One Degree of Separation: Jazz in Connecticut
A Community Conversation with Tom Duffy and Wayne Escoffery
In conjunction with the exhibition Art, Jazz + the Blues, One Degree of Separation: Jazz in Connecticut explores the vibrant lineage of jazz in Connecticut and its influence on the global stage. This community conversation brings together two titans of the Yale School of Music, composer and conductor Thomas Duffy and Grammy-winning saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, for an intimate look at the history of jazz at Yale and beyond.
The program will weave together personal stories of mentorship and collaboration with a live musical interlude featuring Escoffery on the saxophone. Against the backdrop of jazz’s social and political history, Duffy and Escoffery will discuss how the genre serves as a bridge between the university, the community, and the world.
About the Speakers
Thomas Duffy
Thomas Duffy is a Professor in the Practice of Music and Director of University Bands at Yale University, where he has been a pillar of the musical community since 1982. An acclaimed composer and conductor, Duffy’s work sits at the intersection of music, science, and social impact. He is the creator of the award-winning “Duffy-Honan Intervention,” a musical training tool for nursing students, and has led the Yale Bands on twenty-two international tours across twenty-three countries. A former Deputy Dean of the Yale School of Music, he has been awarded the Yale Tercentennial Medal and the Elm/Ivy Award for his advocacy and leadership in the arts.
Wayne Escoffery
Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Wayne Escoffery is a master of the tenor and soprano saxophone and a perennial winner of the Downbeat Critics Poll. Currently the Director of Jazz Ensembles at Yale University, Escoffery’s career has seen him perform alongside legends such as Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and the Mingus Big Band. A New Haven native and protégé of Jackie McLean, he founded the Black Art Jazz Collective and has toured the globe as a premier sideman and bandleader. His most recent album, Alone (2024), featuring Gerald Clayton and Ron Carter, has been hailed by critics as a masterpiece, receiving 5 stars from The London Times.
