The John Coltrane Birthday Celebration 2023
Thursday, September 28 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
$15 – $90
The Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Collective and Burchfield Penney Art Center celebrate the birthday of one of the greatest saxophone players of all time at the annual John Coltrane jazz festival September 28 – 30, 2023!
This year will be bigger and better than ever with headliner Ravi Coltrane closing out the festivities on Saturday night in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall (across Rockwell Road from the Burchfield Penney). Don’t miss that ‘Trane and join us for an extra special jazz extravaganza honoring the jazz icon!
SCHEDULE
THURSDAY
Opening Reception 7:00 p.m.
Burchfield Penney Art Center | Reception Space
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Kick off the John Coltrane Birthday Celebration with a toast, light refreshments, and a special performance by the Love Supreme School of Music faculty and students. All Coltrane Celebration ticket-holders are welcome to attend the opening reception at 7:00 p.m. (Burchfield Penney and Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Society members enjoy early check-in for the reception at 6:00 p.m.) The Love Supreme School of Music will perform in the Second Floor Reception Space from 7:00 p.m. to 7:40 p.m.
George Caldwell Quartet 8:00 p.m.
Burchfield Penney Art Center | Auditorium
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Acclaimed pianist George Caldwell will be joined by Lawrence Clark (saxophone), Sean Jefferson (drums) Joe Goehle (bass) in this star-studded quartet!
George Caldwell is a fully tenured jazz piano legend who has served with the Count Basie Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, as a sideman extraordinaire, and as leader of his own ensembles. Renowned as a performer, composer, band leader, and teacher, Caldwell presided over the Ivory 88s for the Basie Orchestra when the group won a “Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance” Grammy in 1996. He’s one of the pre-eminent swing players in modern jazz and is the artistic director of the annual Coltrane celebration at the Burchfield Penney.
FRIDAY
Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes
Film Screening 2:00 p.m.
Burchfield Penney Art Center | Auditorium
Friday, September 29, 2023
All Coltrane Celebration ticket-holders are invited to a special screening of the documentary Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes.
Discover the life and music of jazz luminary Ron Carter, the most recorded bassist in history. Filmed over the course of six years, “Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes” invites viewers to meet the gentleman behind the bass. Best known as the rhythmic force in Miles Davis’s Second Great Quintet, Carter has since amassed more than 2,500 musical credits over a prolific six-decade career.
SATURDAY
Ravi Coltrane 8:00 p.m.
Performing Arts Center | Buffalo State University (Rockwell Hall)
Saturday, September 30, 2023
The celebration will culminate in a performance by Ravi Coltrane (saxophone) in the Performing Arts Center in Buffalo State University’s Rockwell Hall at 8:00 p.m. He will be joined by COLTRANE Celebration artistic directors Curtis Lundy (upright bass) and George Caldwell (piano), along with Johnathan Blake (drums). Plus don’t miss a special opening performance by the Love Supreme School of Music.
Ravi Coltrane is a critically acclaimed Grammy™ nominated saxophonist, bandleader, and composer. In the course of a twenty-plus-year career, Mr. Coltrane has worked as a sideman to many, recorded noteworthy albums for himself and others, and founded a prominent independent record label, RKM. Born in Long Island, the second son of John Coltrane and Alice Coltrane, Ravi was named after Indian sitar legend Ravi Shankar. He was raised in Los Angeles where his family moved after his father’s death in 1967. His mother, Alice Coltrane, was a significant influence on Ravi and it was he who encouraged Alice to return to performance and the recording studio after a long absence. Subsequently, Ravi produced and played on Alice Coltrane’s powerful, Translinear Light, which was released in 2004.
Curtis Lundy is an American double bass player, composer, producer, choir director, and arranger. Lundy is best known for his work as part of jazz vocalist Betty Carter’s band. Lundy has also played on other jazz artists’ recordings, including albums by John Hicks, Bobby Watson, the Steve Nelson Quintet and Johnny Griffin. In the late 1980s, he briefly stepped out of the background and issued Just Be Yourself (1988). A decade later, with Justin Time Records, he released Against All Odds (1999) and Purpose (2002). Both albums feature pianists John Hicks and Anthony Wonsey. Lundy’s arrangement of “Walk With Me”, recorded by the ARC Gospel Choir, was sampled by rapper Kanye West and became the Grammy Award-winning hit “Jesus Walks”.
TICKET INFORMATION
All Coltrane Celebration ticket-holders are invited to attend the opening reception on Thursday, September 28th at 7:00 p.m., and the Documentary Screening on Friday, September 29th at 2:00 p.m. at the Burchfield Penney Art Center.
Tickets can be purchased online (processing fees apply) or in person at the Buffalo State Performing Arts Center box office.
Buffalo State Performing Arts Center box office hours for in-person or phone sales: Tuesdays through Fridays, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Phone: 716-878-3005
George Caldwell Quartet
Featuring Lawrence Clark at the Burchfield Penney
Thursday, September 28
General Admission – $35.00 (plus fees)
Members – $25.00 (plus fees) Members please check your email for the online discount password.
Student – $15.00 (Purchase in person at the Box Office. One Student price ticket per valid student ID.)
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Ravi Coltrane
Accompanied by the Curtis Lundy Trio at the Performing Arts Center | Buffalo State University (Rockwell Hall)
Saturday, September 30
General Admission – $35.00 (plus fees)
Members – $25.00 (plus fees) Members please check your email for the online discount password.
Student – $15.00 (Purchase in person at the Box Office. One Student price ticket per valid student ID.)
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2-Concert Package with Poster
September 28 – 30, 2023
See the George Caldwell Quartet featuring Lawrence Clark at the Burchfield Penney, and Ravi Coltrane with the Curtis Lundy Trio at the Buffalo State PAC, plus receive your COLTRANE Celebration poster by artist XIII*
*Posters will be available to pick up at the Burchfield Penney Museum Store from 6:30 p.m. September 28, 2023.
General Admission – $90.00 (plus fees)
Members – $70.00 (plus fees) Members please check your email for the online discount password.
