The Big Easy In Buffalo Music Education & Concert Series Announces New Additions To Program
The Big Easy in Buffalo music education and concert series today announced additions and revisions to its program:
Next up in the series is Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience on November 16, 2007 at the Tralf Music Hall. Information about all the shows can be found at www.bigeasybuffalo.com
On December 6, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. the world famous Preservation Hall Jazz Band will be at the University at Buffalo Center for the Arts for a special student concert and education program for grades 4, 5, and 6. The event is free to any school in Erie and Niagara Counties that wants to participate (transportation will be the responsibility of the school). To get involved, please e-mail bigeasy@musicisart.org no later than November 15. The goal was to make sure that this great band was heard by as many children as possible, and to open it up to public, private, parochial, and charter schools throughout the two counties.
Up and coming blues/roots/reggae/rock singer and guitarist Eric Lindell was scheduled to be here in October, but a sudden medical issue forced him to postpone. Luckily for us, Eric will be touring in early 2008 supporting a new release on Alligator Records, and will kick off the tour in Buffalo on January 11 at The Tralf Music Hall.
Connecting the music education and concert elements of the series will be a virtual battle of the bands. In the spirit of New Orleans and its varied music, we encourage jazz, blues, funk, and even marching bands (but please, no more than 10 members!) to submit one song on cd to Music Is Art by November 2. The band must be sponsored by a teacher, and at least 75 percent of the band must be currently enrolled at the school they're representing. Our panel of judges for the battle will be Music Is Art Founder & President Robby Takac, WBFO blues dj Jim Santella, Kevin O'Brien of Fichte Endl Eye Associates and chair of the 2008 Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival, MiA Executive Coordinator Tod Kniazuk, and our special guest judge Joe Krown, one of the premier piano and organ players in New Orleans and a Big Easy in Buffalo performer (see below).
The winner of the battle will get a private music education program on February 1, 2008 with one of the New Orleans bands that will be in town as part of our Mardi Gras Jam. The winner will also get a 20 minute pre-show slot at the Jam at the Town Ballroom that evening. Again, this is a free program for the schools, and again to get involved e-mail bigeasy@musicisart.org
Finally, adding to an already packed lineup of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Papa Grows Funk, Big Chief Bo Dollis & The Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras Indians, and local favorites the Great Train Robbery, The Joe Krown Organ Combo has been added to the series concluding Mardi Gras Jam on February 1, 2008. Joe opened the series for us in April with a much talked about solo piano performance. Now he brings his combo in for a set of B-3 fueled jazz, funk, and swing.
The Big Easy in Buffalo is a collaboration between the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau Foundation, Niagara Erie Regional Coalition, and Music Is Art. Proceeds from the concerts will be used to purchase instruments for the Buffalo and Niagara Falls public schools. More information can be found at www.bigeasybuffalo.com
| The Series | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 17 | Ellis Marsalis Trio, Joe Krown | UB Center for the Arts | |||
| May 10 | The Pine Leaf Boys | The Tralf Music Hall | |||
| June 14 | the subdudes | The Tralf Music Hall | |||
| September 13 | Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen | The Tralf Music Hall | |||
| November 16 | Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience | The Tralf Music Hall | |||
| December 6 | Preservation Hall Jazz Band A Creole Christmas | UB Center for the Arts | |||
| January 11, 2008 | Eric Lindell | The Tralf Music Hall | |||
| February 1, 2008 | Mardi Gras Jam featuring the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Papa Grows Funk, Big Chief Bo Dollis & The Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras Indians, Joe Krown Organ Combo, Buffalo's own Great Train Robbery, and more! | The Town Ballroom | |||