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Dave King Trio At Buffalo’s Art Of Jazz
Courtesy Frank Housh / Fingerpost Media
King broke up the music with what would have been a tight ten minutes at the local comedy club, riffing on the art (“a guy walks into a minimalist bar and says ‘I’ll have nothing in a Phillip Glass’”), and the fact that the guys got lost looking for their room at the labyrinthian Richardson Hotel.
—Dave King
Buffalo Akg Art Museum Art Of Jazz
Buffalo, NY
May 17, 2026
A sunny, 75° day greeted Buffalo jazz lovers as we queued up for the final of four "Art Of Jazz" concerts at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum. A near-capacity crowd heard Dave King Trio reduce six jazz standards into individual threads and weave them into a wild tapestry.
The concert began with Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman." King built a layered foundation with brushes before being joined by Billy Peterson's weeping bass and Matt Mitchell's chiming piano. Each played their own version of the song—sometimes in different meters—simultaneously. This pattern followed through Thelonious Monk's "Evidence" and a barely recognizable "If I Loved You," from the musical "Carousel."
King and Peterson are accomplished in diverse musical genres: King is sought after in jazz, punk, and funk bands and Peterson has worked with everyone from Bob Dylan to Lawrence Welk. Musical themes came together and broke apart, from intimate conversation to extended monologues. Ornette Coleman's "Happy Hour" turned into a mad steeplechase before yielding to a bittersweet piano on "Body & Soul."
Artist/Producer Walter Kemp 3 took over this year and returned the series to its progressive roots. 2026's "Art Of Jazz" was one of the best seasons in years, with diverse sounds from both rising talents and established stars. The "Art Of Jazz" series feels reinvigorated. I can't wait to see what Kemp has in store for 2027.
Set List
Lonely Woman, Evidence, If I Loved You, Happy Hour, Body And Soul, Con Alma.About Dave King
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