Art Meets Jazz: Mardi Gras with Ray Skalski’s Trad Messengers

Art Meets Jazz returns with a vibrant and joyful celebration of Mardi Gras—where rhythm, color, and creativity come together in true JazzBuffalo fashion.

This special evening features Ray Skalski’s Trad Messengers, bringing the spirited sounds of New Orleans–style jazz to life. Led by trombonist/trumpeter and visual artist Ray Skalski, the ensemble includes Tyler Westcott, Tim Clarke, and Ed Croft—musicians who understand the joy, swing, and communal spirit that defines traditional jazz. Expect infectious rhythms, soulful melodies, and the kind of music that invites you to smile, move, and feel connected.

In the true spirit of Art Meets Jazz, the music is only part of the experience. This evening also features a special art exhibition showcasing the paintings of Ray Skalski—a remarkable visual counterpart to the live performance. Ray has painted and been commissioned to paint many of the most significant jazz artists and Great American Songbook vocalists of the past century, capturing their essence with warmth, elegance, and deep respect for the music. His work reflects a lifelong devotion to jazz—not just as sound, but as story, history, and human expression.

Together, the live jazz and visual art create a one-of-a-kind cultural experience—where sound and image speak to one another, and where the beauty of jazz is celebrated in multiple forms. This is Art Meets Jazz at its finest: intimate and unlike anything else in Buffalo.

Join us as we kick off the new Art Meets Jazz season with a Mardi Gras celebration that honors tradition, creativity, and community—bringing the joy of jazz and art together in a way that feels both timeless and alive.

Let the colors, rhythms, and spirit of New Orleans set the tone for an unforgettable evening.