A Sold-Out Concert Performance to Remember
Yesterday’s finale of JazzBuffalo’s 2025 Art of Jazz Series was nothing short of spectacular as the Emmet Cohen Trio—Emmet Cohen on piano, Phillip Norris on bass, and Joe Farnsworth on drums—took the stage at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum. The audience greeted their arrival with an immediate standing ovation, a testament to Cohen’s unique bond with the Buffalo region and to the anticipation that filled the auditorium before the first note was played.
Emmet Cohen’s Brilliance in Full Swing
Emmet Cohen’s dynamic energy and masterful touch were on full display, navigating between his signature stride‑influenced lines and modern improvisational flourishes with effortless flair. His storytelling through the piano was both joyous and profound, drawing cheers at every turn of phrase. Cohen’s maturity, command, and mastery of the piano and music were on display for the Buffalo audience.
The Discovery of Phillip Norris
Despite his youth, bassist Phillip Norris demonstrated an astonishing command of harmony and rhythm. His Juilliard‑honed technique and warm tone grounded the trio’s sound, offering solos that revealed a formidable virtuosity. A bright future, already unfolding, awaits this budding jazz star.
Joe Farnsworth’s Legendary Mastery
Veteran drummer Joe Farnsworth brought decades of hard‑bop pedigree to the performance, his crisp cymbal work and propulsive swing driving the trio forward. Farnsworth’s moments of incredible soloing captivated the audience – and that of Emmet Cohen and Phillip Norris as we all watched and listened in awe and admiration.
Special Thanks
- Buffalo AKG Art Museum for the support and hosting to create a unique visitor experience.
- Peter Hunt for his insights on downtown revitalization during our fascinating Community Spotlight Conversation—your leadership continues to inspire. And for the continuing sponsorship of the series.
- Devin Kelly (drum technician) for providing what every masterful drummer needed this year.
- Mark Percy (sound technician) for keeping every note crystal clear and upgrading the sound ambiance for the series.
- Suzanne Manacchio & Cindy Zambito for providing warm hospitality to the trio.
- Dave Sipos for piano tuning mastery.
- Jack Zuff for capturing the evening’s magic through his lens.
Thank You, Audience!
Most of all, thank you to our incredible audience for your unwavering support in 2025. Your applause and standing ovations reminded us that jazz is, above all, a joyful celebration—one we share in this vibrant community.
Your voice matters! Please leave a comment and let us know your favorite moment from yesterday’s concert. We can’t wait to hear from you, and we’ll add it to this article! We treasure your comments more than any review could ever say. Here are a few to help us get started:
“Mind-blowing concert. Three maestros on stage.”
“Amazing!”
“Emmet Cohen was brilliant! Such talent and joy. Bring him back SOON!”
“Talented, charismatic, and magnetic are only some of the words I can describe regarding these outstanding musicians, because they took my breath away!”
“Fabulous. I’m still smiling. All three are joyous, phenomenal jazz musicians. Can’t wait till they come back to Buffalo.”
“That was every bit of fantastic!”
“So great!”
“Emmett Cohn and Joe, and Phil were fabulous!! Magical and wonders, To Emmett….Tov Maode!! May he return soon!”
“Fabulous, fantastic, outstanding”
From Bruce Eaton: “As the founder / longtime producer of the AOJ series, I have to say that this was absolutely one of the greatest shows in the history of the series, Kudos to Tony for discovering Emmet years ago and nurturing a relationship that made the concert possible (believe me, without that relationship Emmet’s normal concert fee would be well out of range today). A total home run from the first to last note, and I was glad to be in the audience.”
“I believe my feet just came down to the ground. What a magical and levitating performance by Emmet, Phil and Joe! I’ve seen most Art of Jazz shows and AOJ founder Bruce Eaton is correct in proclaiming this was one of the greatest performances since the Jazz series inception! Thank you so much Tony for bringing in World Class jazz to Buffalo!”
“We’ve seen Emmett in person a few times and often on his livestream. He and his guests are always great but this was truly remarkable. A concert to remember!”
“Hands down the most incredible musical experience-Emmet Cohen Trio at AKG yesterday. Emmet on piano. Phillip Norris on bass, Joe Farnsworth on drums. Words cannot describe their brilliance.”
“Buffalo was honored to host this Trio! Please visit us again!!!!”
“Wow, the talent on the stage was incredible!! The musicians feed off each other’s energy. Not only did we get chills, but we were also transformed to a different era. If we didn’t know any better, we swore we were in a NYC Jazz club getting ready for Ella Fitzgerald.”
“This is the fourth time I’ve seen Emmett live, but never this fabulous trio. Aside from the brilliant artistry of the musicians, we were treated to such engaging commentary by Emmett. I loved that he exuded the same joyful spirit that shines through in his performances!”
Enjoy Jack Zuff’s Photo Gallery!
Jack Zuff provides another magnificent photo gallery that gives us a chance to relive several of the wonderful moments throughout the concert.
As the founder / longtime producer of the AOJ series, I have to say that this was absolutely one of the greatest shows in the history of the series, Kudos to Tony for discovering Emmet years ago and nurturing a relationship that made the concert possible (believe me, without that relationship Emmet’s normal concert fee would be well out of range today). A total home run from the first to last note and I was glad to be in the audience.
Fabulous, fantastic, outstanding
Emmett Cohn and Joe and Phil were fabulous!!
Magical and wonderus,
To Emmett….Tov Maode!!
May he return soon!
I believe my feet just came down to the ground. What a magical and levitating performance by Emmet, Phil and Joe! I’ve seen most Art of Jazz shows and AOJ founder Bruce Eaton is correct in proclaiming this was one of the greatest performances since the Jazz series inception! Thank you so much Tony for bringing in World Class jazz to Buffalo!
We’ve seen Emmett in person a few times and often on his livestream. He and his guests are always great but this was truly remarkable. A concert to remember
This is the fourth time I’ve seen Emmett live, but none was with this fabulous trio. The concert was way beyond my expectations. And aside from the brilliant artistry of these three musicians, we were treated to a wonderful commentary by Emmett. He was so engaging and exuded the same sense of joy that comes through in his performances.