Your Weekly Guide to Jazz in Buffalo
A Fresh Look for the JazzBuffalo Weekly Guide
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TONY’S THOUGHTS
A Musical Identity Worth Building On
I’ve been thinking quite a bit lately about what we are trying to build with Jazz at Kleinhans. Of course, we want to bring outstanding jazz artists to Buffalo and create concerts people look forward to. But I think there’s something more.
Harold Arlen was born here. The composer of “Over the Rainbow,” “Stormy Weather,” “Come Rain or Come Shine,” and so many other songs that became part of the Great American Songbook began his life in Buffalo. Those songs traveled around the world and have been interpreted by generations of great artists. Jazz musicians are still finding something new in them today.
Part of that story belongs to Buffalo.
That’s one reason I believe the Great American Songbook should have a meaningful place in what we’re building at Kleinhans, alongside contemporary jazz and the many directions the music continues to take. You can see that beginning to take shape this season, from Nicole Zuraitis and Champian Fulton to Ann Hampton Callaway’s celebration of Harold Arlen, Alfredo Rodríguez, and Branford Marsalis with Dianne Reeves.
We don’t need to manufacture a connection to this music. We already have one. What we can do is make more of it and build something at Kleinhans that feels distinctly connected to Buffalo.
With gratitude,
Tony
WHAT WE’RE BUILDING
A Place Where Discovery Can Happen
Last week, I wrote about something I believe JazzBuffalo needs to do more of—help people discover artists they may not already know.
But discovery also needs the right place.
That’s something we’re learning with Art Meets Jazz. When you combine the Hunt Art Gallery, something to eat from Beebe’s, a cocktail or glass of wine, time with friends, and live music only a few feet away, you’re there for more than a concert. You’re there for the evening. And I think that makes people more willing to discover someone new.
On October 21, we’ll have that opportunity with Marye Lobb and Ryan Johnson, bringing together voice, guitar, jazz, bossa nova, and original music. You may know them already. Many in Buffalo probably don’t.
Come for the experience. Maybe you’ll leave having discovered someone you’ll want to hear again.
That’s the kind of place we’re trying to build with Art Meets Jazz.
Hear Ryan Johnson.
FEATURED EVENT
Moises Borges — Samba and Bossa Nova Night
If the sounds of Brazilian jazz are something you enjoy, Saturday night offers an opportunity to hear an artist who grew up with this music. Moises Borges was born in Bahia, Brazil, and has made his home in Cleveland for more than two decades. A guitarist, vocalist, and storyteller, Borges brings the rhythms and musical traditions of Brazil into his performances, with samba and bossa nova at the center.
Moises Borges — Samba and Bossa Nova Night
Saturday, October 3 | 7:00–9:30 PM
PAUSA Art House
19 Wadsworth Street, Buffalo
Tickets: $18–$20
GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK SPOTLIGHT
“Stormy Weather”
Some songs become so familiar that we can forget there was a moment when someone heard them for the very first time. “Stormy Weather” had one of those moments in 1933 at Harlem’s Cotton Club.
Harold Arlen wrote the music with lyrics by Ted Koehler. The song was originally intended for Cab Calloway, but circumstances changed and Ethel Waters introduced it in the Cotton Club Parade, performing with Duke Ellington and his orchestra. Her interpretation became one of the defining performances of her career. Lena Horne would make “Stormy Weather” part of her own musical identity, including her performance of it in the 1943 film that took the song’s name. Jazz singers and musicians have continued interpreting it ever since.
More than 90 years later, we’re still listening.
Ethel Waters’ 1933 recording is now part of the Library of Congress National Recording Registry, recognized as an important part of America’s recorded musical heritage. And once again, there is that Buffalo connection. The music came from Harold Arlen, born here in Buffalo, who would go on to write hundreds of songs and become one of the great composers of the American Songbook. When we talk about Buffalo’s place in the Great American Songbook, this is what we mean. Songs written by someone from our city became part of the soundtrack of American life.
“Stormy Weather” is one of them.
The great Lena Horne.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Oktoberfest Buffalo and Downtown
This weekend, Oktoberfest Buffalo brings another major experience to downtown Buffalo, and ArtsBuffalo has been pleased to play a role in helping bring it together.
It’s another example of what we’ve been talking about throughout the year. A more desirable downtown isn’t created by any one event. It happens when arts, culture, music, businesses, and community organizations give people more reasons to spend time downtown—and reasons to come back.
That’s the kind of downtown ArtsBuffalo is working to help build.
ARTSBUFFALO
We Still Want to Hear From You
One of the first things ArtsBuffalo set out to do was listen.
More than 120 people have already shared what they enjoy, what brings them downtown, and what they’d like to experience more of through the ArtsBuffalo Community Survey.
We’re keeping the survey open because we want to continue hearing from you. If you haven’t participated yet, it only takes a few minutes, and what we learn will help inform the work ahead.
PLAN AHEAD
Fall with JazzBuffalo
There are some wonderful experiences ahead as we move further into fall. Here’s a quick look at what you may want to put on your calendar now.
OCTOBER 21 — ART MEETS JAZZ
The Marye Lobb & Ryan Johnson Duo
Jazz and Bossa Nova
OCTOBER 29 — THE JAZZ LOUNGE
Sinatra in the Lounge
SOLD OUT
NOVEMBER 8 — JAZZ AT KLEINHANS
Nicole Zuraitis Quartet
The new Jazz at Kleinhans season begins with the two-time GRAMMY winner in the Mary Seaton Room.
NOVEMBER 18 — ART MEETS JAZZ
Victrola Voilà
An evening of jazz with the quartet at Hunt Art Gallery + Beebe’s on the Square.
DECEMBER 6 — JAZZ AT KLEINHANS
Swinging in the Holidays
Special 2 PM start.
DECEMBER 16 — ART MEETS JAZZ
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Featuring the Ed Croft Trio and Tina Williams-Croft.
DECEMBER 17 — THE JAZZ LOUNGE
Christmas at The Jazz Lounge
Featuring Vanessa Vacanti
THE BUFFALO CHALLENGE FOR NICOLE ZURAITIS CONTINUES
If Nicole Zuraitis can fill Performing Arts Centers overseas with 2,000 plus people, can we welcome at least 500 people to the Mary Seaton Room to greet her on November 8? We’re working on it—and we’d love to have you there.
Join Us At Jazz At Kleinhans For Nicole Zuraitis
This Week On JazzBuffalo.org
This week on JazzBuffalo.org, we’re looking ahead to the new Jazz at Kleinhans season and the holiday jazz tradition Champian Fulton will bring from Birdland to Buffalo this December.
Christmas With Champian at Birdland Comes to Buffalo
Posted on by JazzBuffalo
Champian Fulton brings a New York holiday jazz tradition to Jazz at Kleinhans for “Swinging in the Holidays” Something about jazz and the holidays belongs together. The songs, the warmth, […]A New Season of Jazz at Kleinhans Begins November 8
Five concerts. Internationally acclaimed artists. The Great American Songbook. And the extraordinary experience of Kleinhans Music Hall. The start of a new season is always exciting. When we launched Jazz […]
A New Season of Jazz at Kleinhans Begins November 8
Posted on by Tony Zambito
Five concerts. Internationally acclaimed artists. The Great American Songbook. And the extraordinary experience of Kleinhans Music Hall. The start of a new season is always exciting. When we launched Jazz […]
Check Upcoming Jazz at JazzBuffalo.org
There’s always more jazz to discover around Buffalo this weekend and beyond. From familiar favorites to artists you may not have heard before, our JazzBuffalo Event Calendar is a good place to see what’s coming up and find an experience that’s right for you.
Explore Upcoming Jazz in Buffalo
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