With spring nearing, jazz is ready to spring back into action. They’re a few special events happening this weekend. Count among them remembering a jazz legend, the playing of Mingus, and grooving sounds.
Here are some of the Jazz In Town events you can find this weekend:
Jazz In Town
Remembering The Music Of Lionel Hampton. This special performance takes place at the Premier Cabaret at MusicalFare Theatre on Saturday at 8pm. It will feature the phenomenal vibes of Joanne Lorenzo along with the legendary Sabu Adeyola on bass, the gifted Michael McNeil on baby grand piano, master drummer Abdul-Rahman Qadir, and Tony Zambito on percussion. Get tickets at www.musicalfare.com or call box office at 839-8540.
What Would Mingus Do? This band makes it back to Pausa Art House Thursday at 8pm. Word has it this award-winning group will be playing versions of Mingus tunes in addition to original tunes. Look for Kelly Bucheger on alto & tenor saxophones, Tim Clarke on trumpet & flugel, Michael McNeill on piano, Greg Piontek on bass, and John Bacon, drums
Blue Stone Groove. This grooving jazz and soul band makes it back to Pausa Saturday at 8pm. Featuring singer Einat Agmon with some of the up and coming JazzBuffalo young talent hitting the jazz scene – and showing us jazz is in good hands.
Jazz and folk singer Christina Custode is having her new CD Release Party this Saturday at 7pm at Hard Rock Café in Niagara Falls. Entitled “FROM HERE”, she will be performing songs from the CD with a 5 piece band.
Newly Added
Gruvology will be at 189 Main in East Aurora beginning at 8:30pm. The band, led by Walter Kemp on keyboards and Bernard Kunz on guitar, brings their jazz fusion band to the 189 stage as they gear up for their overseas tour in April.
JFT, the jazz funk and soul band led by Toney Rhodes, is back at Pausa Art House Friday beginning at 8pm. With Jerry Livingston driving a hard bass line, it is sure to get funky!
Upcoming
Star People: Miles Davis Project Friday March 27th at Pausa
My Cousin Tone’ at Nietzsche’s Friday March 27th
Gruvology Tour Fundraiser at Pausa March 28th
Jazz Jam To Benefit MAPS March 29th
Keep Jazz Alive In WNY!!