The streets may be iced over still but it is not going to stop some great jazz ahead from happening. From international to local jazz artists, plenty of superb jazz to experience! And, remember, April is Jazz Appreciation Month and we have several outstanding concerts this month celebrating this annual recognition of jazz!
Highlights
Melissa Aldana, AKG Art of Jazz Series, Saturday, April 21 at 8 pm
Next up in the Art of Jazz Series is a unique and extraordinary jazz artist. The series will present the first-ever regional concert by the Chilean tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery on Saturday, April 21, at 8 pm. Preceding the concert, Series producer Bruce Eaton will host a pre-concert discussion, “The Sound of Don Byas,” at 7 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.
Read the JazzBuffalo Article: Award-Winning Melissa Aldana
Here is another video of this unique jazz artist you don’t want to miss:
JazzBuffalo Presents Drea d’Nur, Pausa Art House, Saturday, April 21 at 8 pm
JazzBuffalo, in association with Pausa Art House, presents our first-ever Artist-in-Residence especially for "April is Jazz Appreciation Month". International vocalist, pianist, and Buffalo native Drea d'Nur delivered quite a riveting performance to the audience who braved the infamous Ice Storm of last Saturday. This dynamic vocalist melds jazz, blues, spiritual, protest, R&B, and love songs into powerful pieces that touch the soul. Drea d'Nur is the creator of the musical reviews "The Spirit of Nina Simone", which was performed at Kleinhans Music Hall, and "Dear Nina: A Sonic Love Letter to Nina Simone". She has also recorded the highly celebrated CD "Day of d'Nur." This is a rare opportunity to hear Drea d'Nur in an intimate setting. She'll be joined by her musical friends. So, if the Ice Storm kept you home last week, then you really ought to make it this week! Here is a glimpse of Drea d’Nur in this promo video:
Taylor Made Jazz 30th Anniversary Gala And Fundraiser, Marriott Hotel, Saturday, April 21 at 7 pm
Taylor Made Jazz, the longtime contributor to the jazz scene and globetrotting USO performer to the military troop, will host its 30th-anniversary celebration, and fundraiser for the first African American Veteran’s Monument to be located at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park. The goal for the monument is $1.5 million dollars and the event is sponsored by the AFM Local 92, African American Veterans Monument. Leader Van Taylor will be hosting a parade of performers throughout the evening. More details by clicking on the poster.
JazzBuffalo Presents Carina and the Six String Preacher at JazzWednesday at the Screening Room Cinema and Café, Wednesday, April 25 at 7:30 pm
Join JazzBuffalo as we present Carina & The Six String Preacher in a night of celebrating their latest EP release – The Great Hideaway. We will have another multi-media event with a film noir playing in the background on the big screen. Don't miss this exciting trio who brands their music uniquely as "jazz noir" and perform intricately arranged originals. With Carina Mastrantonio, Vincent Mastrantonio, and John Brady. Here is a video of their latest EP project – The Great Hideaway:
JazzBuffalo Live Presents Zach Carr and Friends, Pausa Art House, Thursday, April 19 at 7:30 pm
Zach Carr is an award-winning singer and performer from North Tonawanda, NY, and is thrilled to make his debut on the Pausa stage. Zach’s love for performing spans all genres but his first love is singing the standards of great artists before him. Please join Zach Carr & Friends with special guests Kathy Carr and Kim Potfora, as they pay tribute to the iconic singers of the past like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin!
Zach Carr is the winner of the 2017 JazzBuffalo Poll Best Jazz Male Vocalist. He has the distinct honor of singing in venues all across the country. Just some of his many accomplishments include the presidency of University at Buffalo's all-male acapella group The Buffalo Chips, a performance at Katherine McPhee's (from NBC's Smash) VIP party at UB Center for the Arts, and he sang for former President Obama and Mrs. Hillary Clinton.
Carr is also the Vocal Director at Matt's Music, Inc., a Vocal Performing Team of young singers which performs regionally. You can also find Zach Carr singing with the Anderson Big Band and the Pyramid Big Band.
Alex Harding / Lucian Ban Duo, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, Friday, April 20 at 8 pm
From the mecca of improv and free jazz, here is Hallwalls has to say:
Detroit-born baritone sax extraordinaire Alex Harding and Transylvanian expat pianist Lucian Ban have been collaborating for almost two decades, founding several groups together, releasing a handful of diverse albums for American and European labels, performing countless concerts and tours, all the while documenting an amazing body of music. From their debut duet Somethin' Holy (CIMP 2001) to their Tuba Project group featuring legendary Bob Stewart, from Alex's own Blutopia featuring Nasheet Waits on drums to the quintet with soprano master Sam Newsome, "in near-telepathic collusion, Harding and Ban mean what they say". (Derek Taylor, AAJ).
Jazz In Town
On Thursday, April 19th at 7 pm at the Carnegie Arts Center you can see Jon Lehning and Friends
On Friday, April 20th at 7:30 pm you can catch the Katy Miner Quintet with Phil Sims, Harry Graser, Paul Zapalowski, and Tom Kasperek at the Roycroft Inn in East Aurora
On Friday, April 20th at 7:30 pm at Baird Hall at UB, violist extraordinaire and faculty member Leanne Darling will be performing in a recital that will have pieces of viola music from around the world and include elements of classical, blues, jazz, and tango. She will be joined by Helen Yee (Chinese drums), Ivan Docenko (piano), Liz Holland (percussion), Jonathan Golove (cello), Thane Wilcox (banjo), and Conn Sullivan (guitar).
On Friday, April 20th at 8 pm at Pausa Art House you can catch Star People – The Miles Davis Project for their monthly appearance at Pausa Art House
On Friday, April 20th at 8:30 pm at 189 Public House you will find the jazz fusion band – The Truth
On Friday, April 20th at 9 pm you can catch Paul Hage Mirage at Greystone Buffalo
On Friday, April 20th at 9 pm you will find Wazmopolitan at the Sportsmen Tavern
On Saturday, April 21st at 8 pm there will be a Saturday Night Dance with the Easy Street Big Band at the Uki Hall – 205 Military Rd, Buffalo. Cash Bar and Kitchen will be available.
On Friday, April 27th at 7 pm there will be an "Evening of Jazz" benefit concert for the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor featuring the Carol McLaughlin's Big Band taking place at Roswell Cancer Center Auditorium – click on poster for more details.
April Is Jazz Appreciation Month
April is Jazz Appreciation Month. It is going to be an exciting month of jazz! Check out the full slate of performances in the JazzBuffalo article here: JAM
Upcoming on Saturday, April 28th at 8 pm at Pausa Art House is a tribute to this year’s Smithsonian National Museum of American History Jazz Icon – Norman Granz. The concert will feature Sal Andolina from the BPO and a short pre-concert talk by Tony Zambito of JazzBuffalo on Norman Granz. Make plans for this one!
International Jazz Day Celebration – Monday, April 30th at The Screening Room Cinema and Cafe
April Is Jazz Appreciation Month, commonly referred to as JAM, culminates with a special event honoring International Jazz Day. International Jazz Day was created by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to coincide with Jazz Appreciation Month and each year, April 30th is designated as International Jazz Day. This year, International Jazz Day will take place on Monday, April 30th and will feature a special event to take place at The Screening Room Cinema and Café starting with a performance by the 8-piece ensemble The Blue Note 8 at 7:00 pm. To be followed by a rebroadcast on the big screen of the Global International Jazz Day Concert hosted by Herbie Hancock and broadcast live from St. Petersburg Russia featuring jazz all-stars.
Admission is $10
Plus, as we did last year, we will accept free will donations to support the annual MS Walk organized by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of America.
Hotel Henry Jazz Concert Series Presents El Coco Wednesday, May 9
What a super kickoff to the 2018 Hotel Henry Jazz Concert Series last Wednesday, April 11! We were near capacity and we surely will be so in the forthcoming concerts. Next, up on Wednesday, May 9th is the international Afro-Cuban Latin jazz band, El Coco, that will feature Cuban born Michel Ferré. Currently, on tour with American singer, songwriter, producer and actress Lauryn Hill, Michel Ferré collaborated as a pianist, arranger and sound engineer for the recently released album “Nina Revisited – A Tribute to Nina Simone”, featuring Lauryn Hill, Usher, Mary J Blige among others.
"El Coco" is Ferré and longtime collaborator and Cuban-born percussionist Vladimir Espinosa's latest CD production of originals and Cuban classics in collaboration with Lázara Martínez, Armando Arce (Pututui), Edward Madariaga, Hansel Herrera, among many others. Michel currently lives in Miami with his wife and two children and is making a special trip up to Buffalo, in-between tour dates with Lauryn Hill, for this special concert. Vladimir Espinosa will be coming up from Virginia for the performance.
On this date, the concert will feature three Cuba-born international musicians – Michel Ferré, Vladimir Espinosa, and Lázara Martínez. Joining them will be Buffalo bassist extraordinaire and BMHOF inductee, Jerry Livingston. Don’t miss this opportunity to see and hear world-class authentic Cuban music – get your tickets soon as we did sellout shows last year! Go here: https://www.hotelhenry.com/jazz
JazzBuffalo Presents Jay Willis Quintet CD Release Celebration Wednesday, May 2nd at 7:30 pm
Pausa Art House is opening on a Wednesday night for a special JazzBuffalo Presents concert and CD Release Celebration by the Jay Willis Quintet. On Wednesday, May 2nd at 7:30 pm, the Jay Willis Quintet will be celebrating the release of their "As It Was" CD. This is the group's fourth CD Release in their 20-year history of being together. Performing their special brand of contemporary crossover jazz will be Jay Willis on keyboard/piano, Dan Willis on sax Rick Fadale on bass, Paul Fadale on drums, and Michael Merisola on percussion/vocals.
The evening will represent a rare opportunity for the Jay Willis Quintet performing together in Buffalo. An opportunity for family, friends, and fans to celebrate the stellar musicianship of this long-running quintet. Mark the date on your calendars to make this special CD Celebration! Admission is $10.
Keep Jazz Alive!!
