Member of Dave Matthews Band To Play At LMHS Thursday

If you've ever played a musical instrument, then you've undoubtedly imagined yourself as a famous superstar playing on the big stage at one point or another. It doesn’t matter if you’re an up-and-coming garage-band type, a 10-year-old practicing in front of the mirror or an adult singing your favorite song incredibly off-tune in the car. Everyone shares the same thought of rocking out in front of thousands of people.

Well, for the students of the Lower Moreland Jazz Band, their next performance may be a step closer in that direction with a 3-time Grammy Award winner standing right next to them.

Saxophonist Jeff Coffin, of JC & the Mu'tet Clinic, is scheduled to make an appearance at LMHS this Thursday. He’s part of a 2-month, 16-city tour where he’ll travel all over the country from the east coast all the way out to Arizona.

His performance is kind of like a motivational speaker meets musician. Communication is the key factor he tries to drive home at each pit stop he makes. He gets up on stage to perform with the students, and then will sit with them in the audience.

“We open it up,” Coffin said. “We listen to them. We discuss what their experience with music is. I know that stuff was important to me, and it still is important to me.  I feel like if we can reach some of the people, and even if they never play music again, it’s okay because it goes beyond the scope of just being music. It becomes about being better listeners, which is the starting point for everything.”

Coffin, 45, is an internationally renowned performer and clinician. He’s taught over 125 clinics since 2001 where he demonstrates his unique teaching and playing techniques. As a saxophonist/composer, Coffin has been on the road with Bela Fleck & the Flecktones since 1997 and more recently has toured with Dave Matthews Band since 2008.

Coffin stepped in with DMB after the unfortunate death of saxophonist LeRoi Moore, who suffered a fatal ATM accident during the summer of 2008.

“It wasn’t awkward or uncomfortable for me,” Coffin said. “I was originally coming in to sub. I’m sure it was difficult for them with a fallen band member. You want to make sure you’re taking care of that fallen band member first and foremost. I was going to be there a couple months and didn’t know when I was going to be back. Tragically that never happened.”

Being part of the Dave Mathews Band, Coffin has gotten to tour the world and visited some of the most famous venues in the country. Growing up in Boston, his biggest thrill was getting to play at Fenway Park since he’s a huge Red Sox fan.

“It’s one thing to be on stage in front of however many people, whether it be 1,000 or 10,000 or even 100. But to be able to sit beside a student in a section is really a thrill for them. And it’s exciting for us, too. I still sort of see myself back there and know what it’s like to be in that position. To be able to give that experience back to the kids means a lot to me, and I know it means a lot to the band.”

Even though he literally is living the life of a rock star, he credits his teachers for giving him the passion to give back and lend his knowledge to young students.

“I had some great teachers growing up. I realized a long time ago we just borrow this information for a while. It’s really great to share with young players and try to inspire them not only through the playing of their music, but the interaction we get to have with them.

“From not only my teachers in junior high, high school and college, but I also had some incredible professional teachers who are very open to sharing their knowledge,” Coffin added. “They really took the time with me.”

Coffin has appeared on the following DMB albums:

- 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)

He’s been part of the Bela & the Flecktones since 1997.

For information on how to get Coffin at your school, please visit http://www.jeffcoffin.com/education.html