Jeff Coffin

Jeff Coffin
Background information
Born	August 5, 1965 (1965-08-05)
Genres	Jazz, Fusion, Alternative Rock, Pop Rock
Occupations	Musician, Songwriter, Professor[citation needed]
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.

Biography

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.

Béla Fleck and the Flecktones

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 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.

Dave Matthews Band

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.

Mu'tet

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, Mike Seal - guitar. 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

Teaching

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.

Coffin is an internationally acclaimed Yamaha and Vandoren Performing Artist and clinician since 2000.

Discography

The Jeff Coffin Ensemble

• Outside the Lines - (1997)

With Béla Fleck and the Flecktones

• Left of Cool - (1998)
• Greatest Hits of the 20th Century - (1999)
• Outbound - (2000) - (2001 Grammy winner)
• Live at the Quick (2002) - (CD & DVD)
• Little Worlds - (2003)
• The Hidden Land - (2006) - (2006 Grammy winner)
• Jingle All the Way - (2008) - (2009 Grammy winner)

Solo

• Commonality - (1999)

Jeff Coffin Mu'tet

• Go-Round - (2001)
• Bloom - (2005)
• Mutopia - (2008)

With Jeff Babko & Vinnie Colaiuta

• Mondo Trio - (2007)

With Jonathan Scales

• Plot/Scheme - (2008)
• Character Farm and Other Short Stories - (2011)

Jon Foreman

• Fall EP - (2007)

With Dave Matthews Band

• The Best of What's Around Vol. 1 (Encore CD) - (2006)
• Live at Mile High Music Festival - (2008)
• Live Trax 2008 - (2008)
• Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King - (2009)
• Live Trax Vol. 15 - (2009)
• Europe 2009 - (2009)
• Live Trax Vol. 19 - (2010)
• Live in New York City - (2010)
• Live at Wrigley Field - (2011)

With Umphrey's McGee

• Mantis - (2009)
• Death By Stereo - (2011)

With Jeff Sipe

• Duet - (2011)

External links

• Jeff Coffin's website