The breadth and depth of jazz can be expansive. Consisting of moving boundaries that incorporate many sounds and genres. This coming week will find jazz touching many of us in many ways in the spirit of Mardi Gras!
Highlights
Maceo Parker, Friday, February 24 at 8 pm at Buffalo State Performing Arts Center
Maceo Parker is considered a titan of jazz-funk. The noted sax player has collaborated with many of the greats that include James Brown, George Clinton, Ray Charles, James Taylor, and Prince. Most notably, producing the piercing sax sound of the famous James Brown ensembles. Maceo Parker hits the stage of the Buffalo State Performing Arts Center with his touring funk band. Check out what to expect:
My Cousin Tone’ – Fan Appreciation Night!, Friday, February 24 at 8 pm at Pausa Art House
The nine-piece band that opened up the Lewiston Jazz Festival last year and sold-out MusicalFare Theatre Cabaret Lounge recently makes a return to Pausa Art House for the first time in nearly two years. Look for new arrangements from Tim Martin and new songs echoing the performances mentioned above. The nine-piece ensemble will include Tim Martin on bari and alto sax, Pete Dauphin on trombone, Andy Peruzzini on trumpet, Tom Marinaro on tenor sax, Karen Ragusa on bass, Jim Matteliano on piano, Bill Basil on drums, and Tony Zambito on percussion. The band also is celebrating Fan Appreciation Night – go to their website and learn about a special cover discount here: My Cousin Tone’ Fan Appreciation Night
The Spirit of Nina Simone with Drea D’Nur, Kleinhans Music Hall, Friday, February 24 at 8 pm
Musical talent and vocalist Drea D’Nur will perform a special tribute to the legendary Priestess of jazz soul Nina Simone. In 1964, Nina Simone performed at Kleinhans and the Buffalo percussionist legend, Emil Latimer was a regular performer with Simone in the late ‘60’s to early ‘70’s. Expect a multi-media production to include a 10-piece band, strings, dancers, video, and readings. Tickets $30 to $55.
JazzBuffalo Presents Mardi Gras Groove with Ron Davis, Walt Sopicki, and David Wasik, Saturday, February 25 at 8 pm at Pausa Art House
It is Mardi Gras time and there is no better way than to organize and event featuring the irresistible groove sound from Buffalo’s own Mardi Gras and New Orleans icon Ron Davis also known as LeeRon Zydeco. The jazz groove will feature Ron Davis on organ, Walt Sopicki on guitar, David Wasik on drums, and Tony Zambito on percussion. This will be the debut of Ron Davis and David Wasik at Pausa Art House. Long overdue! Don’t miss the groove.
10th Annual Mardi Gras Jam, Sunday, February 26 at 12 pm at Sportsmen Tavern
The Big Easy brings national act Terry & the Zydeco Bad Boys! Joined by local favorites Ten Cent Howl and The Buffalo Brass Machine. Performing separately and then coming together as "Ten Cent Brass Machine". It's a Mardi Gras Matinee, with the show starting at noon. Tickets are $15 and are available at the club, and all proceeds go to The Big Easy in Buffalo, a program of Arts Services Initiative of WNY, Inc.
Jazz In Town
On Thursday, February 23 at 7 pm at Pausa Art House see the Jacob Jay Quintet
On Friday, February 24 at 7:30 pm at the Roycroft Inn in East Aurora catch jazz guitarist Rick Straus's ThreeO with John Duffy Fornes and Rob Williams.
On Saturday, February 25 at 7:30 pm at Taylor Theatre in Lockport see What Would Mingus Do? in a tribute to Dexter Gordon as they perform some Gordon tunes and originals. The quintet features Kelly Bucheger on saxophone, Greg Millar on guitar, Alec Dube on vibes, Ed Croft on bass, and Devin Kelly on drums. Tickets are $20.
On Saturday, February 25 at 8 pm through 2 am the Mohawk Place will feature three young jazz nu-groove and funk fusion bands. The night will feature sets beginning at 9 pm Not Jackie Chan Trio, 10:30 pm Adam Bronstein’s Freehand Band and 12 am Houston Gardwell Collective.
Weekly and Ongoing Jazz
Beginning in 2017, we will list recurring ongoing jazz on the JazzBuffalo website to help free up space in the weekly Jazz In Town website and email editions. This is the link to the page: Weekly Jazz In Town
Upcoming
On Saturday, March 4th the JazzBuffalo and Hollow Bistro First Saturday Jazz Brunch will host the piano and vibes duo of Harry Graser and Alec Dube. Click on the poster and make your reservations soon.
On Saturday, March 4th at 8 pm, the BPO will present a special tribute to Nat King Cole. To learn of a JazzBuffalo $5 discount promo code – go here: Nat King Cole Tribute.
JazzBuffalo.org Development
This coming April will be another year of Jazz Appreciation Month and International Jazz Day. JazzBuffalo will be partnering with Pausa Art House to host a series of 5 Saturday concerts in April to celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month. Look for a musical focus on a CD revival, honoring the legacy of Charles Mingus, and an homage to Erroll Garner. Stay tuned for more details!
The JazzBuffalo Community Is An Open Community
As many of you know, JazzBuffalo was created as part of the Greater Buffalo Jazz Society. Our mission is to build jazz awareness and appreciation in Greater Buffalo by making it possible to create opportunities for venues, musicians, and audiences to experience jazz. We are taking a community approach as opposed to the traditional membership approach. By signing up for the JazzBuffalo email distribution, you will automatically be a part of the community. And, the community will be emailed future opportunities to receive discounts and other generous offerings that enable people to experience jazz. Such as the BPO discount offering to the JazzBuffalo Community mentioned above. Some of these offerings will be exclusively by email only. Enriching the fabric of the Greater Buffalo Arts and Cultural Scene. If you are reading this online and have not signed up for emails, do so and become part of the JazzBuffalo Community today! Sign up today for the JazzBuffalo emails and automatically become part of the JazzBuffalo Community here: JazzBuffalo Community and Email Sign-Up
Keep Jazz Alive!!
I thought the Mardi Gras Jam is on Sunday. Article also states that Saturday is the 24th and that is not correct.
Thanks Russ for the alert – fixed!
Thanks for sharing