Maria Sebastian w/Nelson Starr and Frank Grizanti at Jazz in the Pan-Am Room

The talented Maria Sebastian sings from a wide repertoire of music and songs.  Including Peggy Lee, Doris Day, Patsy Cline, Julie London, and more!   And, modern-day jazz-pop vocalists also!  A night of those unforgettable classic hits sung by one of the region’s most versatile performers.  Maria was recently inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame (2021).  There is no better way to celebrate for Maria to be joined by two Buffalo Music Hall of Fame inductees, Nelson Starr on piano and Frank Grizanti on guitar.  Each with a rich versatile history of performing hall of fame music!

Maria Sebastian:  

Maria Sebastian is most likely known for her versatility. She has opened for dozens of national acts in various genres and has recorded with many of their members. She has earned 12 Buffalo / Nightlife Music Awards, a People’s Choice Award, a Buffalo Spree Album of the Year Award for Yellow Envelope, 2009, and three Global Music Awards, one for her performance on film producer Michael Z. Gordon’s song “On the Run,” (Michael wrote the Batman theme song you’ve been hearing all your life) produced with Nelson Starr (used in the 2015 remake of the film Narc) and most recently for two singles (each) on her 2018 disc “Be” as well as an album award for the disc.

Maria also won a NISOD Master Teacher Award in 2011 through Genesee Community College, and an Adjunct of the Year award at Niagara County Community College (2013), two schools she has taught undergraduate writing and public speaking for. She was nominated for a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching in 2021 (results TBA).

She has had music placed in television and film (3 lbs., Discovery Channel, Melrose Place), performs regularly in Buffalo, and has opened 8 times for Roger McGuinn of The Byrds, and 3 times for folk favorite Vance Gilbert. In 2011, Maria toured across the US with 10,000 Maniacs as a backing vocalist and rhythm guitarist. Her 2009 CD, Yellow Envelope, has earned her praise among all it has been passed on to, including The Hudson Valley’s Freeman Online (“Sebastian has a great record on her hands here.”).

Maria has produced several tributes in recent years as well selling out shows at MusicalFare’s Premier Cabaret Room, West Falls Center for The Arts, as well as Hotel Henry through JazzBuffalo.

Nelson Starr:

On a weekly basis, millions of people all around the United States hear Nelson Starr’s music. By scoring the hit Cable TV programs, “Psychic Detectives” & “Missing Persons Unit”, Nelson has finally been able to reach out to a mass audience – an audience that, as a rock performer, was nearly impossible to reach.

One of the best-known and critically acclaimed musician/composers/producers in the Buffalo area, Nelson Starr brings a totally refined, yet thoroughly modern, sensibility to his musical craft. A multi-talented artist, Nelson has the ability to play just about any genre of music – from modern rock to modern jazz, country to R&B and beyond – with credibility, authenticity and heart. Hailing from three generations of professional musicians (all named Nelson!), Nelson Starr stood out early among his peers for his skill both as an instrumentalist, singer/songwriter and composer.

Frank Grizanti:

Frank Grizanti, is one of western New York’s most respected guitarists and 2007 inductee to the Buffalo Music Hall Of Fame.  He has worked with many great acts from Western New York such as The BBC Band, The Frank Grizanti Band, Geno McManus, Stone Flower, Sam Sugarman, Patti Parks Band, Junction West, Weekend, The Rockers, The Fabulous USA Band, Slam, Zola, Speedy Parker, Bass Reeves, Maria Sebastian, Noa Bursi, Ken Kaufman, Jim White, Gary Malaber, Buffalo Rising, Melissa Croff, Ron LaSalle, Pat Gordon, Pam Ryder, Caitlin Koch, Steve Ballisteri, Anatara to name a few!! The Frank Grizanti Band has opened for national acts such as Gino Vanelli, Foreigner, and Styx.