A Decades-Long Advocate Bridging Jazz, Business, and Downtown Revitalization in Buffalo
In the 11th Annual JazzBuffalo Poll, the community has spoken clearly and with purpose—through hundreds of votes, recognizing Rocco Termini as a deserving recipient of the Jazz Crusader of the Year distinction. This acknowledgment reflects more than a single moment or initiative; it honors a long arc of commitment to jazz, to accessibility, and to the belief that strong partnerships between business, arts, and culture are essential to a thriving city and a revitalized downtown.
(A Jazz Crusader is someone who goes beyond appreciation and actively champions jazz as a living, vital force in our community. They use their time, resources, influence, and often their own businesses or platforms to make jazz accessible, visible, and sustainable—especially in the places where people naturally gather.)
Jazz does not survive—or flourish—on passion alone. It requires places, partners, risk-takers, and advocates willing to integrate culture into the everyday life of a city. Long before his current endeavors, Rocco understood this reality. His involvement with jazz in Buffalo stretches back decades, including early efforts supporting jazz programming at Delaware Park and the original Buffalo Jazz Ensemble concerts. This “long tail” of engagement speaks to a sustained belief in jazz as both an art form and a civic good.
Over the past ten-plus years, Rocco has been a steadfast crusader for JazzBuffalo and for the broader jazz community by helping create and sustain access points that many now take for granted. These include the longest-running jazz brunch in Western New York at The Terrace at Delaware Park, more than a decade of jazz on the Tappo Restaurant Rooftop Patio, and the evolution of JazzMondays into a weekly downtown tradition, now marking two years as a regular Monday night gathering. His support also extends to six years of the highly popular Jazz at Chandlerville, which unfortunately ended, found ways to keep jazz playing during the pandemic, the annual infusion of jazz into Easter Brunch at the Buffalo History Museum and Hotel Lafayette, and ongoing efforts to make jazz accessible at the Buffalo History Museum through Tappo-produced events.
Perhaps most notably, Rocco stepped forward at a critical moment last summer when JazzBuffalo unexpectedly lost its Richardson location for the Buffalo Jazz Festival. In that moment when I reached out to him, he did not hesitate—utilizing his own resources, staffing, and leadership to close Ellicott Street and ensure the festival could move forward. It was a decisive act of partnership that underscored what true community advocacy looks like when challenges arise.
People who work behind the scenes to improve their cities are often busy, complex figures. At times, they may attract criticism—something many of us who serve as city leaders and advocates know well. Often, criticisms are impulsive responses based on feelings with little or no knowledge, and at times, warranted. But those who partner closely with individuals like Rocco understand that their actions are rooted in a genuine desire to make things better. Progress is rarely quiet, and leadership often invites scrutiny. What matters most are outcomes—and in this case, the results speak for themselves.
I am genuinely ecstatic that the jazz community, and especially the JazzBuffalo community, recognized what has long been evident to those of us working alongside him: Rocco Termini has been a jazz crusader for most of his life. Yes, his endeavors are rooted in business, and yes, they are designed to be profitable—but they are equally driven by a sincere commitment to making Buffalo a more vibrant, accessible, and culturally rich city for all of us.
Congratulations to Rocco Termini on this well-earned recognition. Buffalo is better for his advocacy, his partnerships, and his unwavering belief in the power of jazz to bring people together.
(Photos: courtesy of Jack Zuff)
