Tony’s Thoughts
When You See the Vision Come to Life
There are moments when you stop planning and simply look around.
That was my experience on Sunday.
As I watched people dancing in the street, families gathering around tables, children moving to the music, and friends lingering long after songs had ended, I realized something: we weren’t simply presenting a concert. We were creating a place where people wanted to be.
For months, we’ve talked about music helping transform downtown Buffalo into a destination. We’ve spoken about creating experiences rather than simply presenting performances. On Sunday, that vision became real.
The Anderson Big Band gave us extraordinary music. Kathy Carr and Zach Carr captivated the audience. Tappo created a wonderful outdoor café atmosphere. But what I’ll remember most are the people—the smiles, the conversations, the dancing, and the feeling that, for a few hours, Ellicott Street belonged to everyone.
Those moments don’t happen by accident. They happen because musicians, businesses, volunteers, partners, and a community all believe that something special is possible.
That’s what gave me the greatest sense of hope.
Sunday wasn’t the finish line. It was confirmation that we’re building something Buffalo has been waiting for.
Over the next several weeks, Summer of Jazz will take us from Paris to Latin rhythms, from Italy to New Orleans, and finally to Brazil. The music changes. The destination changes. But the reason we gather remains the same—to experience the joy of live music together.
Thank you for helping make that vision come alive.
JazzBuffalo: Where Buffalo Gathers for Jazz.
With gratitude,
Tony Zambito
Executive Director, JazzBuffalo
What We’re Building
From One Great Afternoon to a Summer Tradition
One successful afternoon doesn’t build a tradition.
Consistency does.
Last Sunday demonstrated something we’ve long believed: when jazz is brought into welcoming public spaces, it becomes more than entertainment—it becomes a catalyst for community. Downtown wasn’t simply hosting a concert. It became a place where neighbors lingered, families gathered, visitors stopped to listen, and strangers danced together.
That is exactly how traditions are born—not through a single event, but through shared experiences people want to return to.
Each Summer of Jazz event offers a different musical destination—from Paris to Latin America, Italy, New Orleans, and Brazil. Different music. Different cultures. The same welcoming atmosphere.
Over time, something begins to happen. Sunday afternoons become known as a time to gather downtown. Families know where they’ll spend the day. Friends make plans. Visitors discover something unexpected. Businesses benefit. Musicians find another stage to share their artistry.
That is how traditions begin—not with one extraordinary day, but with another, and another, and another.
That is what we’re building together.
This Week’s Featured Event
Celebrating 20 Years of Vocal Harmony
There is something uniquely captivating about voices coming together in harmony.
For twenty years, Harmonia Vocal Jazz Ensemble has delighted audiences with beautifully crafted vocal arrangements, outstanding musicianship, and a repertoire that celebrates the richness of jazz and the Great American Songbook.
This special anniversary concert celebrates not only an exceptional ensemble but also two decades of bringing people together through the power of vocal jazz.
If you’ve never experienced Harmonia, this is the perfect opportunity to discover one of Buffalo’s most distinctive musical groups. If you’ve been a longtime supporter, you’ll know exactly why this milestone deserves to be celebrated.
Join us in congratulating Harmonia on twenty remarkable years of music.
Great American Songbook Spotlight
On the Sunny Side of the Street
Music by Jimmy McHugh | Lyrics by Dorothy Fields
There are some songs that seem to arrive at exactly the right moment.
“On the Sunny Side of the Street” is one of those songs.
Written in 1930, with music by Jimmy McHugh and lyrics by Dorothy Fields, the song was introduced in the Broadway musical revue Lew Leslie’s International Revue. At a time when the country was facing the challenges of the Great Depression, this joyful and optimistic song offered a simple but powerful message: choose hope, embrace the moment, and find the brighter side of life. Nearly a century later, its message feels just as relevant. “On the Sunny Side of the Street” reminds us that optimism is a choice.
Over the decades, “On the Sunny Side of the Street” has become one of the most beloved standards in the Great American Songbook, recorded and interpreted by countless jazz legends including Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and many others.
Jimmy McHugh was one of the great composers of the Songbook era, also writing classics such as “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” “I’m in the Mood for Love,” and “Exactly Like You.” Dorothy Fields was a pioneering lyricist whose words brought warmth, wit, and humanity to some of America’s most enduring songs – such as “I Can’t Give you Anthing But Love.”
Last Sunday, as I stood on Ellicott Street watching our community gather in the bright sun on the street, this song came to mind. There was music in the air, people dancing in the street, neighbors sharing smiles, and a beautiful reminder of what happens when we create spaces where people can come together.
Jazz has always been about more than the music. It is about connection. It is about community. It is about those moments when a song brings us together and reminds us of the joy that surrounds us.
For one beautiful Sunday afternoon, Buffalo gathered on the sunny side of the street.
With this being the year of several 100 Centennials in jazz, let’s not forget one of the most important interpreters of the Great American Songbook, Tony Bennett. Let’s enjoy his slowed-down, incredible rendition of this classic.
This Week on JazzBuffalo.org
This week, we celebrate and highlight the fabulous opening of the Summer of Jazz, with great photos by Jack Zuff.
When Buffalo Gathered Around Jazz: Joyous Summer of Jazz Begins
Posted on by JazzBuffalo
More than a concert, the Anderson Big Band celebration became a gathering of joyful music, dancing, and community in downtown Buffalo. There are moments when you know something special is […]
Nicole Zuraitis: A Modern Voice in Jazz Releases The Devil I Knew
The Great American Songbook has always been about more than melodies. At its heart, it is about storytelling — the human experiences of love, loss, hope, reflection, and resilience.
Few artists today embody that spirit more fully than Grammy Award-winning vocalist, pianist, and songwriter Nicole Zuraitis.
This Friday, Nicole releases her seventh album, The Devil I Knew, a deeply personal and ambitious 20-track work that explores self-reflection, accountability, and emotional transformation through the lens of a collapsing love story. Blending jazz virtuosity with literary inspiration and original songwriting, the album showcases Nicole’s ability to create music that is both timeless and deeply connected to the world around us.
The album features an extraordinary ensemble of musicians, including bassist Christian McBride, guitarist Gilad Hekselman, saxophonist Donny McCaslin, and organist Larry Goldings, along with acclaimed horn and string arrangements. Drawing inspiration from writers including Dorothy Parker, Emily Dickinson, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and Francis Ellen Watkins Harper, The Devil I Knew reflects Nicole’s unique ability to bring together music, poetry, and storytelling.
Structured as a five-part cinematic journey through self-reckoning, accountability, grief, and emotional renewal, The Devil I Knew is Nicole’s most ambitious artistic statement to date. Across twenty original compositions, she demonstrates why she has become one of today’s leading voices carrying the spirit of the Songbook into a new generation.
Nicole first earned international recognition with her Grammy Award-winning album How Love Begins, establishing herself as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary jazz. Her artistry represents the continuing evolution of the Great American Songbook — creating what she calls the “Modern Songbook Society” – honoring the tradition while creating something new for today’s audiences.
On November 8, Nicole Zuraitis comes to Kleinhans Music Hall as part of the Jazz at Kleinhans 2026–2027 Season. Individual seats are now available for this special appearance here: https://kleinhansbuffalo.org/event/zuraitis/
We look forward to welcoming Buffalo audiences to experience an artist who reminds us that the Songbook is not simply a collection of songs from the past — it is a living tradition that continues to grow through extraordinary artists of today.
Check Upcoming Jazz at JazzBuffalo.org
As we enter the summer season, Buffalo comes alive with jazz performances, festivals, and concerts. Be sure to visit the Upcoming Events section on JazzBuffalo.org to stay current on all the live jazz and other music taking place throughout the city and region. With many unique events submitted weekly, we encourage you to visit the website regularly to discover where jazz is happening. Click here to view all the upcoming events!
https://jazzbuffalo.org/upcoming-event
Every week, thousands of readers, audience members, musicians, and supporters help strengthen the jazz community that makes Buffalo special. Thank you for being one of them.
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Many thanks to those who have explored and contributed via Patreon. Every patron helps JazzBuffalo continue creating experiences, supporting musicians, strengthening our jazz community, and bringing more people together through the joy of music. Will you consider becoming a JazzBuffalo Patron and help us continue building Buffalo’s future through jazz and live music? Click on the Become A Patron link below and become a supporting patron for as little as $1/month.
