Friday, September 21, 2012

Buffalo News Club Watch: Statler City sets the mood




Statler City sets the mood you want, with cocktail jazz and a downstairs disco

BY BRENDA ALESII
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS
On a hot and steamy Friday, we escaped the heat and walked into the beautifully restored downtown Buffalo icon now rechristened as Statler City. Relief from the oppressive humidity came in more ways than one: While it was refreshingly air-conditioned throughout the lobby and the downstairs disco, the cool factor started the moment we heard cocktail piano jazz, the kind of atmosphere music that is culled from the Great American Songbook - Cole Porter, George Gershwin, movie themes that recall Fred Astaire dancing on the silver screen.
Pianist Howard Goldman, looking dapper in his dark suit and matching eyeglasses, clearly enjoys what he's doing as he kibitzes with guests entering the Statler. Some are dressed to the nines as they head to wedding receptions, others are there to sit around Goldman's piano and chat him up, while others make a beeline to the nearby Lobby Bar and downstairs Rendezvous disco.
While my husband, Dan, headed to the Lobby Bar for a refreshing Tanqueray and tonic, I sat with Jim and Ryan, who enjoyed a "front row seat" encircling the piano. Jim and his wife come to the Statler from Tonawanda every Friday to enjoy the relaxed vibe. "This place puts me in a different mood," said Jim, cradling a gin and tonic. "I love the style here, the way it makes you feel like you're transported to a different time. In fact, it's the only time I wear a tie."
Next to Jim sat Ryan, a self-proclaimed beer enthusiast from the city who has become a big fan of Goldman's and the Lobby Bar since it opened earlier this year. As he quaffed a $5 Sam Adams Octoberfest, Ryan said he especially enjoys the food, local craft beer selection and timeless feel of the place.
Inside the spacious, luxurious Lobby Bar, we were greeted by Michael, a competent and friendly barkeep who has been serving customers since it opened on New Year's Eve. When asked what a typical crowd is like, he said it is an "amazing mix of 21- to 71-year-old folks who have a discerning palate." Among the more popular drinks is a Muddled Old Fashioned for $8. While Dan worked on his second T & T, I enjoyed a luscious pinot noir. Everywhere we looked, we noticed interesting and classic touches, ranging from dimly lit areas, leather chairs and sofa, a shiny shuffle board that runs down the middle of the back of the bar, and monkey lamps adorning the bar. Michael said the "Ellsworth's Special" is a popular lighter fare bar menu selection. For just $2.50, one can have a choice of beef on weck, chicken tenders or a basket of tater tots.
As we were perusing the menu, I heard someone call my name. My friend, Maureen, and her husband, Vince, were enjoying drinks a few seats down at the bar. Maureen had a Rusty Chain microbrew; Vince was quickly downing a Pyramid beer. We decided to join them downstairs at the Rendezvous, especially after we heard there was a free 40-foot buffet during Friday happy hour that includes carving stations, pasta and salads made from the folks at the Buffalo Chophouse, another of Statler owner Mark Croce's properties.
Disco classics blared loudly, the dance floor was filling up and the high-energy nightclub was getting busy. As we polished off our food and had another round of drinks, the four of us marveled at the fabulous renovations of this legendary building. Maureen noted how she and Vince, West Seneca residents, have been advocates of the city's entertainment venues for a long time. "We've been downtown fans before it was cool," she said.
I'll drink to that!


Thursday, September 20, 2012

See Mike Jones at Iris, October 26th.


For Immediate Release: September 20, 2011
Press Contact: Bruce Eaton (716) 807-6011
Jazz Piano Virtuoso Mike Jones from The Penn & Teller Show to Make Rare Solo Performance at Iris Restaurant on Friday, October 26th
Virtuoso jazz pianist and Buffalo native Mike Jones will take a night off from performing with The Penn & Teller Show in Las Vegas to make a rare solo appearance.  The performance will take place in the new Iris Restaurant, 4224 Maple Road (Maple Ridge Plaza located on the corner of Maple and Sweet Home Rd.), Amherst, NY on Friday, October 26, 2012 with two sets beginning at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $20 at the door.  For dinner reservations or more information contact Iris at (716) 831-3271 or visit www.irisrestaurantbuffalo.com.
Heralded for “the most remarkable pure technique of any piano player working in jazz today” by noted critic Neil Tesser, Mike Jones is “the great living Mainstream Monster of jazz piano” (Jeff Simon, The Buffalo News).  After attending the Berkee School of Music the 1980s and playing in some of the East Coast's most notable clubs, Jones headed west.  Since 2002 he has served as musical director and opening act (joined by recent Celebrity Apprentice star Penn Jillette on bass) for The Penn & Teller Show in Las Vegas, playing to nearly two million people in recent years and recording a series of highly-regarded CDs for Hank O’Neal’s Chiarascuro label.  His most recent release Chicago Trio 2010 documents performance at Chicago's legendary Green Mill Jazz Club and is available for free download at http://www.jonesjazz.com.  
With an outward appearance perhaps more appropriate for a heavy-metal musician than someone who has “quietly established himself as the successor to the stupefyingly virtuostic Oscar Peterson” (Neil Tesser), Mike Jones has always followed his own internal musical path, eschewing the latest jazz flavor-of-the-month for immersion in the jazz piano tradition stretching from Fats Waller and Art Tatum to the two-fisted wizardry of his mentor, the late Dave McKenna . As a jazz pianist, "Jones commands a lavish arsenal of formidable weapons: the rumbling bass lines of an Erroll Garner or Dave McKenna, the meteoric right-hand phrasings of an Art Tatum or Bud Powell, the awesome chops of an Oscar Peterson or McCoy Tyner, the natural rhythmic swing of a Hampton Hawes or Horace Silver, the unerring taste and sensitivity of a Kenny Barron, Hank Jones or Bill Evans" (Jack Bowers, Cadence).  Drawing on the Great American Songbook, his performances showcase his "colossal technique, enormous repertoire and heightened sense of style" (Howard Reich, The Chicago Tribune). 
Iris Restaurant is located in the Maple Entertainment Complex along with The Library, a pub featuring 50 craft beers and a great pub-style menu. Also in the complex is The Forvm, a concert venue/banquet facility with state of the art sound and lighting which is available for private parties and room rentals.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Danny Hull: Musically This Week Vol XV, No 2


Hello friends.  This week...

Tuesday, 9/18 at the Iris Restaurant     7:30 - 10:30
Colin Gordon, alto saxophone     Matt Michaud, guitar     Emiliano Lasansky, bass     your host, drum set
What do you say about a musician you hardly know?  One whom you've met only once, on the bandstand back in January, and not since?  Your recollections maybe?  A moment I distinctly recall is this: in some brief remarks to the audience at the close of that January fist set, when re-introducing Colin, I said "Ladies & Gentlemen, Lee Konitz."  Never before that night, and not since, did I hear the legendary Lee Konitz while playing music-in-the-moment with any saxophonist, veteran or young.  Colin is a student at the renown Eastman school, and this will be his sophomore appearance at our venue.  I remain grateful.  To our audience, without whom there would be no venue.  To Mike Milkie for giving this idea a chance 15 years ago.  To Vinnie Lesh at the Iris for his faith and taste.  And to the Eastman school, whose faculty & students have enriched my musical existence and the ears of our audience.  Thank you all.  Please join us.  The Iris Restaurant - in the plaza at the intersection of Maple & Sweet Home Roads in Amherst.  831-3271.  Good music, good food, good people, chilled spirits, and a great hang.

Wednesday, 9/19 at the Iris Restaurant     7:30 - 9:30
Buffalo Brass open rehearsal
Phil is rehearsing the band for a hit next month.  If you're curious as to how a seasoned leader who has written the lion's share of the charts prepares his band, come check it out.  Another vote of thanks to Vinnie Lesh and the Iris for providing us with free rehearsal space.  If you stop in and maybe have a bite, you're actually helping to defray his overhead and keep the music in the air.

Friday, 9/21 at Canvas     8:30 - 10:30
Sir Walter Jedermann - piano & vocals     John Werick - bass     your correspondent - drum set
Back to my roots on this gig...  I literally cut my small group teeth playing organ duo dates with Wally back in the 70's.  Those were some formative years, and I owe him for that.  I learned  standards I had never heard, and also how to program a set.  Straight ahead, bossa, waltz, ballad, pop tune - never two consecutive feels, keys, or tempi.  Energy, humor, and a time feel that has momentum - those are the lessons I learned from Sir Walter.  And I'm honored to do this date Friday.  Stop in if you're haunting Hertel Avenue.

next Tuesday, 9/25 at the Iris Restaurant     7:30 - 10:30
Paul Tynan, trumpet     Bobby Jones, piano     Wayne Moose, bass     your host, drum set

upcoming at the Iris Restaurant...
Tuesday, 10/2 Darcy Hepner
Tuesday, 10/9 Patty Flaherty & Craig Kastelnik
Tuesday, 10/16 Miles & Wayne Tucker
Tuesday, 10/23 Nelson M. Starr
Tuesday. 10/30 Bruce Johnstone with Sax & Violins
Tuesday, 11/6 It's Kenny's Fault
Tuesday, 11/13 Tom Bronzetti CD Release
Tuesday, 12/18 Sein Oh

links...

Because it's simply beautiful...
Autumn in New York, why does it seem so inviting?
 - Vernon Duke

Health,
Hope,
Dialogue,
Respect,
Tolerance,
and Friendships.
dan

Monday, September 10, 2012

Danny Hull: Musically This Week Vol XV, No 1


Hello friends.  This week...

next Tuesday, 9/11 at the Iris Restaurant     7:30 - 10:30
Clay Jenkins

Clay Jenkins - trumpet    John Hasselback, Jr - trombone     Lisa Hasselback - piano     Jeff Campbell - bass     your host, drum set 
I wish I could remember his exact words.  I was in the audience for Joe La Barbera at the Rochester Jazz Festival this summer.  After killing it on his first tune he stepped to the microphone to introduce the band.  When he got to his trumpet player, he presented Clay Jenkins as his favorite jazz musician in the world.  And remember, Joe La Barbera was the reigning drummer in the last Bill Evans Trio.  Joe knows musicianship.  So Clay works and records regularly with Joe La Barbera.  And tomorrow night, he is coming to the Iris to play with, well, me.  If I were smart I’d be scared.  But this is not the first time I’ve had the pleasure.  I’ve gotten to know Clay a little bit over the years.  And like his friend Joe La Barbera, Clay's humanity looms as large as his artistry.  I wonder if there’s a connection – a huge heart and world-class musicianship.  And consider who Clay has invited to join us.  He’s bringing his Eastman colleague Jeff Campbell with him, and his first choices to round out the band were John and Lisa Hasselback.  Both John and Lisa are as humble as they are musically accomplished.  But consider the compliment.  The pianist on the Joe La Barbera Quintet is Bill Cunliffe!  And Clay is on the Eastman faculty with Bill Dobbins and Harold Danko.  But he loves to come to the Iris to play music with John and Lisa.  Another embarrassment of riches…  The weather is still beautiful and the nights remain young.  Can you join us?  When you’re in the audience you are not only treated to creative music from count-off to cut-off, you are literally helping us keep the music in the air, here in our little corner of the scene.  For that, we thank you.  The Iris Restaurant - in the plaza at the intersection of Maple & Sweet Home Roads in Amherst.  831-3271.  Good music, good food, good people, chilled spirits, legendary musicians, and a great hang.

next Tuesday, 9/18 at the Iris Restaurant     7:30 - 10:30
Colin Gordon, alto saxophone     Matt Michaud, guitar     Jeff Campbell, bass     your host, drum set

upcoming at the Iris Restaurant...
Tuesday, 9/25 Paul Tynan
Tuesday, 10/2 Darcy Hepner
Tuesday, 10/9 Patty Flaherty & Craig Kastelnik
Tuesday, 10/16 Miles & Wayne Tucker
Tuesday, 10/23 Nelson M. Starr
Tuesday. 10/30 Bruce Johnstone with Sax & Violins
Tuesday, 11/6 It's Kenny's Fault
Tuesday, 11/13 Tom Bronzetti CD Release
Tuesday, 12/18 Sein Oh

links...

Year 15 begins this Tuesday...
The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
  -Walt Disney

Health,
Hope,
Dialogue,
Respect,
Tolerance,
and Friendships.
dan

Friday, September 7, 2012

Tonight! Mari McNeil sings Jazz with Love at Iris Restaurant.



Thursday, September 7, 2012. 7-10 pm at Iris.

Come hear Mari McNeil sing Jazz with Love at Iris Restaurant, one of Buffalo's only dedicated jazz venues. The legendary Ken Kaufman will be on piano.

Iris at the Maple Entertainment Complex - Maple Ridge Plaza 4224 Maple Road at Sweet Home, Amherst - (716)831-3271
www.mapleentertainment.com

Listen to Mari http://marimcneil.com/

See Facebook Event


Mari McNeil Sings.
Youtube  - "Rare Footage Behind-the-Scenes Cast and Crew Party. Blowing off some steam on the show's set. A talented and dedicated team of professionals bring our viewers each week's exciting episode of Lounge Academy." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2-w9brYvH4