Your weekly guide to Jazz in Buffalo.
Tony’s Thoughts
Appreciating the Summer
There are moments during a busy summer when you don’t always have time to stop and appreciate what is happening around you. This past week gave me one of those moments. We were certainly disappointed to make the difficult decision to cancel Taste of New Orleans. We wanted one more Summer of Jazz afternoon together on Ellicott Street. But as I thought about the disappointment, I found myself thinking much more about everything we did experience this summer.
We danced together to a big band. We created our own little Parisian café on Ellicott Street. We experienced the rhythms of Havana. And we shared a beautiful and emotional afternoon of music with Voci d’Amore. Through all of it, I watched people smile, meet friends, discover musicians, and simply enjoy spending time together downtown.
Now we’re heading into another extraordinary stretch. This weekend, I’ll have the privilege of serving as the Artistic Director bringing the Lewiston Jazz Festival to life as the village transforms into a Jazz Village for two days. Then, the following Sunday, we’ll gather again on Ellicott Street for the 5th Annual Buffalo Jazz Festival.
It’s a lot of work, especially when these experiences come one after another. But at moments like this, what I feel most is gratitude—for the musicians who share their artistry with us, our partners who believe in what we’re doing, everyone working behind the scenes, and especially all of you who continue to join us.
Sometimes it’s worth stopping long enough to appreciate how fortunate we are to share all of this together.
With gratitude,
Tony Zambito
Executive Director, JazzBuffalo
What We’re Building
New Traditions
We’ve talked this summer about consistency and about creating experiences people can count on. There’s another part of that idea that becomes increasingly important as time goes on: traditions aren’t announced. They’re built.
They form when an experience happens again and again. People begin putting it on their calendars. They know roughly when it’s coming. They bring someone who hasn’t experienced it before. Eventually, they stop asking whether it’s happening and start asking when.
We’ve watched that happen over 11 years with JazzMondays. And it’s what we’re working toward with Art Meets Jazz, The Jazz Lounge, Jazz at Kleinhans, and the Buffalo Jazz Festival as it reaches its fifth year. Some of these experiences are newer than others, and things inevitably change along the way. Venues change. Circumstances change. We adapt. But the commitment to creating experiences our community can count on remains.
That’s how something becomes part of the rhythm of a community. Not because we declare it a tradition, but because people begin to make it part of their lives.
That’s what we’re building.
This Week’s Featured Event
This Weekend, Lewiston Transforms Into a Jazz Village
There are plenty of jazz festivals where you arrive at a festival site and spend the day in front of a stage. Lewiston is different.
This Friday and Saturday, the Village of Lewiston transforms into a Jazz Village, with five stages bringing music throughout the village. Walk along Center Street, and you’ll hear jazz coming from different directions. Stop for something to eat or drink. Visit a shop. Run into friends. Discover an artist you may not know. Then wander a little farther and hear something completely different.
That’s what makes the Lewiston Jazz Festival such a distinctive Western New York summer experience. The village itself becomes part of the festival.
Friday night brings the homecoming of Buffalo native Paul Marinaro, one of today’s compelling interpreters of the Great American Songbook, performing with his outstanding Chicago-based quintet. Then Saturday night, JUNO Award-winning trumpeter and vocalist Bria Skonberg brings her infectious combination of swing, blues, virtuoso trumpet playing, and vocals to the Main Stage.
But don’t come only for the headliners. Part of the joy of Lewiston is discovery.
Throughout the weekend you’ll find artists including Gabrielle Stravelli, Laura Dubin, Sally Terrell, and the Ladies First Jazz Big Band, alongside many of the finest musicians from our region. And right in the heart of the village, the Center Street Stage and the three other stages add to the music with the Gregory Street Vagabonds, Cheryl Ferris, Vanessa Vacanti, Dominic Missana, Dave Hill, Wendell Rivera, and many more.
Come for someone you know. Discover someone you don’t. Have dinner or a drink, wander Center Street, and give yourself time to experience what happens when an entire village fills with jazz.
Lewiston Jazz Festival
Friday, August 28 | 5:00–10:30 pm
Saturday, August 29 | Noon–10:30 pm
Village of Lewiston
Come experience the Jazz Village.
Great American Songbook Spotlight
“I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues”
With Bria Skonberg headlining the Lewiston Jazz Festival Saturday night, this week’s spotlight brings us back to one of Buffalo’s greatest musical gifts to the world: Harold Arlen.
Arlen composed “I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues” with lyricist Ted Koehler for the 1932 Broadway revue Earl Carroll’s Vanities. The song soon found its way into jazz, with early recordings by Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, and others, and has remained part of the jazz repertoire for generations.
The song is also an interesting window into Arlen’s music. The feeling of the blues runs throughout so much of what he wrote, helping give his songs the distinctive character that has made them such natural vehicles for jazz interpretation.
And that’s what makes the video below particularly appropriate this week.
Listen to Bria Skonberg put her own voice—and trumpet—to this Harold Arlen classic. Then come hear Bria live Saturday night as she closes the Lewiston Jazz Festival.
It’s another wonderful connection between Buffalo, the Great American Songbook, and the jazz artists continuing to bring these songs to life today.
If There Is One Artist I Hope You Discover This Weekend…
I’ve shared quite a bit about Bria Skonberg over the past few weeks, and there’s a reason.
She’s an extraordinary trumpeter, a captivating vocalist, and an artist who can swing on a Harold Arlen classic one moment and sound completely contemporary the next. If you haven’t experienced Bria live, Saturday night at the Lewiston Jazz Festival is your opportunity.
And if you’re going, I strongly recommend experiencing this one up close. A limited number of $25 Jazz Club reserved seats remain directly in front of the Main Stage. There’s nothing quite like being close enough to see the interaction between the musicians and feel the energy of a performance like this.
Bria Skonberg — Saturday, August 29 at 8:45 p.m.
Online reserved seating sales end Thursday at noon. Then available on-site at the festival. Act now – limited number of seats left!
EXPERIENCE BRIA UP CLOSE — $25 RESERVED SEATING: https://www.lewistonjazz.com/jazzclubtcks
Community Spotlight
Making Room for the Next Generation
One of the things we believe is essential to a strong jazz community is creating opportunities for the next generation to be heard, encouraged, and experienced by an audience.
We’ll see another wonderful example of that this weekend when the Matt’s Music Vocal Performance Team returns to the Lewiston Jazz Festival’s Center Street Stage on Friday evening. Founded in 2015 by Zach Carr, the program has spent more than a decade helping young vocalists develop not only their voices, but also the confidence and experience that come from performing before live audiences.
Their appearance at the Lewiston Jazz Festival has itself become something of a tradition. Year after year, young singers have had the opportunity to step onto a major festival stage and perform before an audience gathered from across Western New York and beyond. That recurring opportunity has grown along with the Vocal Performance Team, helping give its singers something meaningful to work toward and a chance to experience what it means to perform as part of a major music festival.
That’s important because young musicians develop not only through lessons and rehearsals. They grow by performing, being heard, and knowing that their community values what they’re working toward.
On Friday evening, another group of young singers will have that opportunity in the middle of the Jazz Village.
And perhaps that’s one of the best traditions a festival can build—making sure there’s always room for the next generation.
ArtsBuffalo Spotlight
Creating More Reasons to Spend Time Downtown
Throughout the summer, we’ve been sharing some of what we’re learning through the ArtsBuffalo community survey and our “We’ve Been Listening” series.
One idea continues to rise to the surface: creating a more desirable downtown isn’t simply about adding more events. It’s about creating more reasons for people to spend time downtown—and experiences that make them want to return.
This summer has given us an opportunity to see that idea come to life. Music may bring someone downtown, but the larger experience matters too: meeting friends, enjoying something to eat or drink, discovering something new, and simply enjoying being part of the city.
We’ve taken a brief pause from our ArtsBuffalo essays during this busy stretch of summer festivals, but the listening and thinking haven’t stopped. We’ll have more to share soon about what we’re learning—and how arts and culture can contribute to a more vibrant downtown Buffalo.
We’ll keep listening and, importantly, keep looking for ways to put what we’re learning into action.
Plan Ahead
Two Fall Experiences to Put on Your Calendar
Even as we enjoy these final weeks of summer, there’s plenty to look forward to this fall. Here are two experiences worth planning ahead for now.
Art Meets Jazz Returns September 23
Art Meets Jazz returns to Beebe’s on the Square on Wednesday, September 23, with a very special evening featuring the Rick Strauss Trio with Lisa Hasselback and Ed Croft.
We’ll also celebrate Rick’s upcoming induction into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame—a fitting opportunity to experience one of Buffalo’s accomplished guitarists in the intimate setting that makes Art Meets Jazz so distinctive.
Surrounded by visual art, enjoy outstanding jazz from only a few feet away, a glass of wine or cocktail, conversation with friends, and an evening together downtown.
Wednesday, September 23 | Beebe’s on the Square
Sinatra in the Lounge — October 29
Something special is coming to The Jazz Lounge at The Statler this fall.
Perennial JazzBuffalo Poll favorite Zach Carr joins My Cousin Toné, the eight-piece ensemble that has spent 11 years bringing the Great American Songbook to life at JazzMondays, for Sinatra in the Lounge.
This won’t be about impersonating Sinatra. It will be a celebration of what made his music endure—the phrasing, storytelling, swing, romance, and those unforgettable songs.
And we can think of few settings better suited for it than The Jazz Lounge.
An intimate room. A cocktail at your table. Eight musicians. One of the region’s favorite vocalists. And the music of Ol’ Blue Eyes.
Thursday, October 29 | The Jazz Lounge at The Statler
Two very different experiences. Two good reasons to plan ahead.
Click and view the event description – reserve early!
Art Meets Jazz: Celebrating Rick Strauss
Featured Wednesday, September 23 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pmBeebe’s on the Square Washington and Clinton, Buffalo, NY
Guitarist Rick Strauss leads an exceptional trio featuring pianist Lisa Hasselback and bassist Ed Croft for an intimate evening of jazz, art, conversation, and community at Beebe’s on the Square….
Or go here directly to reserve your spots now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-meets-jazz-celebrating-rick-strauss-tickets-1998816070674?aff=oddtdtcreator
Click and view the event description – reserve early!
The Jazz Lounge Presents: Sinatra in the Lounge
Thursday, October 29 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Rendezvous Room Statler Buffalo Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, United States
Zach Carr and My Cousin Toné Celebrate the Songs, Swing, and Style of Frank Sinatra Thursday, October 29, 2026 | The Jazz Lounge at The Statler Some voices become inseparable…
Or go here directly to reserve your spots now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-jazz-lounge-presents-sinatra-in-the-lounge-tickets-1998457047827?aff=oddtdtcreator
Sometimes the experiences we look forward to most are worth planning for.
This Week on JazzBuffalo.org
This week, we’ve put our “Why” series for the Lewiston Jazz Festival all in one place for you. Read for the first time, read again, and share why these artists should be experienced!
Why Bria Skonberg Is an Artist You Need to Experience
Posted on by Tony Zambito
Every generation needs artists who remind us that jazz isn’t simply something to preserve. It’s something to celebrate. Bria Skonberg is one of those artists. If you’ve followed JazzBuffalo over […]
Why Paul Marinaro is a Jazz Vocalist You Should Experience
Posted on by Tony Zambito
Throughout the summer, we’re fortunate to welcome extraordinary jazz artists, such as Paul Marinaro, to Western New York. In this special JazzBuffalo series, I’m sharing why I believe each of […]
Why Sally Terrell is an Artist You Need to Experience
Posted on by Tony Zambito
Every so often you meet someone who reminds you it’s never too late to follow the path that was waiting for you all along. For me, Sally Terrell is one […]
Why Laura Dubin Is a Pianist You Need to Experience
Posted on by Tony Zambito
One of the things I enjoy most about jazz is hearing a familiar song become something entirely new. Laura Dubin has a remarkable gift for doing exactly that. At first, […]
Why Gabrielle Stravelli Is a Jazz Singer You Need to Experience
Posted on by Tony Zambito
Every so often, someone asks me what makes a great jazz singer. It’s a fair question. After all, many wonderful vocalists perform jazz standards. But not every vocalist is truly […]
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
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