Esplanade Presents

Music

E.J. Hughes and Friends Classic Quartet

(Singapore)

2 Jul 2025, Wed, 7.15pm & 8.15pm

30mins

(Intermission: None)

Esplanade Concourse

Free
not cache
Synopsis

Join E J Hughes and his quartet for a night of swinging classic jazz, brought to life by a group of talented friends from the Singapore Jazz Scene.

 

Pianist Amanda Lee, an emerging authority on early swing piano styles, infuses the quartet with her infectious joy and enthusiasm, drawing inspiration from legends like Oscar Peterson, Nat King Cole and Bud Powell. Guitarist Rick Smith, a seasoned jazz educator and performer, adds the textures and swing feel reminiscent of artists like Kenny Burrell and Barney Kessel, giving the drumless quartet an authentic vibe. Bassist, Nobu Shiraishi lays down a solid heartbeat, guaranteed to make you tap your foot.

 

The band hopes to deliver an evening of joyous swing, inspiring and engaging listeners with a selection of classic jazz delights.

 

EJ Hughes Classic Jazz Quartet.

Featuring: 

Amanda Lee (Piano) 

Rick Smith (Guitar)

Nobu Shiraishi (Bass)

Language: English
Things to Note:
Accessibility: All our venues are wheelchair-accessible. We offer various services to support patrons with access needs. For assistance, please contact Esplanade Customer Experience at 6828 8377. To learn more, read our accessibility guide.
Artist Information

E.J. Hughes Classic Quartet

E.J. Hughes's Instagram | Amanda Lee's Instagram | Rick Smith's Instagram | E.J. Hughes's Website

E.J. Hughes is a professional saxophonist and woodwind instructor with over 35 years of performing and teaching experience. He was awarded a tuition scholarship to Valdosta State University, where he attended from 1989 to 1993, earning a degree in saxophone and clarinet performance with a primary focus on classical music and repertoire. E.J. later earned a Master’s Degree in Jazz Pedagogy from Georgia State University in 2003 after living in New York City and Orlando. During this time, he studied privately with several notable artists, gathering valuable insights into jazz saxophone sound, technique, and harmony while teaching, and performing.

 

Starting professional level gigs at 18, the now 53-year-old saxophonist has performed a variety of gigs spanning four decades. His career highlights include playing with The Temptations at 19 the Sam Rivers RivBea Orchestra in his late 20s, Grammy winner: Speech (Arrested Development) in his 30s and Jennifer Holiday (Dream Girls) in his 40s. Additionally, he has performed with numerous professional bands while residing in New York, Orlando, Atlanta, and Singapore.

 

E.J. has joined local and international artists on stage for Esplanade’s Jazz in July in Singapore the past three years and was the first guest artist clinician for D’Jazz in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2024. He also recorded a swing-era clarinet solo for Miss Lou Peixin and Daniel Chia for the Singapore Mediacorp’s production of The Last Bout. He has performed at notable Singapore venues including Maduro, Blujaz, Cool Cats, Simply Jazz, DBS Foundation Outdoor Theater at Esplanade and Level 55 at MBS.

 

E.J. Hughes is a JodyJazz ™ saxophone mouthpieces artist and an artist endorser with Saxophone maker P. Mauriat ™

 

He has two recorded albums available on all major digital platforms.

Date & Time

2 Jul 2025, Wed

7.15pm

Esplanade Concourse

8.15pm

Esplanade Concourse
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