Wayne Escoffery’s ‘Alone’ Now Available
Backed by jazz legends Ron Carter, Carl Allen, and Gerald Clayton, Escoffery reflects on the richness of loneliness and the resilience it can inspire.
Alone
by Wayne Escoffery
Label: Smoke Sessions Records
Recorded: April 23, 2024, at Sear Sound Studio C, New York City
Released: August 30, 2024
In the summer of 2023, Wayne Escoffery found himself confronting solitude in a way he had never experienced before. While on sabbatical in Europe, he faced not just the isolation of time between tours, but the heartbreak of a recently ended long-term relationship and the loss of several close friendships. To compound the situation, a broken finger left him unable to play the saxophone for nine long weeks—the instrument that had been his emotional outlet since his teenage years.
During this difficult period of reflection, Escoffery turned his solitude into an artistic journey. What emerged from this experience is Alone, a stunning new album that distills the emotional turbulence of those months into a deeply introspective work. Supported by an all-star quartet featuring Ron Carter on bass, Carl Allen on drums, and Gerald Clayton on piano, Escoffery weaves a sonic tapestry that evokes the richness of loneliness and the resilience it can inspire.
Each track on Alone is imbued with a sense of stark beauty and melancholy, offering a mix of original compositions and carefully chosen standards. From heart-wrenching ballads to more meditative improvisations, the album becomes an exploration of solitude’s various shades—from sorrow and regret to introspection and clarity. Escoffery’s saxophone, when he returns to it, becomes a voice of catharsis and emotional depth. The interplay between the musicians reflects the album’s central theme—though the title suggests isolation, the music itself speaks to the richness of connection and the power of reflection. Recorded at Sear Sound Studio in New York, Alone is not only a product of solitude, but a reminder of the human spirit’s ability to find beauty and meaning even in the most difficult moments.
Personnel
Wayne Escoffery • tenor sax
Gerald Clayton • piano
Ron Carter • bass
Carl Allen • drums