Nicole Zuraitis on November 8 and Swinging in the Holidays on December 6 bring world-class jazz, song, and the Great American Songbook to one of Buffalo’s most treasured cultural institutions.
Summer is still very much with us. We are enjoying outdoor jazz, gathering in our neighborhoods and downtown, and making the most of these wonderful summer days in Buffalo.
But it is also a good time to look ahead.
This fall, Jazz at Kleinhans returns with two extraordinary experiences that reflect what this series has increasingly become — an opportunity to hear world-class artists, celebrate jazz and the Great American Songbook, and be part of an audience inside one of Buffalo’s most meaningful cultural institutions.
November 8: Nicole Zuraitis
On Sunday, November 8, we welcome 2X GRAMMY-winning vocalist, pianist, and songwriter Nicole Zuraitis, one of the most compelling and creative voices in jazz today.
Nicole arrives at an especially exciting moment in her career. Her newly released seventh album, The Devil I Knew, is an ambitious 20-track concept album exploring self-reckoning, accountability, and emotional agency through the lens of a collapsing love story.
The project brings together jazz virtuosity, deeply personal songwriting, and literary inspiration, with poetry from iconic female writers including Dorothy Parker, Emily Dickinson, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and Frances Ellen Watkins Harper woven throughout its five thematic movements.
And the musical company Nicole keeps tells you something about the level of artistry we will experience. The Devil I Knew album features an extraordinary ensemble that includes Christian McBride, Gilad Hekselman, Donny McCaslin, and Larry Goldings, with horn arrangements by Jerry Hey and string arrangements by Vince Mendoza.
Nicole represents something important to us at JazzBuffalo. She has a deep understanding of the jazz tradition and the Great American Songbook, but she is not simply looking backward. She is helping to carry that tradition forward through her own songwriting, arranging, storytelling, and distinctive musical voice.
That is what a living musical tradition should do.
December 6: Swinging in the Holidays
Then, on Sunday afternoon, December 6, there may be no better way to welcome the holiday season than Swinging in the Holidays at Kleinhans Music Hall.
For this special holiday celebration, we bring together three exceptional artists: pianist and vocalist Champian Fulton, legendary jazz vocalist Carmen Bradford, and rising star vocalist Vanessa Perea.
Each brings something distinctive to the afternoon.
Champian Fulton has established herself internationally as one of today’s foremost swinging jazz pianists and vocalists, carrying forward a tradition rooted in the great jazz clubs and pianists of another era while making it completely her own.
GRAMMY-winning Carmen Bradford brings an extraordinary jazz legacy to Kleinhans. Her years as a featured vocalist with the Count Basie Orchestra connect her directly to one of the most important traditions in jazz history, and her unmistakable voice and presence have made her one of jazz’s most respected vocalists.
Vanessa Perea represents another generation of jazz artistry, bringing warmth, sophistication, and a genuine love for the Great American Songbook.
Together, they will help us celebrate the season the way we believe it should be celebrated — with swing, warmth, joy, and timeless songs that ultimately swing indeed.
And there is something particularly special about experiencing holiday music inside Kleinhans.
Why Jazz at Kleinhans Matters
What makes Jazz at Kleinhans special goes beyond any one concert or artist.
There is the experience itself.
Walking into one of America’s great concert halls. Sitting together with hundreds of others. Hearing a voice, a piano, or an ensemble come alive in that extraordinary acoustic space. Sharing a musical experience that exists only in that moment.
But there is something larger at work as well.
Kleinhans Music Hall is not simply a venue. It is part of Buffalo’s cultural identity. For generations, people have walked through its doors to experience extraordinary music and artists. Continuing to bring jazz and the Great American Songbook to this magnificent hall helps ensure that these musical traditions remain part of Buffalo’s cultural life.
We have often talked about the opportunity for Buffalo to distinguish itself as a Great American Songbook City — a city where this remarkable American musical tradition is not simply remembered, but experienced, celebrated, and carried forward.
Jazz at Kleinhans is an important part of making that vision real.
Every artist we bring to the stage contributes to it. Every memorable performance adds another chapter. And every person who chooses to attend and support these concerts becomes part of it.
Every time we gather at Kleinhans, we help make that possible.
So while summer is still with us, we invite you to plan ahead.
Join us November 8 for Nicole Zuraitis. Come back December 6 and celebrate the season with Champian Fulton, Carmen Bradford, Vanessa Perea, and Swinging in the Holidays.
Reserve your seats. Bring someone with you. And be part of two memorable afternoons celebrating:
The Sound of Jazz. The Power of Song. The Pride of Buffalo.
Individual seats for Jazz at Kleinhans are available now at kleinhansbuffalo.org.
