Buffalo native Jonny Diina is a third generation musician whose grandfather once played with Sammy Davis, Jr. in the US Army Band. The son of a classically trained pianist (mom) and a professional jazz musician (dad), Jonny began performing with his father at the age of eight. This experience shows in his polished style and trained bari-tenor. The singer/songwriter—who now lives in San Francisco—will hold his CD Release Party for Prelude at Nietzsche’s this Thursday (May 24), at 8pm, with special guest Joe Wiens. Come out and hear what one reviewer calls “a crooner for the iPod generation.” $10 at the door.

Taylor Made Jazz is 21! So raise a drink to their coming of age with a party at the Tralf Music Hall on Friday (April 25), starting at 8pm. The international award-winning jazz combo is well known for their charity concerts, and this is no exception. In keeping with the tradition of giving back to the community, proceeds from the show will benefit National Inner Cities Youth Opportunities, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to reduce the minority high school drop out rate, and Students Against Violence Education (SAVE). Current and former members of the ensemble will perform on this special night. Tickets are $18-$20 and you must be 21—just like TMJ—to attend.

Ontario rock band Tokyo Police Club is swinging through Buffalo this week. A loveable crew with a devoted following in these parts—as well as in their native Canada—TPC should soon be endearing themselves to the masses via a new contract with Saddle Creek, who released their debut album Elephant Shell this month. The four members of the band, who learned to play in high school just a few years ago, are young and exciteable and so is their music—what bassist/vocalist David Monks describes as “wide-eyed post-punk.” Their 2006 EP A Lesson In Crime bangs out seven tracks in approximately 15 minutes. It’s some fast and furious, high-energy fun. The show is at Soundlab on Wednesday (April 30), starting at 9pm. $15 at the door

Chicago-based quartet Singer is a band with an avant-garde rock pedigree to be reckoned with. Comprised of masterminds Rob Lowe (from 90 Day Men, Lichens), Ben Vida (from Bird Show, Town & Country), and Todd Rittman and Adam Vida (from US Maple), the group has signed to Drag City (home to US Maple as well). The label released Singer’s debut album, Unhistories, last month. Not surprisingly, the band members’ collective experience leads straight into bizzaro psychedelic territory, but with a line up like this you can be sure they continue to push boundaries, sounding somewhere between the pioneering weirdness of Captain Beefheart or Pere Ubu and the post-rock, minimalist modernity of Tortoise or Slint. Singer comes to Soundlab next Thursday (May 1) with neo-psych duo Cloudland Canyon (who’ve previously collaborated with Lowe in Lichens) and Victory Light Black Honey. The show starts at 9pm

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