Phil Sims: Jazz Happenings February 2013 Vol II

Hello everyone,

I wanted to thank everyone who has remained on the Jazz happenings list, even if you haven't been able to come out for some live music. I know everyone must get a lot of emails, and I appreciate that you still want to be on the list, thanks. As always, please remember that if you'd like to be off the list, a simple email will get that taken care of for you. But we do hope you want to stick around.

Also, many thanks to those folks (new to the list and old) who have been able to join us recently. This past weekend was truly epic. Saturday night with Joanna Batt at Lebros was great fun, Sunday afternoon at the Elm Street Bakery with my jazz quartet was one of the nicest settings and gigs I've been on in a while (they're all nice, this was really cool, though), and then last night at Milkie's Elmwood Lounge with the Buffalo Brass 19 piece big band was, well, just stunning.

Sorry to go on a bit, but, well, here goes. Skip down to events if you like. Just want to prop up my people. 

It's important to note, and I'm sure many of you really know this, that Buffalo is a haven for world class musicians (and not just the people I'm fortunate enough to play with). True, we do all come in a variety of styles and experiences, but the real magic is in the fact that Buffalo musicians are truly committed. We seek each other out, we form bonds, we collaborate, we rehearse diligently, and we very much enjoy performing for you. We're proud of our work, and we know who we are. You can feel it on a gig like the Elmwood. The band was stupendous, the crowd got it, but it's also like we all are neighbors. it's probably like that because we really are neighbors. As special as that is, we sometimes (aren't we all really busy?) lose sight for a minute that our Buffalo neighbor really is a truly world class, gifted, and committed musician. Heck, I'm guilty. I was just on the phone with my good buddy Sal Andolina, and it re-dawned on me, "oh my God, I'm on the phone with an incredibly gifted and world renowned jazz and classical musician! That is just so cool.

Here's some more cool stuff, hope to see you when you can join us...

Tuesday, February 12, Coffee Culture on Elmwood (at Bryant) The Michael McNeill / Phil Sims duo 6:00 to 8:00PM

Michael McNeill, Jazz Pianist

Here's one of those collaborations. Michael and I have met through a variety of shared musical experiences, but an opportunity arose, and we said, "let's do this". Michael and I have prepared a nice list of chestnuts and maybe a few not so obvious tunes to perform together in a coffee house setting. Michael is an incredibly thoughtful and deep pianist. We hope you're thirty for java and jazz.

Thursday, February 14th, Bacchus Restaurant (Chippewa and Franklin) The New Phil Sims Jazz Quartet 6:30 to 9:30PM

Warren Stirtzinger, guitar, Paul Zapalowski, bass, Tom Kasperek, drums

Valentine's Day in a fine dining atmosphere. Valet parking available. It's all good. Reservations a good idea if you'd like to join us (854 9463)

Sunday, February 17th, Milkie's On Elmwood (at Utica) The New Phil Sims Jazz Quartet 5:30 to 8:30PM

It's back to quartet Sunday, with open jazz jam on the second half.

Have a great week, thank you so much for joining us when you can, and we hope to see you very soon.

~Phil Sims