JazzBuffalo’s Inaugural Concert Marks the Beginning
of the
Canterbury Woods Jazz Series
It was an extraordinary evening as the inaugural jazz concert of the upcoming Canterbury Woods Jazz Series took place at the new Canterbury Woods Performing Arts Center, featuring the magnificent Jane Bunnett and Maqueque. We want to express our immense gratitude to all of you, the jazz enthusiasts, and the JazzBuffalo Community.
We were faced with the formidable challenge of orchestrating a warm and welcoming reception for this award-winning ensemble in less than three weeks. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the nearly full-capacity audience and all the supporters who filled the new Canterbury Woods Performing Arts Center. The inspiration and enthusiastic reception you provided to these five incredibly talented women on stage were truly exceptional and unforgettable. They were filled with joy and were eager to share with others the fantastic JazzBuffalo experience, the incredible supporters, and the enthusiastic audience that our region has to offer.
Jane Bunnett and Maqueque delivered an exceptional performance. Bunnett led the all-female ensemble, drawing from the ten-year journey of Maqueque, encompassing their original self-titled album to their latest release, “Playing With Fire.”
In addition to Jane Bunnett’s enchanting soprano saxophone and flute, the ensemble featured Donae’ Olano’s beautiful piano performance, Tailin Marrero on the powerful bass, Joanna Majoko captivating with her vocals, and the drummer/percussionist extraordinaire, Yissy Garcia.
Their performance left no doubt in the minds of the audience as to why they have received three well-deserved Grammy nominations for Best Latin Jazz Album. They have also earned international recognition as one of the premier jazz ensembles in the genre today.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the remarkable JazzBuffalo team, which includes Mark Percy for his masterful staging and sound quality, Jack Zuff for his incredible photography, and Suzanne Manocchio for her generous hospitality to the ensemble. Special thanks also go to Bob Accurso for providing high-quality percussion and Dave Sipos for ensuring top-quality piano sound.
We want to express our special gratitude to Sandy Barillari and Jeff Lesinski of Canterbury Woods Williamsville, as well as all their volunteer ushers and support team, for their invaluable assistance in creating a truly memorable inaugural concert. We are deeply grateful for their trust in JazzBuffalo’s efforts to bring the highest-quality and award-winning jazz to the community.
We eagerly look forward to a bright future ahead as we build out a Canterbury Woods Jazz Series featuring award-winning jazz artists. If you were in attendance last night, we would love to hear from you in the comments section!
Thank you to you – the audience and the JazzBuffalo Community!
