One of our country’s most prolific American composers comes to town this week. A week that will feature many of Buffalo’s top talent in collaboration and in performances throughout the area.
Highlights
David Sanford’s Pittsburgh Collective: Sunday, March 13, 2016, at 3 pm at Albright-Knox Art Gallery Art Of Jazz Series
David Sanford is one of the most interesting American composers of our time. The recipient of numerous awards, including the Prix di Rome, the Guggenheim Fellowship, commissions from the Fromm and Koussevitzky Foundations, and most recently a Radcliffe Fellowship, Sanford’s music straddles the line between jazz and modern classical, channeling influences from Charles Mingus, Arnold Schöenberg, James Brown, and countless others. The twenty-piece unit will also feature four generations of Maynard Ferguson alumni—Bobby Militello, Bruce Johnstone, Hugh Ragin, and Andy Weinzler—as well as a cast of David’s core musicians from New York, Boston, and Buffalo. Here is a video of the collective, in which Nelson states “it is hard to define Sanford’s music as just jazz, it is a mix of jazz, classical, and everything else”:
The Greg Millar Quartet: Saturday, March 12 at 8 pm at Pausa Art House
If the Hammond B3 organ jazz sound gets you moving, then the Greg Millar Quartet might be worth checking out. Guitarist Greg Millar has played throughout the years with many Buffalo greats. In addition, has toured with the likes of Charles Earland. Greg has put together the soulful organ sound with Rey Scott on saxophone, Ron Peterson on the genuine Hammond B3, and Abdul-Rahman Qadir on drums.
Jazz In Town
See Lisa Hasselback on keyboards and John Hasselback on trombone at GiGi’s in Kenmore on Wednesday, March 9th at 7 pm.
A reminder that Wednesday Night Jazz happens weekly at Mezza beginning at 6:30 pm hosted by bassist Wayne Moose. This week will feature a great duo of sax players in Phil DiRe and Russ D’Alba. Joining them will be Tommy Paladino on keyboards, John Bacon, Jr. on drums, and host Wayne Moose on bass.
On Thursday, March 10th at 8 pm at Pausa Art House, you can catch the contemporary music project called Wooden Cities and Ensemble Suplex. Wooden Cities is a contemporary sonic art ensemble directed by Brendan Fitzgerald. Ensemble Suplex is Buffalo's newest new music quartet directed by Zane Merritt.
On Thursday, March 10th at 9 pm you can see Einat Agmon on vocals, Dave Pinchoff on keyboards, Evan Campbell on guitar, and Ryan Campbell on drums at Nietzsche’s
On Friday, March 11th at 6 pm, see My Cousin Tone' at Wegman's (Sheridan and Evans)
On Friday, March 11th at 6 pm see Jazzline Trio at Wegman’s (Amherst Street)
On Friday, March 11th at 8 pm see the Jon Lehning Sextet at Pausa Art House. The band will feature Tim Clarke – Trumpet, Harry Fackelman – Saxophones, Jon Lehning – Saxophones, Drew Azzinaro – Guitar, Mike Forfia – Bass, and Isaiah Griffin – Drums as they play originals and arrangements of classic jazz standards.
On Friday, March 11th at 10 pm you can catch Alec Dube’s Standards Quartet at McGarret’s with Alec Dube – Vibraphone, Ian Liedke – Piano, Ben Levitt – Bass, and Stephen Lattimore – Drums
On Saturday, March 12th at 1 pm at Hot Mama Canteen, you can see Jules and the Vibratones for Brunch and Beats
See the Jazz Example at their weekly Friday spot at the Anchor Bar beginning at 8 pm.
See Kevin Doyle led Sol Y Sombra, Latin jazz, at the Anchor Bar on Saturday’s beginning at 8 pm.
See pianist George Jones with bassist Bill Stiebel and drummer John Bacon, Jr. at Oliver’s every Saturday beginning at 8 pm.
A reminder that the Joe Baudo Big Band performs every Tuesday at the Sportsmen Tavern from 12 pm to 2 pm.
Upcoming
Another big band/ensemble not to miss is Mark Filsinger’s Eleventet band. Reserve tickets early for this JazzBuffalo/MusicalFare Theatre partnered event scheduled for Friday, April 1st at 8 pm.
On March 22nd down south in Olean and St. Bonaventure country, Sal Andolina's Big Ban will be giving a performance in the campus theatre.
On Saturday, March 19th at the Center for the Arts at UB see Rudresh Mahanthappa's Bird Calls project, which features the alto sax performer/composer leading a band in original compositions influenced by Charlie Parker. The album of the same name, Bird Calls, garnered the best album award from Downbeat Magazine's International Critics Poll.
Keep Jazz Alive In WNY!!
