Tony’s Thoughts
The Music That Stays With Us
This past week reminded me that music has a remarkable way of staying with us.
Sometimes it’s the memory of a joyful evening, like JazzMondays on the rooftop, where laughter filled the air, and Marcus Goldhaber surprised us with a beautiful tribute to Harold Arlen.
Sometimes it’s the excitement of looking ahead to another musical destination, as we prepare to transform downtown Buffalo into a Taste of Paris this Sunday.
And sometimes, music becomes something even deeper.
The passing of Kevin O’Brien reminded all of us just how profoundly one person can shape a community. Through Babik and The Hot Club of Buffalo, Kevin introduced generations of listeners to the beauty of Gypsy jazz and helped make Buffalo one of the country’s great homes for this extraordinary music.
It reminded me that while musicians leave us, the music they inspire never really does.
This Sunday, when The Hot Club of Buffalo takes the stage, we’ll celebrate Paris, Django Reinhardt, and the joy of Gypsy jazz. But we’ll also celebrate something even greater—the way music preserves traditions and brings communities together.
Every week, I’m reminded that what we’re building isn’t simply a calendar of concerts.
We’re creating moments that stay with people.
That’s the true power of jazz.
JazzBuffalo: Where Buffalo Gathers for Jazz.
With gratitude,
Tony Zambito
Executive Director, JazzBuffalo
What We’re Building
A City Where Jazz History Continues to Be Made
One of the most exciting announcements this past week came from Blue Note Records with the release of information surrounding Dedicated to You, the remarkable new collaboration between Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves honoring the legacy of John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman.
For most jazz fans, this is exciting news because it promises to be one of the year’s most significant recordings.
For Buffalo, it means something more.
Next April, Jazz at Kleinhans will welcome Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves to perform this extraordinary project live—one of only a select number of performances planned around the world.
That doesn’t happen by accident.
It reflects years of building relationships with artists, managers, and presenters who now recognize Buffalo as a city that appreciates great jazz, the Great American Songbook, and supports world-class performances.
When we say we’re building something together, this is what we mean.
Each sold-out concert. Each Summer of Jazz gathering. Every newsletter you read. Every ticket you purchase. Every musician you support.
Together, we’re creating a city where internationally significant jazz projects don’t pass us by—they come here.
That’s something worth celebrating.
Reserve seats here: https://kleinhansbuffalo.org/event/marsalis-reeves/
This Week’s Featured Event
Taste of Paris: A Celebration of Django, Gypsy Jazz, and the Spirit of Paris
Throughout this summer, Summer of Jazz has taken us on a musical journey around the world.
We’ve danced to the sounds of big band jazz on Ellicott Street. We’ve celebrated the timeless beauty of the Great American Songbook.
This Sunday, our journey continues as we step into the cafés and streets of Paris for Taste of Paris.
Paris has long held a special place in the history of jazz. It was a city where American jazz musicians found inspiration, where cultures came together, and where the legendary Django Reinhardt created a sound that continues to influence musicians around the world.
We are especially honored to welcome The Hot Club of Buffalo, whose artistry has helped make Buffalo one of the great homes for Gypsy jazz. Their performances celebrate the spirit of Django Reinhardt, the joy of swing, and the timeless connection between European and American jazz traditions.
Adding to the atmosphere will be the outdoor jazz café set up we started last year.
Join us for an afternoon where music, community, and culture come together—right here in downtown Buffalo.
Because that’s what Summer of Jazz is all about.
Great American Songbook Spotlight
Nuages (Clouds)
Music by Django Reinhardt (1940)
The Great American Songbook has always been about timeless songs that continue to inspire generations of musicians and audiences.
While many of its most beloved standards were born on Broadway or in Hollywood, jazz has always embraced great music wherever it originated. Few compositions illustrate that spirit more beautifully than “Nuages,” the signature composition of the legendary Django Reinhardt.
Written in 1940 during the German occupation of Paris, Nuages—French for Clouds—became a symbol of hope and resilience during one of history’s darkest periods. Its hauntingly beautiful melody transcended language and borders, eventually becoming one of the most cherished compositions in the jazz repertoire.
Django Reinhardt was unlike any musician before him. Despite suffering severe injuries to his left hand in a fire early in his career, he developed a revolutionary guitar technique that forever changed jazz. Alongside violinist Stéphane Grappelli and the Quintette du Hot Club de France, Django created what we now know as Gypsy jazz, a style that continues to captivate audiences around the world.
His influence reaches far beyond Europe. Today, Nuages remains a favorite among jazz musicians everywhere, interpreted by countless artists while retaining the elegance, lyricism, and unmistakable swing that made it a classic.
This Sunday, as The Hot Club of Buffalo brings the spirit of Paris to our Taste of Paris celebration, we’ll hear that musical tradition come alive once again. It is also an opportunity to remember Kevin O’Brien, whose passion for Gypsy jazz helped establish Buffalo as one of America’s premier homes for this extraordinary music.
Remembering Kevin O’Brien
Remembering Kevin O’Brien: The Man Who Made Buffalo a Premier Home for Gypsy Jazz
Posted on by JazzBuffalo
It is with profound sadness that JazzBuffalo and our entire jazz community mourn the passing of Kevin O’Brien, one of the most influential musicians, ambassadors, and champions of jazz our […]
This Week on JazzBuffalo.org
Branford Marsalis Quartet and Dianne Reeves Bring New Album “Dedicated to You” and the Legacy of John Coltrane to Buffalo
Posted on by JazzBuffalo
There are concerts. There are special concerts. And then there are moments that define a season. The recent announcement by Blue Note Records of the forthcoming album Dedicated to You, […]
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!
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