill Fanning - trumpet, Jeff Sipe - drums, Kofi Burbridge - keys & flute, Felix Pastorius - bass. Recordings: Outside the Lines (1998 Artifex Records), Commonality (1999 Compass Records), Go-Round (2001 Compass Records), Bloom (2005 Compass Records), Mutopia (2008 Compass Records). Tour dates: http://www.jeffcoffin.com/calendar.html
Coffin has given over 125 clinics from Junior High schools to Colleges and Universities around the world. They have won him accolades from a number of Professors, who feel Coffin's ability to excite their students has helped their students become less reticent about performing.[1]
Coffin is an internationally acclaimed Yamaha and Vandoren Performing Artist and clinician since 2000.
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