Jazz stars Ethan Iverson & Tom Harrell unite on stage at Kleinhans Music Hall

April 8, 8 p.m., Mary Seaton Room

Ethan Iverson and Tom Harrell – two of modern jazz’s foremost leading lights – will perform as part of the “Art of Jazz at the Philharmonic” series at 8 p.m. Friday, April 8, in the Mary Seaton Room at Kleinhans Music Hall. The duo will explore the classic straight-ahead repertoire that made New York City the jazz capital of the world as heard on their recent album “Common Practice” (ECM), recorded live at the legendary Village Vanguard. 

Pianist, composer and writer Iverson was a founding member of The Bad Plus. The group appeared as part of the “Art of Jazz” series in 2004 – its first major concert appearance outside New York City – and soon became one of the most successful and critically acclaimed jazz groups in recent decades.

His deep reverence for jazz history is reflected in his recent musical collaborations with elder statesmen Ron Carter and Billy Hart, as well as his award-winning writing for the New Yorker and his blog “Do The Math.” His debut for Blue Note records – “Every Note Is True” – was recently released to wide acclaim, reinforcing Iverson’s reputation as a “master of melody” (DownBeat).

Harrell, recently named “Jazz Trumpeter of the Year” by the Jazz Journalists Association, is one of the most dynamic and lyrical instrumentalists of our time. With a sound described as “ultra-elegant” by noted critic Howard Reich, multiple-Grammy nominee Harrell has been heard on nearly 300 recordings as both a leader and sideman over five decades, while working with many important figures in jazz history including Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Dizzy Gillespie, Horace Silver, Art Farmer, Phil Woods, Jim Hall and Charlie Haden.

Series producer Bruce Eaton said, “This will be Harrell’s first headline performance in Buffalo – a notable landmark for the ‘Art of Jazz’ series, and an opportunity to hear first-hand why his work is revered around the world.”

With the closure of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery for expansion, the museum’s long-running “Art of Jazz” series has found a temporary new home in the Mary Seaton Room at Kleinhans Music Hall. Produced by series founder Eaton, the rechristened “Art of Jazz at the Philharmonic” series is internationally renowned for presenting an array of the world’s premier jazz artists and has been heralded as “the most successful music series of its kind in Western New York history” (Buffalo News). 

The series is made possible with support from City of Buffalo Common Council Member David Rivera.

Eaton produces “The Art of Jazz at the Philharmonic” series with associate producer Tony Zambito. The Albright-Knox Art Gallery and JazzBuffalo.org serve as promotional partners for the series. 

Catherine Russell

The series will conclude with Catherine Russell, a 2020 Grammy nominee for Best Jazz Vocal, whose recent album, “Alone Together,” topped the 2019 jazz charts. On the album, she “puts her joyful stamp on the great African-American songbook from the swing era.” Russell performs at 8 p.m. Friday, May 13.

Tickets

Tickets to the “Art of Jazz at the Philharmonic” series at Kleinhans Music Hall are currently on sale. Pricing is $34 for the general public and $29 for all BPO subscribers and Albright-Knox members, plus fees. Seating in the Mary Seaton Room at Kleinhans is general admission.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 716-885-5000, visit kleinhansbuffalo.org, or stop by the Kleinhans box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

COVID-19 Protocols

Check the venue website for the latest COVID-19 protocols.