Buffalo Rising Online

Aug 1st 2006, 8:51am By jazzbo

Most of us jazz lovers know about the Sunday jazz series at the Albright Knox and many of us have been in attendance the past two Sundays, but how many of us were aware that also for the past two Sundays, starting at 5 PM, the Masten Jazz Festival was held on the lawn next to the Buffalo Museum of Science? In addition, this past Saturday, the 1st annual Nickel City Jazz Festival was held in front of the legendary Colored Musicians Club on Broadway. As one who attended all the aforementioned events, I can attest to the consistently high quality of music at both festivals. George Scott (Colored Musicians Club) and Pappy Martin (Masten Jazz Festival) and their small but devoted staffs, should both be commended for their hard work and the wonderful time they provided for all us jazz fans.

But if the music was ear-catching the racial make up of the respective attendees was eye-catching. The vast majority of the crowd at the Knox was Caucasian, conversely most of the crowd at Masten and the Nickel City were Afro-Americans. How do we explain this?

The Knox is not programming ijazz for white folks,i nor is Masten or the CMC programming ijazz for black folks.i Both venues are programming ijazz for all folks.i As a matter of fact most bands at each venue were racially integrated.

There is no denying that Buffalo, much like other northern industrial cities, is racially segregated n but this segregation is more geographical than sociological. As most of us are aware, Buffalo is perhaps one of the least segregated cities from the perspective of the acceptance factor and respect each race demonstrates for the other. As a white male living in the city I can attest to that.

To illustrate this, a while back my wife and I (middle aged white couple) ventured out to a now defunct bar located in the heart of what is pejoratively referred to as the ieastsidei to hear a jazz group play. When we walked in, all eyes were upon us, probably because we were the only white folks in the establishment. Almost immediately upon sitting down at the bar, people started to come over to welcome us n this included the entire band (racially mixed) and the owner. Complete strangers bought us drinks and demonstrated a warmth that we still talk about to this day. This truly is the city of good neighbors.

So if you are reading this and lament the fact that you didnit attend all the festivities the past two weeks, you have another chance the next two Sundays. The jazz at the Knox continues from 2-4 pm, followed by one of the great musical and cultural experiences of the summer n the legendary Pine Grill Jazz Reunion (in honor of the memory of the great but now defunct bar and music venue the Pine Grill) from 4-9 pm , located in Martin Luther King Park. This Sunday the PGJR will feature internationally known artists such as Winard Harper and vocalist Ernie Andrews (among others). Sunday August 13 features local performers such as the Old School Boys (the Temptations still live!!), Confidential and Rhapsody.

So I offer an invitation: For next two Sundays, might all of us supporters of jazz in Buffalo come out and support both of these events. Treat it like a baseball doubleheader n The Knox at 2 pm and then truck over to MLK. You will have a great day of jazz and meet some cool jazzbos.

Pine Grill Jazz Reunion Martin Luther King Jr. Park @ Best Street & Fillmore Ave Fillmore Avenue Buffalo, NY 14211 Time: 4pm-9pm Phone: (716) 884-3620 Sunday August 6th Winard Harper, Ernie Andrews, and MORE! August 13th Old School Boys, Confidential, Rhapsody, Evolution, The Last Word

Jazz @ The Knox 716.882.8700 Sunday August 6th Laurie Bordonaro August 13th Don Rice