As we head towards Easter weekend, there will be jazz available throughout the area. Remember- April is Jazz Appreciation Month – and plenty of outstanding jazz to appreciate! Including 3 nights at Pausa Art House.
Highlights
Historic Colored Musicians Club Centennial Gala, Saturday, April 15 at 5:30 pm at Hotel Lafayette
On Saturday, April 15th, the Historic Colored Musicians Club will be celebrating its 100th year with a gala at the Hotel Lafayette. The gala will feature special guest jazz artist and saxophonist Bill Beasley and local 533 Jazz Musicians. The gala begins at 5:30 pm and includes dinner and drinks – contribution is $150. It is a treasure for the city to have this one-of-a-kind institution continue its legacy and continue in making significant contributions to the music of jazz, as well as, to the community, Congratulations to the CMC for reaching 100 years! Click on the poster for more details regarding the gala. A brief clip from WKBW regarding the 100 years:
The Ladies First Jazz Combo, Saturday, April 15 at 8 pm at Pausa Art House
JazzBuffalo, in association with Pausa Art House, continues its Jazz Appreciation Month series with a special performance by the Ladies First Jazz Combo on Saturday, August 15 at 8 pm. The Smithsonian National Museum of American History is honoring Women In Jazz this year for 2017 Jazz Appreciation Month. The history of Women in Jazz is rich and is often an untold story. For example, a famous 1968 performance by the Count Basie Orchestra of Stormy Monday Blues featured Elvira “Vi” Redd – an alto saxophonist and singer. Check out the clip:
More commonly known were the female jazz vocalists throughout the history of jazz. But, there were many instrumentalists and it continues today. As part of Jazz Appreciation Moth, we will be celebrating Women in Jazz with Buffalo’s own premier all-women band. The combo will feature a subset of the popular Ladies First Jazz Big Band to include Jennifer May on bass, Julie Winden on trumpet, Maggie Roston on saxophone and flute, Verneice Turner on vocals and spoken word, Peggy Scalzo on drums, and Andrew Nixon filling in on piano. If you haven’t seen this well-done piece by WNY Media Arts on the band from a few years ago, be sure to watch it and see how lucky we are to have a premier all-women band right here in Greater Buffalo:
Women In Music Series Presents Wooden Cities, Friday, April 14th at 7:30 pm at Ciminelli Recital Hall at Buffalo State
Continuing the focus on Women in music, the Buffalo State Music Department will present the contemporary music ensemble Wooden Cities. While technically not a pure jazz event, the ensemble incorporates elements of contemporary improvisational music into it compositions and arrangement. They have a focus on modern contemporary composers and will presents works by:
Anna Meredith – Lylat (2008)
Kaija Saariaho – Jardin Secret II (1986)
Gayle Young – Along the Periphery (1993)
Yoko Ono – Pieces for Orchestra (1962)
Amanda Stuart – Not Missing You (2013)
Gayle Young – Usque ad Mare (1981)
Pauline Oliveros – Buffalo Jam (1982)
Here is a clip so you can get a sense of the contemporary aspects of their music:
Greg Millar Quintet, Thursday, April 13 at 7:00 pm at Pausa Art House
The notable guitarist, who has performed with the likes of Spyro Gyra and Charles Earland in his past, puts together a newly configured band. Featured will be Greg Millar guitar, Rey Scott sax/flute, John Hasselback trombone, John Werick bass, and Abdul-Rahman Qadir drums. Surely to perform Millar’s thoughtful and innovative arrangements.
Frontstreet Men, Friday, April 14 at 8 pm at Pausa Art House
This young but enterprising jazz organ trio has been busy working on original compositions and arrangements. Producing a yet to be released body of work for a CD. Their music is flavored with spices of blues, soul, and funk. Featured will feature Dave Pinchoff – organ and keys, Ian Adelstein – guitar, and Stephen Lattimore – drums for a night jazz organ-based groove. Here is a clip to see what’s in store:
Jazz In Town
On Friday, April 14 at 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm you can see the Greg Millar Quintet with Greg Millar, John Hasselback, Jr., Rey Scott, John Werwick, and Abdul-Rahman Qadir as part of M&T Second Friday
On Friday, April 14, for Happy Hour from 6 pm to 8 pm, catch the duo of Jim Bohm on trumpet and Rick Strauss on guitar at the Twilight Room
On Friday, April 14 at 6:30 pm catch Custode and Parisi at the Como Restaurant in Niagara Falls
On Friday, April 14 at 7 pm at Spot Coffee on Elmwood catch the duo of Drew Azzinaro on guitar and Ed Croft on bass
Upcoming
In April, Hallwalls will have the noted saxophonist Anna Webber's Simple Trio on Sunday, April 23rd.
The Buffalo Jazz Octet will be performing a CD Release concert on Thursday, April 20th that celebrates their Live at Pausa CD based on a concert held last year.
Robert Glasper, the Blue Note artist of jazz-fusion and contemporary fame, comes to Buffalo State Performing Arts Center on April 20th.
Buffalo's premier gypsy jazz band, The Hot Club of Buffalo, will have a CD release concert celebration on April 21st at the Smith Theatre.
On April 22, The Katy Miner Quintet will be part of an April in Paris-themed dinner and music event at the Roycroft Inn. See and click on the poster for more details.
Look for performances in April at Pausa Art House from Greg Millar Quartet, Star People, the Frontstreet Men, and others.
Drummer Bob Holz and Vision Forward will be making a visit to Buffalo on April 24th as part of their CD Release tour. They will be doing a special tribute to Larry Coryell and Alphonse Mouzon on Monday, April 24th at the Sportsmen Tavern. On this latest CD Visions and Friends, it proved to be the last appearance of Larry Coryell on a CD.
JazzBuffalo will be pleased to present on Monday, May 1 at 7 pm the Montreal-based jazz ensemble, The B's Bees. In partnership with Jazz Beyond Borders, the band will make a stop here as part of their US National Tour at the Road Less Traveled Theater downtown. They will be performing with special guest Dave Schiavone. Expect an evening of original hard bop jazz from this notable group from Canada.
On May 11th, noted alto saxophonist Brad Leali will visit Buffalo and perform with the Elliot Scozzaro Quintet. Leali had Scozzaro as a student and has a resume including lead alto sax with the Harry Connick, Jr. Band and the Count Basie Orchestra.
The JazzBuffalo and Hollow Bistro First Saturday Jazz Brunch Spring and Summer lineup from May through September are set beginning on May 6 with two of the area's best jazz musicians – the duo of Ralph Fava on guitar and Bud Fadale on bass. Click on the poster to expand and to see the rest of the schedule.
April Is Jazz Appreciation Month and International Jazz Day
This 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 concerts in April to celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month. Here's the line-up so far:
April 15: Women in Jazz - The Ladies First Jazz Combo led by bassist Jennifer May will celebrate Women in Jazz
April 22: The band What Would Mingus Do? will celebrate the birthday of Charles Mingus,
April 27: 100 Years: Celebrating Ella Fitzgerald performed by the Katy Miner Quintet
April 29: A Retrospective on Erroll Garner performed by Doug "Trigger" Gaston with Sabu Adeyola, Abdul-Rahman Qadir, and Tony Zambito
International Jazz Day
Jazz Appreciation Month also ends with International Jazz Day scheduled for Sunday, April 30th. Started in 2012 by UNESCO to coincide with Jazz Appreciation Month, different international cities have hosted what is called Jazz Day. Herbie Hancock has served as the UNESCO Ambassador to Jazz for International Jazz Day. JazzBuffalo, in association with Pausa Art House, will be hosting a FREE event for International Jazz Day from 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm. The event will also shine a spotlight on Multiple Sclerosis and the upcoming MS Walk. Performers will bring an international focus to this day and will include:
- The Hot Club of Buffalo
- The Buffalo Brass Machine
- The French ConeXion
- My Cousin Tone'
- Pianist Harry Graser
- Jazz vocalist Katy Miner
International model and singer Suzanne Fatta will serve as the event's honorary Master of Ceremonies. Suzanne is a testament to succeeding in life while managing MS, having graced photos in magazines throughout the globe and supporting women causes through her modeling. She will sing a song or two in Portuguese /Italian to add to the international flavor of the event.
Donations will be accepted with all proceeds going to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, in which the annual MS Walk is on the following Saturday, May 6. Come out and support UNITY through jazz and support finding a cure for MS!
JazzBuffalo Presents International Jazz Artists
JazzBuffalo, in partnership with MusicalFare Theatre Premier Cabaret Lounge, is pleased to present two outstanding internationally recognized jazz artists and ensembles. On Saturday, June 24th, The Tierney Sutton Band will perform. The 8-time Grammy Nominee, Tierney Sutton, is one of the top jazz vocalists in the world today. Only 4 seats remain so act fast.
On Sunday, August 13, one of the best gypsy jazz bands internationally will visit Buffalo for a night of gypsy jazz. The Rhythm Future Quartet is rewriting the book on gypsy jazz with innovative compositions and arrangements. Opening the show will be the Hot Club of Buffalo. This show is already half-way reserved so act fast on reserving seats here also. Here is a clip of the RFQ arranging the Beatle's Come Together into a gypsy jazz tune:
Keep Jazz Alive!!
Hi! I read your blog and I am very excited to attend these Jazz programs. I wasn’t aware of these musical nights. Thank you for sharing this information about it. I am looking forward to going with my family.