Wes Montgomery 100th Centennial Celebration ft. Rust Belt Groove

DOORS @ 6:30PM / SHOW @ 7PM

STAGE AREA : $20 reserved seating

BAR AREA: $10 reserved seating 

*No refund or exchanges *Tickets can be transferred to another person *Unclaimed seats 15 minutes after start time will be open to walk-ins*

To celebrate Wes Montgomery's 100th Centennial, JazzBuffalo, in partnership with Pausa Art House, is excited to present the Wes Montgomery: 100th Centennial Celebration. This extraordinary performance performed only once this year to an enthusiastic audience, will showcase the renowned guitarist Dave Hill, accompanied by Tony Zambito's Rust Belt Groove, as they perform timeless arrangements from the Wes Montgomery Song Book.  During this tribute to the legendary jazz guitarist, we will delve into a repertoire of favorites, including classics like "Four on Six," "Jingles," "Road Song," "Twisted Blues," "Unit 7," "Mr. Walker," and many more.

The Rust Belt Groove ensemble will feature Dave Hill on guitar, the winner of the JazzBuffalo Poll for Organ, Doug "Trigger" Gaston, John Troy on sax, Abul-Rahman Qadir on drums, and Tony Zambito on percussion.

About Dave Hill (Guitarist): Dave Hill has been a professional musician in Los Angeles since 1985, known for his exceptional talent. He has performed with renowned artists such as Gregg Karukas, Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night, Max Bennett of the LA Express, and embarked on a world tour with the legendary British singer Englebert Humperdinck. Dave Hill has also published music instructional books through Hal Leonard and released two CDs of his original contemporary jazz, including collaborations with the 2-times Grammy-winning and 17-times Grammy-nominated Los Angeles Jazz group, The Yellowjackets. His performances with the Los Angeles-based "Dave Hill Group" have graced prestigious jazz clubs and festivals in Los Angeles, including the world-famous "Baked Potato." 

Doug "Trigger" Gaston and Abdul-Rahman Qadir are well-established jazz leaders in the community. John Troy is a rising star saxophonist who has made a name for himself in both New York City and Buffalo. Tony Zambito, a percussionist with roots in Buffalo, performed on the West Coast before returning to Buffalo, rounding out the ensemble.

The formation of "Rust Belt Groove" is part of a new initiative led by Tony Zambito, the founder of JazzBuffalo, to pay homage to groove jazz music, which originated from the Rust Belt era and region, including cities like Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Detroit.

About Wes Montgomery: Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on March 6, 1923, Wes Montgomery began his musical journey by playing in a jazz group with his brothers, Charles "Buddy" and William "Monk." After touring with the Lionel Hampton big band, he established his own trio featuring organist Melvin Rhyne and drummer Paul Parker. Throughout his illustrious career, Montgomery achieved significant recognition, securing two Grammy Awards and earning the title of "Jazz Man of the Year" by Record World in 1967. He had the privilege of performing alongside legendary names in music, including Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Quincy Jones, and fellow Hoosier, Freddie Hubbard. What set Montgomery's sound apart was his iconic guitar playing style, using the direct touch of his thumb on the strings to produce a softer, more melodic tone.

Join us at Pausa Art House for this momentous occasion as we celebrate the enduring legacy of Wes Montgomery and the profound influence, he continues to have on jazz music.

Thanks for supporting PAUSA art house, our musicians and live music in Buffalo. "Life is better with friends"