Keith Loftis has been described as one of the most dynamic jazz saxophonist of today. Keith was born in Dallas, TX where he began his study of jazz and classical music as a child. He is a graduate of the nationally recognized Booker T. Washington High School of the Visual and Performing Arts in Dallas, with fellow classmate and two-time Grammy award winner, Roy Hargrove.
Keith received his B.A. in music from the New School for Social Research in NYC, and his Masters in Composition/Film Scoring from New York University. Over the course of his career, Keith has performed with several jazz legends such as Benny Carter, Cedar Walton, Nancy Wilson, Frank Foster, Alvin Batiste and Ray Charles to name of few.
Keith has traveled extensively around the globe performing regularly throughout Europe, Asia and parts of the Mid-East. He currently performs with legendary South African Jazz pianist Abdullah Ibrahim; Master Drummer, Michael Carvin; the Roy Hargrove Big Band and the Frank Foster Loud Minority Big Band. Keith has also performed at VH-1’s “Fashion Rocks” with Mary J. Blige and Usher, and VH-1’s “Storyteller” again with Mary J. Blige. Keith also performs regularly at New York’s renowned hotel the Carlyle. In addition to performing live, Keith also works on film projects to broaden his film-scoring portfolio. He has performed music in the motion picture “Three Can Play That Game” starring Vivica A. Fox, and in the independent film, “Black Out” starring Jeff Wright and Melvin Van Peebles.
EDUCATION
2004-2006, Masters of Music (M.F.A.), New York University (Steinhardt School of Education) New York, NY
1995-1997, Bachelor of Music (B.F.A.), The New School for Social Research/Jazz & Contemporary Music, New York, NY
1992-1993, Studies for BA Jazz Studies, Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA
TEACHING EXPERIENCE & SKILLS
Adjunct Professor – Steinhardt School of Education, New York University
New York, NY, 2004-2006
Instructor – Jazz Reach Program – United States, 2002-Present
Proficient in Sibelius Software (for notation); Logic Pro Software (for film scoring)
Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Woodwinds & Theory, 2002-2004
HONORS & AFFILIATIONS
1992 – Outstanding Musician and Soloist Awards, 21st Annual Wichita Jazz Fest, Presented by International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE)
1991 – International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) Outstanding, Musicianship and Soloist Award, Clark Terry Jazz Camp (Iowa)
NOTABLE PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE
Tribute to Sarah Vaughn – New Jersey Performing Arts Center 1999
The Jackie Robinson Foundation 1997
Frank Foster European Tour 1997
Frank Foster- Jazz Hall of Fame, Tampa, FL 1997 (Featuring Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson, and
Tito Puente)
Roy Hargrove (Verve Recording Artist &
Grammy Winner)
- Montreal Jazz Festival
- Commour Jazz Fest
- Village Vanguard, New York City
Benny Carter Big Band – Lincoln Theatre,
Washington, D.C. (Featuring Joe Williams,
Marlena Shaw and Joe Wilder)
Keith Loftis Trio Featured at Ray Brown’s Birthday Celebration
KRS-1 (Hip Hop artist) Studio Recording “I GOT NEXT”.
OTHER PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE
2011
NAMM Show (Red Hot Sax Night II presented by Yamaha) with
- Dave Koz
- Jeff Coffin
- Bobby Shew
- Andy Martin
- Jeff Kashiwa
- Mindi Abair
Abdullah Ibrahim (South African & European Tour)
Michael Carvin & Life Force (Burgdorff Arts Center, NJ)
Jazz Reach Education
The Devil’s Music (The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith)
- The Florida Rep Theatre, Ft. Myers, FL (1 month run)
- St. Lukes Theatre, NY (9 month run)
Roy Hargrove (Marciac Jazz Festival, France)
Jazz Mobile Big Band (Tribute to Dr. Billy Taylor) featuring:
- Dianne Reeves
- Frank Wess
- Jimmy Heath
- Wycliffe Gordon
- Charenee Wade
2010
Abdullah Ibrahim (European & South African Tour)
Roy Hargrove Big Band
- Washington D.C Jazz Festival
- Canadian Jazz Festivals (Montreal,Ottawa, and Toronto)
- Monterey Jazz Festival, CA
- Highline Ballroom, NYC
Anthony Wonsey Quartet (Ohio State University)
Jazz Reach Education Tour (CA, FL and Midwest)
Bemelman’s Bar at the Carlyle Hotel with Chris Gillespie
2009
European Tour with the Roy Hargrove Big Band
South African/European Tour with Abdullah Ibrahim
Hollywood Bowl with Roy Hargrove Big Band
Europe Tour with Michael Carvin & Life Force
Bemelman’s Bar at The Carlyle, NYC
2008
Recording with Verve Recording Artist Kenny Lattimore: Timeless/
Tenor Sax Solo: “That’s the way Love is”.
VH-1 Story Teller/Mary J. Blige 08
Mark Whitfield Recording-Tribute to Stevie Wonder: Songs of Wonder
Playboy Jazz Festival with Roy Hargrove Big Band
June 15th 08
Harry’s Jazz Festival- Singapore, Sept 4,5,and 6th 08 (with Grammy Winner Trumpeter Brian Lynch & Trombonist Vincent Gardener)
Blue Room Jazz Club with Michael Carvin Oct 18th 08
OTHER PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE (continued)
Apollo Theatre- Jazz Foundation with Frank Foster Big Band May 31st 08
Sammons Jazz Center with Wycliffe Gordon
May 7th 08
Bemelman’s at the Carlyle with Chris Gillespie
July and August 08
Scat’s Jazz Lounge, Ft. Worth, TX- Keith Loftis Quartet May 9th 08
Roy Hargrove Big Band Summer Stage, NY,
August 2nd 08
2007
Mary J. Blige & Usher-VH-1 Fashion Rocks Week, NYC
Roy Hargrove Big Band-New Orleans Jazz Fest
Michael Carvin Quartet- Blue Room, Kansas City, MO
Benny Green-13th Big Apple Tour, Nonoichi, Japan
Featured Saxophonist at Bemelman’s at the Carlyle, NYC
2006
United States Embassy, Armenia – Performance for President of Armenia with vocalist Judy Bady
Four Tops and The Temptations – U.S. Tour
Cab Calloway Orchestra
Roy Hargrove Big Band, Jazz Gallery
(Voted Best of 2006 by All About Jazz)
Keith Loftis – Featured at the Carlyle Hotel,
New York City
2005
Keith Loftis Quartet – Twins Jazz Club,
Washington, D.C.
Keith Loftis – Featured at the Carlyle Hotel,
New York City
Apollo Theatre with the Four Tops and Temptations
The New Ray Charles Tribute Orchestra – Blue Note, New York City
The New Cookers – Brooklyn Academy of Music
2004
New York University Big Band – Recording the Music of Teo Macero
Blue Note Jazz Club – Karen Francis, New York City
Blue Note Jazz Club – Jazz Reach, New York City
Keith Loftis Quartet – Blue Note Café, Beirut, Lebanon
Brad Leali Jazz Orchestra Album, Maria Juanez
Big Band New Jersey Jazz Fest, Frank Foster Big Band
Alvin Baptiste – Performance, Snug Harbor,
New Orleans, LA
James Spaulding Quintet – Tribute to John Coltrane, New York City
The Dells – Performance, New Jersey Performance Arts Center
The Four Tops and the Temptations – Performance
Fox TV – Fox Friends Weekend Show – Performance, Brooklyn Big Band
Sweet Rhythm, New York City – Performance, Recording Brooklyn Big Band
Jamaica Arts & Jazz Festival – Performance,
Frank Foster Big Band, NYC
