Jazz

Entering their fourth year, the Buffalo Jazz Collective kicks off their upcoming season with concerts this Friday and Saturday night. The non-profit group has grown partly in thanks to a community of jazz players, both experienced and young, working together to not only put on performances, but work with local students. As WBFO’s Nick Lippa reports, Collective Artistic Director Mark Filsinger has been instrumental in organizing, preserving, and advancing jazz in Buffalo.

For the Pittsburgh-based funk-jazz group Afro Yaqui Music Collective, advocacy is at the core of who they are. Their new album, a jazz opera titled Mirror Butterfly: the Migrant Liberation Movement Suite, is about climate change and mass migration.

Buffalo's rich history of world class jazz musicians has spawned a new generation of players. One group that best embodies this is the Ed Croft Trio. Croft recently won three 2018 Jazz Buffalo awards, including artist of the year, and brought his bandmates to WBFO's studios to play and talk about their music with reporter Nick Lippa.

Allentown is known for their variety of bars and late hour activities. This weekend, Nietzsche’s JazzFest IV looks to make its mark. The event runs through Sunday and features at least five groups each day. That includes jam sessions that start in the early morning hours. 

Pianist Yan Carlos Artime Perez is traveling the country in hopes of gaining more recognition as a lead man. He's often been behind the scenes. He was a producer of Paoli Mejías' 2005 Latin Grammy nominee album "Mi Tambor" and has collaborated with countless latin jazz musicians. For his first and only shows outside of Miami for the time being, he’s playing Pausa Art House tonight at 7:30 PM and Friday at 8 PM. WBFO’s Nick Lippa spoke with Yan Carlos and his translator.

A new annual region-wide jazz initiative is starting next month. Buffalo area musicians and writers are coming together to put on a series of concerts celebrating and reflecting on the music of 1968.

It’s been a long journey for Pausa Art House co-owner Lazara Martinez who grew up in Cuba before coming to America. Now, her live music venue has become a hot spot for touring musicians. This weekend, Grammy nominated jazz artist Jane Bunnett will be performing with her all-women Cuban group Maqueque.

Racial flashpoints across the United States this year have ignited debate about race and social equality in this country. WBFO Arts & Culture Desk producer Scott Sackett continues his series on the arts and social integration with a look at some of the most pressing social questions in America today, through the prism of Buffalo's Colored Musicians Club.

Notable players such as Grover Washington Jr. and Sam Noto are names that come to mind when you think of jazz in Buffalo. But what about the teachers who spurred their passion when they were students?

With a name that includes two of the world's great guitar makers, some might say Martin Taylor was born to play the instrument. 

One of the most prestigious jazz education and outreach programs in the world is spending time with some Buffalo Public School students this week. The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz is visiting three city schools.

Musician, composer and master of the Hammond B3 organ Doctor Lonnie Smith, a native Buffalonian and Buffalo Music Hall of Fame inductee, has been described as a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a turban, head gear he has worn since his teen years. 

The jazz organ legend is back in Buffalo for a performance at the Tralf Music Hall.

Today would have marked the 92nd birthday of pioneering jazz composer and pianist Dave Brubeck.  Brubeck died Wednesday of heart failure after being stricken while on his way to a cardiology appointment. 

Musician-photographer Al Stewart played trumpet with Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong and many other big-band greats, and documented his 60 years in show business with photos shot from his seat on the bandstand.  WBFO News contributor and WGRZ-TV senior correspondent Rich Kellman has the story.