Results for "Buffalo"

Vanessa Vacanti

Born: November 10, 1999

Vanessa Vacanti is a fresh new face on the jazz scene. A recent grad of SUNY Fredonia, (BFA/Musical Theatre) her vocal talents are quickly becoming recognized by musician’s and audiences alike.  She has recently become local to Buffalo, NY, but previously has worked in the Syracuse area.  She has been mainstay in the Syracuse scene with performances at Syracuse Jazz Fest, Fayetteville Jazz Fest with Ronnie Leigh, Fulton Jazz Fest, Lake Ontario Wine and Jazz Fest, the Jazz By The Lake series in Oswego as well as frequent night club performances throughout Central New York. She frequently works with The Jazz Mafia Trio, which is her first-call backing band

2022: The Year in Jazz

by Ken Franckling
December 29, 2022

Current events impacted the jazz world in significant ways throughout 2022. In its third year, the coronavirus pandemic continued to lurk in some settings, while others recovered in robust fashion. Russia's war on Ukraine was felt by musicians and triggered an outpouring of support for its victims. Initiatives to ensure greater equity in jazz advanced. The ...

Take Five with Emilio Palame

by AAJ Staff
April 12, 2022

Meet Emilio Palame Emilio Palame is a seasoned jazz pianist, composer/arranger, producer/director and actor residing in jny: Los Angeles. Instruments: Piano, composer/arranger Teachers and/or influences? Self taught at first then studied with jny: Buffalo, NY's premier jazz piano teacher Russ Messina—went on to SUNY Fredonia where I ran the Jazz Ensemble program ...

Groove Town: Buffalo Jazz And Its Legacy - Historical Insights

by Barbara Ina Frenz
April 5, 2022

From early on, Buffalo attracted musicians as a place to live and pursue their artistic endeavors—and they were excellent ones: Lil Hardin Armstrong, Jimmie Lunceford, Pete Johnson, and Stuff Smith. Dodo Greene, two masters of polyrhythm, Frankie Dunlop and Clarence Becton, as well as pianist and bassist Wade Legge grew up here. Two distinctive voices on ...

2021: The Year in Jazz

by Ken Franckling
December 31, 2021

The jazz world continued grappling and adjusting in year two of the COVID-19 pandemic. International Jazz Day again went virtual for the most part. Singer Tony Bennett put the final stamp on his touring--and likely recording--career after his Alzheimer's disclosure. Trumpeter Irvin Mayfield was headed to federal prison. The National Endowment for the Arts welcomed four ...

Andrew Nixon

Born: October 1, 1983

As a child, Andrew began classical piano lessons with the late Suzanne Chapin, which he eventually quit, explaining to his parents that he did not like being told what to play. He spent the remainder of his childhood teaching himself, improvising, copying the classical music that he heard his sisters learning, and playing the trombone in various grade school ensembles.  

After several years playing keyboards in rock and blues bands around Buffalo and Rochester NY, he discovered jazz in 2006 and began studying with pianist/composer Paul Hofmann (Eastman School of Music). Now fully devoted to music, he went on to earn a master’s degree in music theory in 2012 from the University of Buffalo, where he also studied classical piano and composition.  After performing countless times in festivals and clubs in and around western New York, he began shifting his focus to composition in 2020.  

Latin-Infused Jazz Duo Ariella Announce October 1st Virtual Tour Via Veeps

October 1, 2020

With a fervor for blues, jazz and vintage soul, enigmatic duo, ARIELLA, passionately transcend boundaries, transporting listeners to the heart of what makes music timeless. It’s a fluid daydream, seeping. With elegant vocals by the charismatic Ariella McManus, a singer with emotional depth and a songwriter rich with breadth, she eloquently combines stunning melodies with infectious ...

E.S.P. "Live In The Midwest" Tour Announced

March 4, 2020

E.S.P. is brewing an exciting concoction of original modern jazz infused with spicy Latin beats and seasoned with funky grooves. Originating from central New York, this quartet has passionately pursued creating new music for decades collecting three consecutive “Best Jazz Album of the Year” awards along the way. Always searching for a new challenge, E.S.P. performs ...

Buffalo Jazz Octet

The Buffalo Jazz Octet has performed since 2011, combining the power and compositional intricacy of a large ensemble with the flexibility and dynamism of a small improvising combo. The octet collaborated with saxophone legend Joe Ford (of various McCoy Tyner bands) in 2015, and the band's members have worked individually with internationally noted musicians ranging from Buddy Morrow and Don Menza to Wadada Leo Smith and William Parker. The group's debut album, recorded live at Pausa Art House in May 2016, comes out April 20, 2017 on Cadence Jazz Records. The octet has appeared at the 2014 and 2015 Queen City Jazz Festivals, Villa Maria College, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, and Pausa Art House.

David Hulett

Buffalo native, David “Teaspoon" Hulett, drummer for the Walter Kemp 3oh!, began his music career in the late 90s. He is one of the most respected and technical drummers of his generation. Thoughtful articulation and attention to detail has given him the ability to adapt to a variety of musical genres. Having partnered with long- time musical collaborators, ensemble leader and award-winning pianist Walter Kemp 3, and RiShon Odel Northington, recording and touring bassist for GRAMMY-nominated Najee, to release “Dark Continent." Hulett has been playing drums since age 4, and has logged countless hours in the studio for various projects for various groups and has played for the likes of Carnival Cruises, Disney, Marcus Miller, Critt’s Juke Joint, Gruvology, The Michael Jackson Tribute Tour, The Black Eyed Peas, T.I., Kendrick Lamar, Christopher Hopper Band, GRAMMY- nominee Eric Roberson, Siri Music Group artist Miesa, Philicia Collins of The David Letterman Show, organist Lonnie Smith, Bobby Jones of BET, Joseph Wooten, and a long list of others. The church was a major facilitator to master his speed and versatility, and he credits jazz and blues as his biggest influences