Get ready! Buffalo’s legendary Pine Grill Jazz Reunion is almost upon us. Hosted at Martin Luther King Park, this year’s tribute includes performances by Saltman Knowles, Mixon Quartet, Niki Haris, Dr. Lonnie Smith, GLVT Love Xtreme, Evolution Kenny Woo, Unity Band and MochaSoule & the Nickel City Ballers.
According to promoter The African American Cultural Center (AACC), the 25th Annual Pine Grill Jazz Reunion is going to be very memorable. Looking back to the formations of the festival, when the late great B3 organist Jimmy McGriff first sat out in the rain, playing to music fans holding umbrellas, it was clear that the magic of the festival would endure for years to come.
“It’s hard to believe it has been 25 years since our first event, which was in the rain [1989]. The artist was Jimmy McGriff. He was so excited about the number of people who came out in the rain, even though he couldn’t perform because it was too wet to turn on electricity, he volunteered to come back the next week,” AACC Executive Director Agnes M. Bain said.
The following week the artist returned, only to be rained on again. This time he refused to take “no” for an answer and decided that the show would most definitely go on, much to the delight of the gathering crowd.
“It’s grown tremendously since then, but the community needs to be made more aware of the tremendous cost factor it takes to provide these two weekends of free jazz at no cost. We really need their support for this project in order for it to continue,” Bain added.
Pine Grill Jazz Reunion take place on Sunday, August 3 and Sunday, August 10, 2014 from 4 to 10 p.m. in Martin Luther King Jr. Park, located at Best Street and Fillmore Avenue. To learn more about the African American Cultural Center, visit www.aaccbuffalo.org.
25th Anniversary Lineup:
Sunday, August 3 (4pm-10pm)
Saltman Knowles
Mixon Quartet
Niki Haris
Dr. Lonnie Smith
Sunday, August 10 (4pm-10pm)
GLVT Love Xtreme
Evolution Kenny Woo
Unity Band
MochaSoule & the Nickel City Ballers