The timeless joy of big band music comes to downtown Buffalo on Sunday, July 12.
There is something magical that happens when a big band begins to play.
The first notes ring out. Feet begin to tap. Smiles appear. Before long, someone takes the first step onto the dance floor—and suddenly strangers become dance partners, friends become part of the celebration, and music transforms a public space into a shared experience.
That is exactly what JazzBuffalo and ArtsBuffalo hope to create when the Anderson Big Band opens the 2026 Summer of Jazz series on Sunday, July 12, on Ellicott Street in downtown Buffalo.
This won’t simply be another concert.
It will be an invitation to gather.
A few weeks ago, while visiting Nashville, I found myself watching an outdoor Big Band Dance in the heart of downtown. What struck me wasn’t only the wonderful music.
It was the people.
Young adults danced to songs written decades before they were born. Families watched together. Couples smiled. Friends gathered around tables, enjoying an afternoon that felt both timeless and completely contemporary.
It reminded me that great music doesn’t belong to one generation.
It belongs to everyone.
That same spirit is what we hope to bring to Buffalo.
At the helm of the Anderson Big Band is acclaimed drummer and arranger John Anderson, recipient of the JazzBuffalo Poll Jazz Artist of the Year Award. Under his leadership, the Anderson Big Band has become one of Western New York’s premier large jazz ensembles, celebrated for its powerful sound, exceptional musicianship, and performances that honor the great swing orchestras while bringing fresh energy and excitement to every stage.
On July 12, that stage becomes Ellicott Street.
Whether you’re an experienced dancer, someone who simply enjoys listening to a great big band, or someone who wants to experience downtown Buffalo in a new way, you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere where music becomes the reason people gather.
That is what the Summer of Jazz is all about.
Working together with ArtsBuffalo, Tappo Restaurant, the Electric District Alliance, Signature Development, and many community partners, we’re helping create afternoons that bring people into downtown Buffalo—not simply to attend an event, but to experience the city together.
The music fills the street.
The restaurants fill with conversation.
People meet old friends and make new ones.
For a few hours, downtown becomes a place where community is built through shared experiences.
The Anderson Big Band is the perfect ensemble to begin that journey.
Their music invites us to dance.
Their sound reminds us why the swing era remains one of America’s great musical traditions.
Most importantly, they help create the kind of joyful afternoon that stays with us long after the final song has ended.
As I discovered while watching that Big Band Dance in Nashville, music has an extraordinary ability to bring people together. Now, we’re creating that same opportunity here in Buffalo—inviting our community to gather around timeless music, enjoy a summer afternoon downtown, and perhaps even take a few turns around the dance floor.
So whether you dance to every tune or simply sit back and enjoy the music, we hope you’ll join us.
Let’s fill Ellicott Street with music.
Let’s fill it with dancing.
Let’s fill it with community.
Because that’s what we’re building together.
Summer of Jazz
Big Band Dance featuring the Anderson Big Band
Sunday, July 12 • 4:00–7:00 PM
Ellicott Street at Tappo Restaurant
Free and open to the public
Presented by ArtsBuffalo, JazzBuffalo, Tappo Restaurant, the Electric District Alliance, and our community partners.
JazzBuffalo
Where Buffalo Gathers for Jazz.
