After the coldest weather in a very long time, look for jazz to begin to heat up in the area. We move on from the holidays into what will be an exciting year of jazz.
Highlights
The Beatles Jazz Quintet w/Mark Marinaccio, Thursday, January 11 at 7 pm at Pausa Art House
Jazz and Beatles fans might take notice of this as the Beatles Jazz Quintet will perform with special guest Mark Marinaccio on piano and vocals. The group also features two rising stars on saxophones – Russ Carere on alto sax and Matt Harris on tenor sax. The group will perform jazz arrangements of some of the Beatles most popular tunes. (Yep – totally dug Ringo Starr playing percussion on tunes back in the day.)
Buffalo Tango Orkestra (CD Release), Friday, January 12 at 8 pm at Pausa Art House
With an expansive view towards jazz, this ensemble offers Argentinian Tango music and other South American influences on music. Styles of music that have influenced jazz music across the world since its inception. The Buffalo Tango Orkestra will be releasing their first CD and feature Moshe Shulman (bandoneon, musical director), Miguel Benitez (singer), Chris Vasquez (singer), Victoria Perez (singer), Miranda Shulman (violin), Antoine Lefebvre (violin), Sonsoles Llodra (violin), James Marone (double bass), and Ivan Docenko (piano). Here is the promo video:
Nu Band, Saturday, January 13 at 8 pm at Hallwalls Contemporary Arts
The Nu Band is a dynamic group of world-class artists – all of whom lead a number of groups, play and record with a variety of master musicians globally, and compose original music. The band features Mark Whitecage – alto saxophone, clarinet, Thomas Heberer – trumpet, Joe Fonda – contrabass, and Lou Grassi – drums. For free jazz fans, this will be a significant concert. Get a sense of their free jazz sound in the video. For more information, go to the Hallwalls site: Nu Band.
Jazz In Town
For those with a liking for a funk and reggae with some jazz-infused may want to check out Funktional Flow at the Armor Tap Inn in Hamburg on Saturday, January 13 at 9 pm
The BJC Repertory Orchestra and Big Band consisting of 18 young musicians will play the music of Count Basie on Sunday, January 14th at 2:30 pm at the Buffalo History Museum. The band will be led by Basie alumni and jazz pianist, George Caldwell.
On Wednesday, January 17 at 7 pm catch The Wazmopolitans with Kevin Doyle on keyboards, Jack Kulp on bass, and Dave Wasik on drums. The group will be every Wednesday as a residency at the Lucky Day Whiskey Bar on Pearl Street downtown.
(Be sure to check the Weekly Jazz on the JazzBuffalo website for ongoing jazz.)
Albright-Knox Art Gallery Art Of Jazz Series
Next up in the series is one of the true jazz piano legends of our time, Monty Alexander. His career is highlighted by more than 70 recordings as a leader as well as work with artists including Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett, Ray Brown, and Quincy Jones. Set aside Sunday, January 28 at 3 pm for what will surely be a concert to remember. The first concert sold-out and this one will surely do so as well. Get your tickets soon here: Monty Alexander – Art of Jazz. Alexander will be performing with two very notable sidemen. (Hassan) J.J. Shakur on bass and Jason Brown on drums. Below is Monty Alexander in a performance at the Blue Note in Milano, Italy performing two songs. Do not delay in getting your tickets – this is must-see jazz!
Upcoming
It is certainly not too soon to also get your tickets for Grammy Nominated pianist Billy Childs (March 18) and the fast-rising star in jazz Melissa Aldana (April 21) appearing at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery Art of Jazz Series. Get tickets here: AOJ
On Saturday, January 20 you can see noted trumpeter and singer Byron Stripling at BPO/Kleinhans Music Hall in a tribute to Duke and Ella – in the video below see Stripling in a Philharmonic setting. (JazzBuffalo Email Subscribers can use a special discount of CLUB20 on tickets – thank you to the BPO for providing JazzBuffalo subscribers a discount!) Get tickets here: Byron Stripling
Through JazzBuffalo's partnership with MusicalFare Theatre, Mark Filsinger's Eleventet was introduced to the MusicalFare Theatre Premier Cabaret. They make another appearance on Saturday, January 20 at 8 pm. Tickets $25 and available on MusicalFare Theatre website.
The popular First Saturday Jazz Brunch presented by JazzBuffalo and The Hollow Bistro returns on Saturday, February 3rd with Dave Schiavone on sax and George Kane on guitar. Call the Hollow Bistro at 716-759-7351 to reserve your jazz brunch spot!
The Carnegie Arts Center Thursday Night Jazz Concert Series, promoted and supported by JazzBuffalo, will begin once again February 8 at 7 pm with Live Music & Live Art: A jazz performance by The Pinnavaia/Mastrantonio Duo and simultaneous sketch session by members of the Buffalo Society of Artists. Look for the full schedule soon!
On Saturday, February 10th you can see the noted and highly regarded jazz bassist Petros Klampanis and his group at the UB Center for the Arts. (Described by JazzTimes as a "formidable bassist and composer," Petros Klampanis grew up in Greece, surrounded by the confluence of the Mediterranean and Balkan folk music. He studied classical and jazz music in Athens, Amsterdam and New York. He now is active in the New York jazz scene, where he has performed alongside some of the city's renowned jazz musicians.) Check out the video. Get tickets here: Petros Klampanis
JazzMonday @ The Screening Room Begins!
JazzBuffalo, in association with The Screening Room Cinema and Cafe, is pleased to announce the start of a new series that will take place the last Monday of each month. We will present groups and ensembles highlighting the diverse talent in Greater Buffalo. The first event takes place on Monday, January 29 from 7 pm to 9 pm and it will feature the Blue Note 8 with Dave Schiavone, Lisa Hasselback, Tim Clarke, John Hasselback, Jr., George Kane, Bud Fadale, Tony Zambito, and John Bacon, Jr. in an evening of performing classic Blue Note jazz tunes. We will also use the evening as a celebration of the JazzBuffalo Poll results! Look for further announcements regarding February 26, March 26, and April 30th. (On April 30th, we will have a special International Jazz Day celebration with a concert and live streaming on the big screen of the annual global concert hosted by Herbie Hancock, which takes place in St. Petersburg, Russia this year.)
The 4th Annual 2017 JazzBuffalo Poll!!
The 4th Annual JazzBuffalo Poll received over 2100 votes this year. Thank you to all who participated. A good representative sampling of the area’s weigh-in in 34 categories. We did have to close the poll earlier than anticipated due to a site maintenance issue on the part of the poll providers. Next year will be the 5th Anniversary of the poll and we will make it bigger than ever. Look for results soon and we like to thank Mike Caputi, proprietor of the Daily Planet Coffee Cafe, and local attorney and writer Anthony Chabala for serving as this year's independent verifiers of the results. Also, plan to make the first of JazzMonday at the Screening Room on Monday, January 29 to help celebrate the JazzBuffalo Poll results.
2018 JazzBuffalo Developments
Look for announcements soon on the development of a new JazzBuffalo website project, the 2018 Hotel Henry Jazz Concert Series, JazzApril: April is Jazz Appreciation Month, and more. We will also need continued support to raise funds.
Keep Jazz Alive!!!
