In celebration of John Coltrane’s 91st birthday, the Burchfield Penney in collaboration with the Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Society (PMLJS)is holding a three-day festival of special performances, screenings and conversations. The line-up includes: 

Thursday, September 21 – 7 PM

LECTURE / DISCUSSION  | CHUCK MANCUSO REMEMBERS THE ROYAL ARMS NIGHT CLUB

The legendary Royal Arms Night Club located on W. Utica Street hosted live jazz acts seven nights a week. John Coltrane appeared once at the club in the early 1960s. Chuck Mancuso, SUNY Buffalo State American Popular Music professor and jazz aficionado, will present a talk on the iconic night club. Event is free with gallery admission.

Friday, September 22, 2017 - 8 pm

PERFORMANCE  | TENOR SAXOPHONIST J.D. ALLEN AND THE GEORGE CALDWELL QUARTET PERFORM JOHN COLTRANE JAZZ CLASSICS

Hailed by the New York Times as "a tenor saxophonist with an enigmatic, elegant and hard-driving style," JD Allen is a bright rising light on today’s international jazz scene. Admission: $20, advanced tickets available by call (716) 878-6011.

Saturday, September 23, 2017

1 pm - PERFORMANCE  |  THE PROGESSIONS QUINTET

Experience some of some of Western New York’s finest emerging jazz talent, including a former student of the Love Supreme School. Event is free with gallery admission.

2 pm - SCREENING  |  CHASING TRANE: THE JOHN COLTRANE DOCUMENTARY

CHASING TRANE is the definitive documentary film about an outside-the-box thinker with extraordinary talent whose boundary-shattering music continues to impact and influence people around the world. Event is free with gallery admission.

4 PM - LECTURE / DISCUSSION  |  A CONVERSATION WITH JIMMY HEATH: SIRIUSXM REAL JAZZ RADIO HOST EULIS CATHEY INTERVIEWS INSTRUMENTALIST, COMPOSER AND ARRANGER

Eulis Cathey interviews Jimmy Heath who will share his exclusive memories performing with John Coltrane. Heath, also 91-years-old, appears throughout the Chasing Trane documentary. Event is free with gallery admission.

8 PM - PERFORMANCE  |  BASSIST CURTIS LUNDY PERFORMS SELECTIONS FROM BAGS AND TRANE

Accompanied by Craig Handy (saxophonist), George Caldwell (piano), Eric Kennedy (drums) and Joe Doubleday (vibraphone)

Arguably one of the most prolific in-demand bassists on the modern jazz scene. He is a disciple of the mainstream straight ahead hard bop school.  Jazz Times calls Lundy “one of the most spiritually uplifting bassists on the jazz scene today.” Admission: $20, advanced tickets available by call (716) 878-6011.

“The festival’s cross-generational line-up tells a powerful story of the history of jazz while presenting emerging artists,” said Renata Toney, Burchfield Penney marketing strategist. “We’re honored to once again collaborate with The Society on this this three-day John Coltrane birthday party. We also thank illustrator Philip Burke for contributing the rendering of Coltrane for our promotion efforts.“

About the Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Society

The Society was created to honor the legacy of the late Pappy Martin, the renowned local band leader and musician. Each year the organization presents a series of events, including the Pappy Martin Legacy- Masten Jazz Festival to honor his musical tradition by continuing and enhancing the awareness, appreciation and celebration of jazz. As a band leader and musician, he played in many famous area nightclubs, including Little Harlem, Pine Grill, Revilot, Royal Arms, Moon Glow, Shalimar, Town Casino, Ontario House, and Blue Note.

As a community activist, Martin founded the Love Supreme School of Music that focused on instrumental music lessons, music theory and the science of music. Love Supreme School launched careers of many local and national musicians. He co-founded the Masten Jazz Festival that continued under his sole leadership and remains a summer mainstay 22 years later. He also received many accolades and awards for his volunteer work from community and civic organizations.