A great start of the year with more jazz coming our way! Please get out and support jazz and help keep the art form alive.
Highlights
El Coco, Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3 at 8 pm at Pausa Art House
The dynamic Latin/Cuban Jazz band, El Coco, makes a return to Pausa after their recent CD Release, “El Coco”, concert last fall. Two spectacular evenings are planned to feature an all-star lineup of world-class musicians. Two shows on Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3 at 8 pm. The concerts will feature world-renowned pianist, arranger, and composer Michel Ferre, who currently tours and arranges for the R&B Star, Lauryn Hill. The concert will also feature international Cuban-born master percussionist Vladimir Espinosa, the classically trained Cuban-born Lázara Martínez on violin, and Buffalo’s own Jerry Livingston on bass – along with guest trumpeter Hansel Herrera. Admission is $20.
Ladies First Big Band, Sunday, March 4 at 1 pm at the Tralf
The Ladies First Big Band will host their 17th Annual Women’s History Month Concert and this year partial fundraising proceeds will benefit the Zonta Buffalo. To be held at the Tralf on Sunday, March 4th at 1 pm with vocalist Kathy Carr and Matt’s Music Vocal Performance Team. An afternoon devoted to song and the big band sound. The Ladies First Big Band consists of many of the top female jazz artists in the area and is led by JazzBuffalo Poll noted bassist, Jennifer May.
The Hot Club Express, Saturday, March 3 at 11:30 am at the Hollow Bistro First Saturday Jazz Brunch
The Hot Club Express featuring E.J. Koeppel and Deono Gionis begins at 11:30 am – (call for reservations, 716-759-7351, to reserve a table for this popular brunch) – and the duo will bring its unique brand of authentic gypsy jazz to the Hollow Bistro. Both members of Buffalo’s premier gypsy jazz band, The Hot Club of Buffalo, a great way to spend brunch and hear the great music of Django Reinhardt.
Jazz In Town
On Thursday, March 1st at 8 pm you can check out the 1st Thursday jazz jam at Rohall’s led by bassist Ed Croft
On Thursday, March 1st at Hallwalls at 8 pm see The Evolution of Arms, which will feature pianist Michael McNeil and offer of a mix of free jazz and chamber music.
On Friday, March 2 at 7:30 pm at the Roycroft Inn see Three O with Rick Straus, Rico Williams, John Duffy Fornes, and special Jim Beishline.
On Wednesday, March 7 at 8 pm at Hallwalls catch the new trio of Corsano/Baczkowski/Lopez Trio – Chris Corsano and Steve Baczkowski first performed together at Hallwalls in 2003 in a trio with legendary saxophonist Paul Flaherty. This new trio with brilliant NYC bassist Brandon Lopez will record a new album for Relative Pitch in 2018. Visit Hallwalls website for more info.
(Be sure to check the Weekly Jazz on the JazzBuffalo website for ongoing jazz.)
Upcoming
JazzBuffalo Presents saxophonist David Bixler on Saturday, March 10th at Pausa Art House. NYC based alto saxophonist David Bixler has performed with legendary jazz musicians Brother Jack McDuff, Lionel Hampton, and Toshiko Akiyoshi. An active educator, as well as composer and musician, Bixler is the head of the Jazz Studies Program at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH. He will be joined by Doug Stone from Rochester along with Ed Croft, Greg Millar, and Darryl Washington.
JazzBuffalo Live @ Pausa
JazzBuffalo and Pausa Art House are teaming up to try something new. On the third Thursday of each month, we will look for opportunities to introduce and present exciting, artistic, creative, and just plain good music to the Greater Buffalo Community. Our hope is to stream live a portion of the concert on the scheduled Thursday nights. Our first Thursday JazzBuffalo Live @ Pausa is on March 15th and we will kick it off with the official debut of the exciting NOLA brass band – the Buffalo Brass Machine! On Thursday, April 19, we will present the 2017 JazzBuffalo Poll Winner for Male Vocalist – Zach Carr.
Albright-Knox Art Gallery Art Of Jazz Series
Next up is the 2018 Grammy Award winner for Best Jazz Instrumental Album – Billy Childs! This will be one of the first headling performances for the award-winning jazz pianist since winning his most recent Grammy.
His recent Grammy-winning release Rebirth (Mack Avenue), also nominated in the Best Improvised Jazz Solo category, marks his long-anticipated return to scintillating hard-bop: “ultra-sophisticated, gracefully crafted jazz, but full of dynamism” (The Guardian). Appearing with Childs will be rising saxophone star Dayna Stephens, bassist Hans Glawischnig, and drummer Ari Hoenig.
Series associate producer Tony Zambito will host a pre-concert discussion, “Art of the Arranger,” at 2 pm. Tickets are $29 and $24 for Albright-Knox Members and can be purchased at the Albright-Knox Admissions Desk or online at https://www.albrightknox.org/artofjazz. Early ticket purchases are highly recommended as Art of Jazz concerts frequently sell out well in advance of the concert date.
Hotel Henry Jazz Concert Series Returns For 2018 Season Wednesday, April 11
JazzBuffalo and the Hotel Henry are pleased to announce the 2018 Hotel Henry Jazz Concert Series will begin on Wednesday, April 11. We will be presenting a concert every 2nd Wednesday of the month through November. Our first concert will feature the 9-piece jazz ensemble, My Cousin Tone’. The band has been in existence for 8 years and features exciting arrangements by Rising Star arranger, Tim Martin and previous winner of the JazzBuffalo Poll for Best Female Jazz Vocalist, Mary McMahon. The noted band has performed at the Northwest (Lewiston) Jazz Festival and at sold-out concerts at MusicalFare Theatre. We will be moving the start time from 7 pm to 7:30 pm and ticket prices will be $15 and this price includes the first drink. We will though be eliminating the processing fees for tickets!
April Is Jazz Appreciation Month Returns
Last year, we began the tradition of celebrating April Is Jazz Appreciation Month originated by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in 2001. Four Saturdays of fantastic jazz concerts. This year, we will kick-off April Is Jazz Appreciation Month with a special “JAM-Eve” concert by the Philippe Lemm Trio. The New York City-based group plays internationally and received rave reviews for their performance at the Northwest Jazz Festival last year. The trio also features Buffalo-area native, pianist Angelo DiLoreto. They will be followed on April 7th by the introduction of the fabulous Paul Hage Mirage band at Pausa Art House. On April 21st, we will host the fantastic Devin Kelly Trio, which will feature noted guitarist Bob Schneider and NYC organist Dino Losito, as well as, drummer Devin Kelly. They will be performing music from their most recent CD. Here is the band, Philippe Lemm Trio, performing in Poland recently – you will not want to miss these talented musicians on Saturday, March 31st!
Northwest Jazz Festival Fundraiser – Sunday, April 15th at 4 pm to 8 pm
The Northwest Jazz Festival will host its annual fundraiser this April 15th. The event will be held at a new location this year – at the Brickyard Brewing company. Join in on raising funds for this premier festival. Performing for the event are three outstanding groups – The Paul Hage Mirage Band, The Alex McArthur / Jon Lehning Quartet, and The Hot Club of Buffalo. Put this on your calendar for a Sunday drive to Lewiston and to support the Northwest Jazz Festival.
International Jazz Day Monday, April 30th – Save The Date
The annual global International Jazz Day celebration takes place every year on April 30th. This year, April 30th falls on a Monday. Join JazzBuffalo and The Screening Room as we celebrate this global recognition of jazz with a live concert by The Blue Note 8 followed by a live video stream of the global concert of jazz all-stars, led by Herbie Hancock. This year the global concert takes place in St. Petersburg, Russia Stay tuned for more details but save the date!
HAPPY 5th ANNIVERSARY – Pausa Art House!
How fast time flies! Congratulations to Pausa Art House for 5 great years of making a significant contribution to the arts and music community in Buffalo. A remarkable accomplishment in an era when venue ownership is fraught with enormous risks. Congrats to Lazara Martinez in her efforts to preserve the arts and for enabling not only jazz but also many genres of music to flourish in the Buffalo community. JazzBuffalo has enjoyed a wonderful partnership with Pausa in its mission to build jazz awareness and appreciation. We are forever grateful for this rewarding journey we are taking together!
Keep Jazz Alive!!
