Jeff Coffin (born August 5, 1965) is a saxophonist, bandleader, composer and educator. He is a three-time Grammy Award winner as a member of Bela Fleck & the Flecktones and played with them from 1997-2010. In July 2008, Coffin began touring with Dave Matthews Band, and officially joined the group in 2009 following the passing of founding member LeRoi Moore. Coffin also fronts his own group, Jeff Coffin & the Mu’tet - with which he has a new CD 'INTO THE AIR' on Ear Up Records which was released September 4, 2012.
Born in Massachusetts and raised in New England, Jeff began playing alto sax in fifth grade while living in Dexter, Maine under the tutelage of the one band director for the entire district, Arthur Lagassee. After graduating from high school in Rochester, NH, Jeff attended the University of New Hampshire for two years. In 1985, Coffin moved on to study at the University of North Texas, in Denton, TX, 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 studied under saxophonist Joe Lovano.
Coffin has been a Yamaha Performing Artist and clinician since 2000 and has given over 300 music clinics at Colleges, Universities, High Schools and JR High Schools from Farmington, Maine to Perth, Australia. His wide variety of teaching methods and his ability to connect with students and teachers alike have won him numerous accolades from educators who feel Coffin's ability to inspire their students has left it's mark for a lifetime. Today, when on and off the road, Jeff continues to work with students and is very involved with music education systems, believing that the arts define our culture. He speaks passionately about the necessity of public school music programs and encourages young and old to speak out and rally against their continued demise.
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