A Decade of Song, Sunset, and Summer Memories on the Tappo Rooftop Patio with My Cousin Toné
As we approach the summer of 2025, we mark a special milestone—the 10th Anniversary of JazzMondays at the Tappo Restaurant Rooftop Patio. What began as a simple idea to enjoy jazz under the open skies has blossomed into one of Buffalo’s most beloved summer traditions.
Each Monday between Memorial Day and Labor Day, starting at 6:30 pm, the rooftop comes alive with the swinging sounds of My Cousin Toné, voted in the most recent JazzBuffalo Poll as everyone’s favorite jazz ensemble and large jazz ensemble, in a celebration of the Great American Songbook. We revisit the timeless melodies of George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, and pay homage to the voices and bandleaders who made them legendary—Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Peggy Lee, and more. These songs are woven into the very fabric of our shared cultural memory, and each week, we gather to remember—and to rejoice.
But JazzMondays has always been about more than just the music. Over the years, the rooftop has served as a setting for countless special moments: birthday celebrations, anniversaries, reunions, first dates, and joyful gatherings of friends and family. It’s become a weekly reunion in itself—where laughter echoes, wine flows, great food is served, and memories are made as the sun sets over the city skyline.
JazzMondays has also become a meaningful fixture in the revitalization of downtown Buffalo. As part of the city’s growing arts, music, and culture landscape, these Monday night gatherings have helped turn the heart of Buffalo into a true destination, drawing locals and visitors alike to experience live music in a space that radiates joy and community. In many ways, it’s a microcosm of what makes Buffalo special—welcoming and a treasured love for the arts.
To everyone who has ever walked up the stairs to the Tappo rooftop, thank you. Your presence, your applause, and your shared joy have made JazzMondays what it is—a cherished tradition where we come together to celebrate America’s greatest music and songbook.
We can’t wait to see familiar faces and new ones alike as we launch our 10th anniversary season this summer. Let’s make new memories together, under the stars, with the soundtrack of a truly Great American tradition.
(A personal note of thanks to Rocco Termini for his staunch support of JazzMondays as a weekly tradition, and his enduring belief in its role as a meaningful contributor to the revitalization of downtown Buffalo.)
(Every Monday, beginning Monday, May 26, through Labor Day. Starts at 6:30 pm and ends 8:30 pm to 8:45 pm.)
