This past spring, Roberta Gambarini embarked on a tour throughout Japan. A country that has fallen in love with the jazz vocalist from Turin, Italy. The tour was dedicated to Michiko Hirayama, Gambarini’s vocal teacher for 20 years. Hirayama was a legendary soprano in the world of classical music and beyond. Before leaving for Japan, […]
On August 23rd of this year, Monty Alexander will release a major new project and album dedicated to the music of Thelonious Monk. Entitled “WAREIKA HILL – RASTAMONK VIBRATIONS”, the project represents a lifetime of inspiration and appreciation for the music of Thelonious Monk on the part of Monty Alexander. The album, several years in […]
At the Taste of Jazz Fundraiser taking place on sunday, March 31st, the Northwest Jazz Festival in Historic Lewiston, NY announces its lineup of local and regional performers for its 2019 and 17th Annual Jazz Festival. Recently, the festival announced its lineup for the Main Headliner Stage to include Monty Alexander Harlem-Kingston Express, Roberta Gambarini, […]
In honor of one of the Greater Buffalo/Niagara’s beloved jazz contributors in the last few decades, the Northwest Jazz Festival in Historic Lewiston, NY will honor jazz guitarist Ralph Fava. Fava, founder of the Lockport Music Center and first-call guitarist for many celebrity performers who performed in the area, died in October of 2018 after […]
The Northwest Jazz Festival in Historic Lewiston, NY announces the lineup of Main Stage Headliner performers for 2019. The Jazz Festival, scheduled on Friday, August 23rd and Saturday, August 24th will present top international and North American jazz artists including Monty Alexander, Roberta Gambarini, Mike Jones, Carol Welsman, Nicki Parrot, Aimée Allen, and Lucia Jackson. […]
A couple of brief rain showers could not dampen the spirits of the audiences taking in many of the outstanding local jazz talents at the Northwest Jazz Festival on Saturday, August 24th. A mix of orchestras, guitar duos, vocalists, and ensembles had people wearing out walking shoes as they mixed among four stages. Some enjoying […]
On Saturday evening, August 25th, the audience at the Northwest Jazz Festival in Lewiston, NY welcomed the noted Cuban-born pianist, composer, and arranger, Elio Villafranca. The ensemble called the Jass Syncopators included some of the biggest names in jazz to have ever taken the Northwest Jazz Festival stage for a headlining performance. The venerable alto saxophonist Vincent […]
Saturday afternoon (August 25th) brought to the Main Stage of the Northwest Jazz Festival in Lewiston, NY a homecoming with superb musicianship and two groups of emerging jazz stars that left audiences wanting more. Despite a brief period of rain that scattered the audience under trees, the groups made it impossible for any to leave the […]
One of the largest opening Friday night crowds in the 17-year history of the Northwest Jazz Festival attended the festival on Friday, August 24th. On the schedule were eight performances by local music groups. All were outstanding and gave a platform for their music to be presented to an eager audience of festival goers. Here […]
The Main Stage portion of the Northwest Jazz Festival opened on Friday (August 24th) with pure artistic passion performed by the Christopher Bakriges Trio. Performing as a trio of piano, upright bass, and vibes, the trio presented compelling music that mixed jazz with leanings of classical chamber music. Two stalwarts of jazz, Avery Sharpe (McCoy Tyner/Art […]
