Jesse Cook
8pm. Buffalo State Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall, 1300 Elmwood Ave. (www.buffalostatepac.org/878-3005) $32-$40 / $15 student
Jesse Cook is a Paris born Canadian guitarist and the acknowledged expert of the Nuevo Flamenco style of world music. He has recorded nine albums, which have sold over 1.5 million records worldwide. Cook was classically trained at The Royal Canadian Conservatory of Music and the celebrated Berklee School of Music. Cook was also a student of classical guitar icon Andre Segovia. Jesse’s big break came in 1995 at Catalina Jazz Festival where he received a ten-minute standing ovation. Shortly afterwards, his debut album entered American billboard charts at #14. He went on to win multiple JUNO awards and won the Canadian Smooth Jazz Award three times. He has opened for such legends as BB King, Ray Charles, and Diana Krall. On this tour he is currently performing his new album “One World,” a highly charged example of world music at its best.
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Bela Fleck w/ Abigail Washburn
8pm. Buffalo State Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall, 1300 Elmwood Ave. (www.buffalostatepac.org/878-3005) $37-$45 / $15 students
Bela Fleck is widely acknowledged as the worlds most innovative and celebrated banjo player. His music transcends the boundaries of Jazz, Fusion, Bluegrass, Folk, Classical, World Music and Rock. He has performed with Dave Matthews, Chick Corea, The New Grass revival, and currently tours with his gifted wife Abigail Washburn. Abigail is also a very accomplished banjo player and performs in a duet with her husband. Their show features original and traditional material that showcases Abigail’s voice and their various styles of banjo playing. They perform on various types and ranges of banjos, which include cello, baritone, and ukes, along with their standard banjos. Bela is a high energy, electrifying performer with great musical taste. Bela Fleck is an icon and innovator of jazz, classical, and world music and has won a total of 15 grammies in all categories. Abigail is a formidable songwriter and storyteller. Together they take the banjo to new heights and the rich lyrical component it deserves.
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Skiffle Minstrels
8pm. Pausa Art House, 19 Wadsworth St., $7
The Skiffle Minstrels is a dance band in the tradition of the great western swing bands of the 30’s and 40’s. Founded in 2003, the bands engages the audience and encourages dancing. The Skiffle Minstrels covers the songs of Bob Wills, Hank Williams, Louis Jordan and Cindy Walker as well as original music. In 2015, the group released its third CD, Happy Hour. The album was nominated by The Academy Of Western Artists as the best Western Swing Record of the year. The band includes Paul Todaro (Bass Fiddle,vocals), Phil Knoerzer (Rhythm Guitar, Harmonica), Gary Meixner (Lap Steel Guitar), Bill “Hutch” Hutchinson (Drums) and Chris Jones (Fiddle). As Paul Todaro says “What we really like to do is play non-stop and get the people dancing”.
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Charles Esten w/ Clare Bowen
8pm. UB Center for the Arts (645-2827/ubcfa.org), $47/$52
Charles Esten and Clare Bowen are stars on the ABC Television Series “Nashville”. They are taking their talents on the road to perform some of their favorite hits from “Nashville”. Charles, who plays “Deacon” on the show, made his theatrical debut in London portraying Buddy Holly, singing acting and playing guitar on the hit musical “Buddy”. Esten’s numerous television credits include “Big Love”, “Enlightenment”, “The Office” and “ER”. He has been honored to appear at the Grand Old Opry. Clare Bowen, who stars as “Scarlett” on ABC’s “Nashville”, is a native Australian. She has appeared in several Australian films and Television dramas. Her credits are a testament to her range as a performer. Most recently, she has starred as “Wendla “ in the rock musical Spring Awakening at the Sydney Theatre Company. The tickets to the performance include a post show meet and greet.
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Dixie Never Wears a Tube Top
Tue-Thu: 7:30pm, Fri: 8pm, Sat: 2pm & 8pm, Sun 2pm & 7pm, Shea’s Smith Theatre, 658 Main St (847-1410/sheas.org)
Dixie Longate calls herself “America’s Favorite Tupperware Lady”, Her most recent solo theatrical shoe is entitled Never wear a tube top while riding a mechanical bull and 16 other things I learned while I was drinking last Thursday. Her show is a bawdy, hilarious one- woman show that is selling out all over the country. Dixie’s first show – “ Dixie’s first show- Dixie’s Tupperware Party opened Off –Broadway and she received a Drama Desk Award nomination for outstanding solo performance. Seven and one half years later and over 1000 performances in five countries since her tour started in 2008. She has also written three other solo stand up shows- Broken Shit and Baby Jesus, No Instructions, and My Bags went where. Bags was featured as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. If you want to hoot and holler Dixie is your girl.
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Tal Wilkenfeld
8pm, Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main St. (852-2860/tralfmusichall.com) $14
Tal Wilkenfeld the startling young bass player from Australia will be lighting up the stage at the Tralf this Wednesday. After dropping out of high school because “it just wasn’t going to work for me,” Tal ended up in NYC playing and made a name for herself in the town’s best jazz clubs. The roster of people who’ve sought her talent is as impressive as it is endless, Jeff Beck, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Jackson Browne, Allman Brothers, Lee Ritenour, Ryan Adams and more. After joining Jeff Beck’s world tour she realized her global breakout moment: Her performance at Eric Clapton’s 2007 Crossroads Festival in Chicago, which has generated more than 10 million YouTube hits. It was no surprise then that in 2008 she was voted “The Year’s Most Exciting New Player” in Bass Player Magazine.
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