The final month of 2016 is here and it has been a great year in jazz. The Ritual Trio with David Murray this past Sunday was a highlight of this year and a few more are in store before year-end.
Highlights
Contemporary Smooth Jazz: Cindy Bradley, Vincent Ingala, and Jonathan Fritzen, Friday, December 9th at 8 pm at Buffalo State Performing Arts Center.
This concert represents a summit meeting of some of the hottest stars in contemporary and smooth jazz. If smooth jazz is your thing, then this may be the concert not to miss. Bradley, Ingala, and Fritzen consistently appear at the top of the charts for contemporary and smooth jazz. At the Buffalo State Performing Arts Center and tickets $35-$40. Here is a Vincent Ingala tune, Coast to Coast, that exemplifies the contemporary jazz sound you can expect to hear:
A Big Band Holiday, MusicalFare Theatre Cabaret Lounge, 3 Shows, Saturday and Sunday, December 10 and 11
This is the third year in a row for the Big Band Holiday Show featuring an ensemble led by Phil Sims and featuring vocalist Katy Miner. See a line-up that includes Russ D'Alba, Ken Kuriscak, Harry Fackelman, saxes, Tim Clarke, Phil Sims, brass , Harry Graser, piano , Paul Zapalowski, bass, and Tom Kasperek, drums. Holiday favorites jazzed up! Visit the MusicalFare box office online or call to reserve seats!
Gruvology, Friday, December 9th at 8 pm at Pausa Art House
Keeping with the contemporary theme, Buffalo-based jazz band Gruvology makes a return appearance at Pausa Art House. Their blend of contemporary, straight-ahead, and fusion jazz is evident on their FREEWAY CD. Yet, another group doing original compositions. Word has it they've been working on new material and may introduce some. See Walter Kemp, III, Bernard Kunz, James Bender, and David “Teaspoon” Hulett. Here is a great tune from Gruvology's FREEWAY CD:
JazzBuffalo Tuesday Night Concert Series Presents Phil DiRe and Friends, Tuesday, December 13th at 7 pm at The Meeting House
One of Buffalo’s jazz legends is saxophonist Phil DiRe. On this night, you can hear DiRe with Bobby Jones on piano, and Jim Colemon on bass. Performing in the intimacy of the 1871 historic Meeting House building located in Williamsville. The Meeting House also will now allow BYOW – meaning you can bring your own wine bottles to the Meeting House for the event. JazzBuffalo and The Williamsville Arts and Culture Committee are excited to be bringing jazz to this part of Greater Buffalo.
Sounds of Inspiration and Sabu Adeyola Presents Jazz Meets Gospel, Saturday, December 10th at 5:00 pm.
Jazz Meets Gospel features the Sabu Adeyola Oasis #4 Ensemble with Les Davis, Tony Gloster, Joyce Carolyn, and Virgil Nkosi Day led by the legendary jazz bassist. The concert focused on inspirational jazz and gospel music takes place at Delaine Waring A.M.E. Church on Swan Street in Buffalo.
JazzBuffalo and 189 Sunday Jazz Series Presents Janice Mitchell and Jim Beishline with Special Guest Wayne Moose, Sunday, December 11th at 6 pm at 189 Public House
This dynamic duo and former Raelette of the famous Ray Charles band, Jim Beishline and Janice Mitchell will be performing as part of the JazzBuffalo and 189 Sunday Jazz Series. A special holiday concert in the superlative sound venue of 189 Public House. The duo will also feature 2015 JazzBuffalo Bassist of the Year, Wayne Moose. NO COVER and great food and drinks.
William Parker and Patricia Nicholson: Studies in Freedom, Monday, December 12th at 8 pm at HallWalls Contemporary Arts Center
Another momentous presentation by, Hallwalls, described as:
"Studies in Freedom combines music, words, and dance to tell a story of the collective heart yearning for Freedom. It expresses our greatest visions, our desire to attain what is best not only for ourselves but for all. We will speak in the language of physical gesture and the motion of energy as music and as dance. We will use words that escape from our souls to speak of our hearts."
NYC creative power-couple bassist-composer William Parker and dancer-choreographer Patricia Nicholson Parker, do not mince words when it comes to artistic vision. In a 2008 interview in All About Jazz, Nicholson says "We need to take our visions seriously. The idea is to give birth to your own vision and make it a reality in this world…So when you have a brilliant and beautiful idea you should try to make it happen. You should take it out of the world of dreams and you should bring it into the world of reality because we need them."
An interesting combination of free jazz with free jazz dance. Here is a glimpse of what this can look like:
Jazz In Town
On Thursday, December 8th at 8 pm at Pausa Art House, catch Rick Holland’s Little Big Band featuring vocalist Lindsay Holland. The evening will feature an 11-piece band consisting of jazz performers from Buffalo and Rochester.
On Saturday, December 10th at 8 pm at Pausa Art House, see the Greg Millar Quartet with Greg Millar on guitar, Ron Peterson on the Hammond B3, Rey Scott on baritone sax, and David Phillips on drums. Millar brings inventive arrangements of jazz classics.
On Sunday, December 11th, the Bobby Militello Quartet will be playing a tribute to Dave Brubeck and More as part of the Buffalo Jazz Collective Sunday Series at the Buffalo History Museum.
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 Staebell 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. (This Friday, see Mary McMahon with Rick Strauss and Bud Fadale)
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/Flugelhorn – 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 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.
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!!
