The legacy of jazz history reaches far and wide. In the week ahead, jazz honoring jazz legacies will be a major theme of jazz in Buffalo.
Highlights
Ritual Trio Featuring David Murray, Sunday, December 4th at 8 pm at Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center
One of the iconic figures in jazz, tenor saxophonist David Murray, appears in Buffalo with two other figures – Harrison Bankhead on bass and Kahil El’Zabar on drums, percussion, and vocals. Murray has recorded on over 200 projects and has recorded with or performed with Elvin Jones, Jack DeJohnette, Mc Coy Tyner, Lester Bowie, Hamiet Bluiett, Jerry Garcia, Max Roach, Amiri Baraka, Randy Weston and Fred Hopkins. He is currently working with Macy Gray as part of his David Murray Big Band. He also has won a Grammy Award for the Best Jazz Instrumental Group Performance, for his Tribute to John Coltrane and a Guggenheim Fellowship. Kahil El'Zabar brings together three modern music masters, who have all been at the forefront of creative exploration and compositional diversity over the past four decades. Admission $15 / $12 students/seniors, $10 members. Here is a clipe of Murray and El’Zabar together live and what to expect:
JazzBuffalo Presents a Retrospective On The Music Of Red Garland, Saturday, December 3rd at 8 pm at Pausa Art House
One of the area’s finest jazz pianists, Doug “Trigger” Gaston, will be performing his second performance focused on the music of jazz legend Red Garland. The first was a special evening of Gaston playing Garland’s repertoire. Garland’s music will be performed in a trio and quartet formats with Sabu Adeyola on bass, Abdul-Rahman Qadir on drums, and Tony Zambito on percussion. A night of experiencing the lyrical and magical piano stylings that made Red Garland’s piano jazz projects and arrangements an integral part of jazz history. Here is a clip of classic Red Garland piano jazz as he performs A Foggy Day:
Star People: The Music Of Miles Davis, Friday, December 2nd at 8 pm at Pausa Art House
The George Caldwell led project continues its focus on performing the music of Miles Davis. Building upon its recent November 10th performance at Pausa Art House, expect more tunes of Miles Davis being performed by Caldwell and a quartet or quintet of Buffalo’s finest.
JazzBuffalo Presents Special Edition of The Hard Bop Project, Wednesday, December 7th at 7 pm at Road Less Traveled Theatre
The JazzBuffalo and Road Less Traveled Productions Jazz Series will present a special edition of The Hard Bop Project. The group, which focuses on the hard bop and soulful music of Lou Donaldson and Gene Ammons to name two, will feature a three-part horn section backed by a full rhythm ensemble. Make plans to come to the beautiful lobby of the Road Less Traveled Productions Theatre on 500 Pearl Street at Tupper on Wednesday, December 7th. The venue offers spectacular sound and on this night will feature Kelly Bucheger on sax, Tim Clarke on trumpet, Brendan Lanighan on trombone, Lisa Housholder Hasselback on piano, Ed Croft on bass, Devin Kelly on drums, and Tony Zambito on percussion. There will be plenty of free parking as there is no Shea's event on this evening. Cash bar for wine and beer and other drinks. Here is a clip of a Lou Donaldson favorite, Gravy Train:
Jazz In Town
On Saturday, December 3rd enjoy Christmas Jazz at the JazzBuffalo and The Hollow Bistro First Saturday Jazz Brunch Series, which will feature Custode & Parisi performer jazz versions of Christmas classics accompanied by a sumptuous brunch menu.
To hear more holiday jazz music with a twist, on Friday, December 2nd and Saturday, December 3rd at the Kenan Center in Lockport, the Kelly Bucheger-led band, What Would Mingus Do?, will be performing holiday jazz beginning at 7:30 pm. Tickets $15.
Tim Clarke’s New Dimensions, on Saturday, December 3rd at 8 pm at Shakti Yoga and Lounge is a new solo and collaborative project The central instrument in this project is a custom-made pedal board equipped with an assortment of analog and digital signal processing “pedals”, carefully chosen for their expressive potential when applied to the sound of the trumpet. Joining Clarke will be keyboardist Harry Graser.
There will be a fundraiser for the Floyd Fried All City High School Jazz Festival that will be held in February on Sunday, December 4th from 1 pm to 4 pm at Flying Bison Brewery with music performed by the Eleventet ensemble.
On Wednesday, December 7th at 9 pm see the trumpeter led Jay Jacobs Quintet at Nietzsche’s in Allentown
Weekly and Ongoing Jazz
See the Jazz Example at their weekly Friday spot at the Anchor Bar beginning at 8 pm led by Bilal Abdullah on sax and Doug “Trigger” Gaston on piano
See Kevin Doyle led Sol Y Sombra, Latin jazz, at the Anchor Bar on Saturday’s beginning at 8pm.
See pianist George Jones with bassist Bill Staebel and drummer John Bacon, Jr. at Oliver’s every Saturday beginning at 8 pm.
On Thursdays at 727 on Elmwood, Adam Bronstein leads a trio for jazz beginning at 7:30 pm with Anthony Henry and Alec Dube
On the third Tuesday of every month at Shannon's Pub, the River Dogs Dixieland Band performs beginning at 7 pm
On various Wednesdays and Fridays, GiGi's on Kenmore will have jazz. Check their schedules.
On various Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Merge on Delaware host jazz, in addition to folk and other forms of acoustic music, from 7 pm to 9 pm. Check their schedule.
On Thursdays at Dick and Jennys on Grand Island you can catch Don Burns at 6:30 pm
On the last Thursday of each month, the Tin Roof Jazz Band plays at the Polish Villa II. The band typically includes Willie Wilson (Banjo/Vocals), Jim Pace (Tuba), Pim Liebman (Trombone), Ivan Docenko (Piano), Phil Nyhuis (Trumpet/Fluglehorn – vocals) Joe Hochulski (Drums Set), and Richard Sowinski (Tenor Sax/Clarinet – vocals)
On Saturdays beginning at 1 pm until 4 pm, you can find jazz for Beats and Brunch at Hot Mama Canteen. Check their schedule weekly.
On the first Sunday of every month, you can catch Jazz Cache’ at Nietzsche’s beginning at 9 pm
On the first and third Wednesday of every month, at Mason’s Grille in Hamburg at 7:30 pm, you can catch the Frank Gerard and Ray Chamberlain Group with vocalist Cheryl Ferris.
On the last Wednesday of every month, the Gypsy Jazz Jam takes place at the Gypsy Parlor at 8:30 pm
On the first Wednesday of every month, the band Fountain Head hosts a Jazz Jam at McGarret’s on Elmwood 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. And, the Joe Baudo Organ-based group performs on Wednesday between 12 pm and 2 pm.
Don’t forget the Historic Colored Musicians Club has open rehearsals on Mondays with George Scott Big Band and on Thursdays with the Carol McLaughlin Big Band. Sundays typically have a performance at 6 pm followed by jazz jam at 7 pm.
Upcoming
On December 10th and 11th you can see the Cabaret Big Band Holiday Show with Katy Miner at MusicalFare Cabaret Lounge – reserve your seats online or call the MusicalFare box office
On Saturday, December 10th, see the event Jazz Meets Gospel featuring jazz legend Sabu Adeyola and Sabu Adeyola Oasis #4 Ensemble with Les Davis, Tony Gloster, Joyce Carolyn, and Virgil Nkosi Day beginning at 5 pm.
On Sunday, December 11th, see Janice Mitchell and Jim Beishline at the next JazzBuffalo/189 Sunday Jazz Series concert.
On Friday, December 16th at Pausa Art House JazzBuffalo presents Jazz Vibes: Remembering the Music Of Bobby Hutcherson. Featuring Joanne Lorenzo on vibes with Lisa Hasselback, Sabu Adeyola, Dave Schiavone, John Hasselback, Jr., Devin Kelly, and Tony Zambito performing a retrospective on the music of one of the most influential jazz vibraphonists of our time.
On Saturday, December 17th at Pausa Art House at 8 pm make plans for a special holiday concert entitled Midnight Blue Christmas: Have Yourself A Soulful Little Christmas. The Midnight Blue Experience (Kenny Burrell retrospective group) will perform classic Christmas songs in the spirit of the classic 1966 Kenny Burrell Christmas album, which a first of its kind at that time.
In the next three weeks, Pausa Art House will have Rick Holland’s Little Big Band, Gruvology, Greg Millar Quartet, Elliott Scozzaro, and Bobby Militello Quartet.
Tickets are now available for the January 20th JazzBuffalo presentation of A Jazz Tribute To Michael Jackson that will feature musical direction by Mark Marinaccio. Call to reserve seats!
JazzBuffalo Development
It is almost that time of year to begin thinking about nominees for the 2016 JazzBuffalo Poll where readers, fans, and audiences vote for and recognize jazz musicians, venues, and performances in the past year. Look for more on this soon but start making your lists! JazzBuffalo is seeking sponsors for the poll this year from venues and businesses throughout the year. Please visit here to help: JazzBuffalo Poll
Keep Jazz Alive In WNY!!
