Jazz can be challenging and it brings out the best in musicians. Giving the audience an experience that is unexpected yet uplifting. And, offers varietal forms of jazz. That may be the case this upcoming week – so many forms of great jazz.
Highlights
The Mambo Kings, Saturday, October 14th at 8 pm at Kleinhans Music Hall
It is Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and you can do so with one the country’s leading Latin jazz interpreters, the Rochester-based Mambo Kings. The band has performed not only in Upstate New York but throughout the country at various festivals, as well as, various POPS! Concerts with philharmonic orchestras. The Hispanic Heritage Council will be collecting monetary donations for Puerto Rico in the lobby. Come at 7 PM to hear Latin dance music by the Hutch Tech Tech Tones and Olmsted High’s Jazz F.L.O in the Mary Seaton Room, arranged by the BPO’s Diversity Council. For tickets, go here: https://bpo.org/event/mambo-kings/
Here is a recent “live” festival performance:
The Jon Lehning Saxophone Quartet, Thursday, October 12th at 7 pm at Pausa Art House
For something different, artistic, challenging, and crossing boundaries, hearing what a quartet of saxophones can produce musically can be a rewarding experience. The quartet will be performing the music of Offenbach, Debussy, Gershwin, Tchaikovsky, Singelée, Albéniz, Florenzo, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Gordon Goodwin, The Hornheads & Stevie Wonder. A mix of classical, jazz, pop, and Latin jazz. The quartet will consist of some of the area’s rising stars and a mentor with Jon Lehning - Soprano/Alto Saxophone, Russ Carere Jr. – Alto Saxophone, Matt Harris - Tenor Saxophone, Harry Fackelman – Baritone Saxophone, and special guest Derek Hager – Tenor Saxophone. Fans of the 1970’s Supersax band may find this of interest.
Carina and the Six String Preacher, Saturday, October 14th at 8 pm at Pausa Art House
For unique and intoxicating jazz, this trio continues to surprise with innovative arrangements. Their style brings the tradition of Les Paul and Mary Ford and combines with contemporary Indie sounds in jazz and pop. The band consists of Carina and Vince Mastrantonio on vocals and guitar with John Brady on drums. Find out why their performance at the recent Northwest Jazz Festival was talked about. Here is a clip of a beautiful rendition and arrangement of Somewhere Over The Rainbow:
Guitar Tango with Peter White and Marc Antoine, Wednesday, October 18th at 8 pm at Buffalo State Performing Arts Center
Smooth jazz fans will like the opportunity to see two jazz guitar masters perform together as they offer up smooth jazz renditions with a flavor of tango and Latin. Both have had prolific careers in smooth jazz, as well as, accompanying pop stars. GO to Buffalo State Performing Art website for tickets. Here is a clip of the duo:
Jazz In Town
On Thursday, October 12 at 7 pm at Carnegie Arts Center in North Tonawanda you can catch Mark Filsinger and Friends as part of the Thursday Jazz Series
On Thursday, October 12 at 9 pm, you can see Kelly Bucheger-led What Would Mingus Do? at 9 pm at Nietzsche's in Allentown
On Friday, October 13 at 8 pm at Pausa Art House see the Buffalo Jazz Octet, the band that performs with elements of improvised free jazz, as they focus on the music of Monk.
On Sunday, October 15 for a jazz brunch (11 am to 2 pm) at the Water Street Landing in Lewiston, see the duo of Greg Millar on guitar and Mark Harris on bass (part of proceeds goes to Northwest Jazz Festival)
(Be sure to check the Weekly Jazz on the JazzBuffalo website for ongoing jazz.)
JazzBuffalo Presents The Hotel Henry Jazz Concert Series
Thanks to all who attended the huge turnout for the Eric Johnson Quintet. Another great evening of jazz in the iconic Hotel Henry. Next up in the series will be Buffalo’s premier gypsy jazz band, The Hot Club of Buffalo on Wednesday, November 15th. The Hot Club of Buffalo is nearing capacity already so act soon. And, be sure to get tickets for the dynamic Joe Policastro Trio, the band from Chicago making a tour stop here in Buffalo:
Hotel Henry Jazz Concert Series include:
The Hot Club of Buffalo on November 15: Tickets
The Joe Policastro Trio on November 29: Tickets
Art of Jazz Series: An Evening with Bill Frisell & Thomas Morgan (Saturday, December 2nd at 8 pm)
Named “Jazz Guitarist of the Year” 15 times, multiple Grammy Award winner Bill Frisell has established himself as one of the most admired and influential musicians across contemporary music. With his unmistakable trademark sound, his collaborations with a staggering range of artists from jazz, rock, film, and beyond—including Paul Motian, Elvis Costello, Paul Simon, Charles Lloyd, Bonnie Raitt, and John Scofield—have produced dazzling results, as evidenced by Small Town (ECM), his acclaimed recent release recorded live at New York’s famed Village Vanguard with rising bass phenom Thomas Morgan. Individual tickets are now on sale. Go here: AOJ: Bill Frisell
Here is a clip of this super duo:
Jazz 100 Festival – October 19, 20, and 21
In October, JazzBuffalo and Pausa Art House will team to host the Jazz 100 Festival on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday – 10/19 to 10/21. The festival will celebrate the 100th birthdays of Ella Fitzgerald, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie and Mongo Santamaria – with mention of Buddy Rich and Tadd Dameron. On Thursday 10/19, the Mary McMahon Project will do a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, Friday 10/20 Star People will shift focus from Miles Davis and do a special tribute to Thelonious Monk, and on Saturday a special performance by Elio Villafranca will conclude the festival with a tribute to Dizzy Gillespie and Mongo Santamaria. See the JazzBuffalo article on Festival here: JAZZ 100 Festival See more about the Elio Villafranca concert below.
Upcoming
On Friday, November 3rd at 8 pm, JazzBuffalo, in association with the Revolution Gallery, will present the Midnight Blue Experience for another session of the music of Kenny Burrell.
On Friday, November 10, JazzBuffalo, in association with Pausa Art House will present the Institute For Creative Music Collective: Plays the Music of Bjork, which will feature a rising star in the New York City jazz scene, Nick Finzer on trombone. Mark the date.
On Saturday, November 11, JazzBuffalo, in association with Pausa Art House, will host a special Veterans Day Concert with music by My Cousin Tone'. Mark the date.
JazzBuffalo Presents International Jazz Artists
In the fall on Saturday, October 21 at JAZZ 100 Festival, JazzBuffalo will be presenting, in association with Pausa Art House, the Julliard, New York City-based, and highly-regarded Grammy Nominee jazz pianist Elio Villafranca. Joining Villafranca as special guest will be the heavily touted Canadian National Jazz Award winner, Brownman Ali on trumpet, whose forays into jazz and hip-hop are well documented. The ensemble will also feature Sabu Adeyola on bass and Sean Jefferson on drums with an exciting appearance by the Cuban-born percussionist Vladimir Espinosa. This concert will be a special part of the Jazz 100 Festival to be held October 19, 20, and 21 with a special tribute to Dizzy Gillespie. Get your reserved seats here (they are going fast now): Elio Villafranca Check out another video – this time performing the title track from the Elio Villafranca and the Jass Syncopators Caribbean Tinge project – once you see this – you will not want to miss this!!:
JazzBuffalo, in association with MusicalFare Theatre, presents one of the most iconic jazz legends in jazz history, alto saxophone great Richie Cole, who will make an appearance at MusicalFare Theatre Premier Cabaret Lounge on Saturday, October 28th. Joining him will be the Rich Thompson Trio with Bill Dobbins on piano, Dan Vitale on bass, and Rich Thompson on drums. Get your reserved seats early – go here and reserve today - Richie Cole Seats! Check out Richie Cole in a recording session for his latest album being released October 20th – Latin Lovers:
The Julliard and New York City-based Pete and Will Anderson Trio, who have wowed audiences throughout the country and through their performances at the Jazz At The Lincoln Center make an appearance at Pausa Art House for the first time on November 24th. Below is a clip of the trio performing an amazingly uptempo version of Cherokee. Get your reserved seats here: Pete and Will Anderson
Presented by JazzBuffalo, the dynamic The Amos Hoffman/Noam Lemish Quartet will be making a rare appearance in Buffalo on Sunday, November 26 at Pausa Art House for two shows at 3 pm and 6 pm. In 2013 Amos Hoffman was awarded one of Israel’s most prestigious prizes – The Landau Prize for Arts and Sciences for outstanding achievement in the field of Jazz. The quartet performs unique jazz arrangements of traditional Israeli and Jewish songs with Hoffman on the traditional Oud. In addition, they perform hard swing jazz music. Below is a video of their upcoming CD/Album, in which Buffalo will be one of their first stops presenting this album! Get your reserved seats here: Hoffman/Lemish 3 pm or Hoffman/Lemish 6 pm
EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT/SAVE THE DATE:
French-born Scott Tixier returns to the Buffalo area after his terrific performances at the 2017 CMC Jazz Festival. The jazz violinist has gained award-winning recognition in the jazz world for his unique vision for the violin and his stellar performances. Noted by the prestigious Downbeat Critic's Poll as one of today's Rising Stars in jazz. Tixier will be accompanied by the BluJazz Recording trio – the Walter Kemp 3oh! Receiving rave reviews and airplay on jazz radio stations across the country for their "Dark Continent" CD, the trio has performed in Toronto and Philadelphia to packed audiences. Garnering recognition for their modern jazz sound. A special blending of jazz not to be missed! Look for ticket availability for 2 shows – 7:15 pm and 9:15 pm plus a VIP option for both shows and meet and greet with Scott Tixier – soon!
"Keep JazzBuffalo Alive" Fundraising Campaign
Since JazzBuffalo launched this website in April of 2014, we have seen a tremendous growth in the visibility of jazz in Greater Buffalo. And, we have experienced significant growth in the availability of jazz events that enrich the Buffalo Arts and Cultural Scene. As you can see by this lengthy newsletter, we have fast outgrown this website platform. We are in need of funding to create a robust website that will allow for news, event listings, ticket purchases, and more. Our goal is to design and create user-friendly means (website plus app) for audiences to become aware of jazz events in the Greater Buffalo Region. And, to continue to create fantastic jazz series introducing local and international jazz artists to our area.
If you believe in the JazzBuffalo dream, appreciative donations are being accepted by clicking on the link below:
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE "KEEP JazzBuffalo ALIVE" CAMPAIGN!
Keep Jazz Alive!!!!!!!!
