Since moving to New York City in 2000, tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery ha… Read Full Bio ↴Since moving to New York City in 2000, tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery has become one of the Jazz world’s most talented rising stars and in-demand sidemen. At only 32 he has recorded four CDs as a leader and been on numerous recordings as a sideman. Wayne began his professional New York career touring and recording with The Eric Reed Septet. In 2001 he became a steady member of the Mingus Big Band/Orchestra/Dynasty, The Lonnie Plaxico Group, and Abdulah Ibrahim’s Akaya. Then in 2004 Grammy award winning producer, arranger and trumpeter Don Sickler asked Wayne to be a part of Ben Riley’s Monk legacy Septet (an innovative piano-less group dedicated to carrying on the legacy of jazz great Thelonious Monk). At this time Wayne was also touring with Jazz At Lincoln Center’s Music of the Masters consisting of two groups of musicians hand picked by Wynton Marsalis. The Music of Dexter Gordon featured Wayne with Saxophonists Jimmy Greene and Gerry Welden; backed by Dexter Gordon alumni George Cables, Rufus Reid and Leroy Williams. The Music of Miles Davis featured Wayne with trumpet great Eddie Henderson and alto saxophonist Steve Wilson in the front line; backed by David Kikoski, Ed Howard and Miles Davis veteran Jimmy Cobb on drums. In 2006 Wayne secured one of the most coveted gigs in jazz: a frontline position in Tom Harrell’s working quintet. In addition to being a part of some of the last true “apprenticeship” opportunities of our era, he has delivered three studio dates as a leader on the Nagel-Heyer label Times Change in 2001, Intuition in 2004 and the most recent a collaborative project with his wife vocalist Carolyn Leonhart If Dreams Come True released September 18th 2007. In a review of the latter AllAboutJazz.com's Senior Editor John Kelman wrote “Escoffery's command of the instrument is impressive, able to navigate broad intervallic leaps with a sound that is robust in all registers,” Critics have also called him “[A] young, self-assured, hard-swinging tenor saxophonist.” (Ben Ratliff - The New York Times) “a skillful, musical player” (Chris Kelsey, JazzTimes) and “a thoughtful and ambitious composer” (Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide). In October of 2006 Wayne signed with Savant Records, founded and run by noted record industry legend Joe Fields and his highly respected son Barney. His first CD for Savant called Veneration (released in March of 2007) was recorded live at Smoke Jazz Club in NYC and features Joe Locke on vibes, Hans Glawichnig on bass, and Lewis Nash on drums. Despite his musical talent Wayne (born on February 23rd 1975 in London, England) grew up in a relatively non-musical household. In 1983, he and his mother moved to the United States eventually settling in New Haven, Connecticut in 1986. Wayne always enjoyed singing whatever music he heard but it wasn’t until his relocation to New Haven that his formal music education began. At age eleven Wayne joined The New Haven Trinity Boys Choir, an internationally known Boys Choir that toured and recorded annually. At this time he also began taking private saxophone lessons and playing the tenor saxophone in school bands. By the time he was sixteen he left the Choir and began a more intensive study of the saxophone, attending The Jazz Mobile in New York City, The Neighborhood Music School and The Educational Center for the Arts, both in New Haven. During his senior year in high School, he attended the Artist’s Collective in Hartford, Ct. It was there that he met Jackie McLean, the world-renowned alto saxophonist and founder of both The Artist’s Collective and the jazz program at The Hartt School. McLean gave Wayne a full scholarship to attend The Hartt School, where he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance, and became known as one of McLean’s prize pupils. While at Hartt, Wayne played with such jazz greats as Curtis Fuller, Eddie Henderson, Philip Harper, Albert Heath, and many others. He went on to attend The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at The New England Conservatory in Boston. It was a full scholarship two-year college program, accepting a small select group of the world’s most talented young jazz artists every two years. At the Institute, he toured with Herbie Hancock and studied with George Coleman, Jimmy Heath, Don Braden, Clark Terry, Ron Carter, Barry Harris, Charlie Persip and other Jazz masters. In May 1999, Wayne graduated with a Masters degree from The New England Conservatory moving to NYC in 2000. Since then, he has performed with countless internationally respected musicians and has become known for his beautiful sound, impressive technique and versatility. J. Robert Bragonier of All About Jazz Magazine writes, “This is a talented youngster capable of long, flowing lines, noteworthy creativity, and a broad range of expressiveness.” When commenting on Jackie McLean’s influence on Escoffery, he writes …“the latter’s influence is apparent in his knowledge of jazz history, lean, angular harmonies, and muscular tone.” As well as performing with his newest group Veneration and a collaborative group with vocalist Carolyn Leonhart, Wayne Escoffery currently performs locally and tours internationally with Ben Riley's Monk Legacy Septet, The Tom Harrell Quintet, The Mingus Big Band/Orchestra/Dynasty, and The Carolyn Leonhart Group.

That's All
Wayne Escoffery Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I can only give you love that lasts forever,
And the promise to be near each time you call,
And the only heart I own is yours and yours alone, that's all, that's all.
I can only give you country walks in springtime,
And a hand to hold when leaves begin to fall,
And a love whose burning light to warm the winter night, that's all, that's all.
There are those I am sure who have told you,
They will give you the world for a toy.

All I ask for these arms to enfold you, and a love, time can never destroy.
If you're wond'ring what I'm asking in return, dear,

You'll be glad to know that my demands are small.
Say it's me that you'll adore for now and ever more, that's all, that's all.

Overall Meaning

The song "That's All" by Wayne Escoffery is a simple yet powerful expression of love and devotion. The singer affirms that he can only offer everlasting love, his constant presence, and his heart that belongs to the person he loves. The song compares love to the changing seasons: the warmth and new beginnings of springtime, the cozy romance and the beauty of autumn, and the strength and passion of winter.

Escoffery's lyrics suggest that although others may promise worldly possessions and glory, these things are not as valuable or as enduring as true love. The singer only asks for the opportunity to cherish and love the person he cares for, with no expectation of anything in return. Ultimately, the song is a declaration of devotion and a testament to the power of love that lasts a lifetime.

Line by Line Meaning

I can only give you love that lasts forever,
I promise to love you eternally.

And the promise to be near each time you call,
I vow to always be available for you.

And the only heart I own is yours and yours alone, that's all, that's all.
My heart and love belong only to you.

I can only give you country walks in springtime,
I offer simple pleasures like walking in nature during spring.

And a hand to hold when leaves begin to fall,
I'll be here to offer my support and strength when times get tough.

And a love whose burning light to warm the winter night, that's all, that's all.
The love I offer is passionate and intense, enough to make cold winter nights feel warm.

There are those I am sure who have told you,
Others may have promised to give you everything you could ever want.

They will give you the world for a toy.
They make empty promises that they cannot truly fulfill.

All I ask for these arms to enfold you, and a love, time can never destroy.
All I want is to hold you close and share a love that can withstand the test of time.

If you're wond'ring what I'm asking in return, dear,
If you're wondering what I expect from you in exchange.

You'll be glad to know that my demands are small.
I don't ask for much.

Say it's me that you'll adore for now and ever more, that's all, that's all.
All I want is for you to love me now and forever, and that's all that truly matters.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROBIN SPIELBERG, BOB HAYMES, ALAN BRANDT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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