Ladies First Jazz
The Big Band...
The Ladies First Big Band is a 16-pc. all-female group formed by bassist Jennifer May. The band had its roots in a six piece ensemble started in 1994.
In the fall of 2002, Jennifer expanded this 6-pc group into a full-sized Big Band for a show she was producing in celebration of Women's History Month. The show, "An All-Female Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald," was performed in 2003 at Allen Hall on the University of Buffalo South Campus and was very well-received. The Band has been performing together ever since.
Since that first appearance, the Ladies First Big Band has celebrated Women's History Month every year with a new production of "Women of Jazz by Women of Jazz"; a tribute to female jazz performers. The band has performed everywhere from Jamestown to Rochester, and concert venues ranging from the Tralf Music Hall and Riviera Theatre, to the M&T Noontime Summer Concert Series, Canal Fest, and Taste of Buffalo.
The musicians in the Ladies First Big Band are based in the Western New York area, and many of them perform in other local bands. The group rehearses every Sunday at the Newman Center near the UB North Campus. Their debut CD, Ladies First Live at the Tralf was released in 2009.
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NRTG
NIagara Regional Theater
Friday
May 13, 2022
7:30pm
$
Genn Miller Tribute
Buffalo Dolls
Greg Hennessey
Ladies First Jazz Big Band
https://niagaratheatre.com/https://niagaratheatre.com/
260-2319
Sunday July 10
Spring Lake Winery
Day of Jazz
2:30 - 4:30
10 Piece Big Band with Vocalist Donna Delano Kerr
TIckets $25 - $25
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jazz-in-the-vineyard-tickets-311902628157
YOUNGSTOWN GAZEBO
FRIDAY
AUGUST 26
6:30 - 8:00
10 Piece Big Band
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MT. ST. MARY'S school
Delaware Aveniue
Sunday March 27th
7:00pm
$
Fundraiser
Ladies First Jazz BIg Band
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Check back for updates
THE TRALF
March 6, 2022
1:00 - 3:00
Women's History Month Celebtration
Partial Proceeds to Zonta Buffalo
20th Anniversary of Ladies First Jazz Big Band
Ladies First Jazz Band
Vocalist Donna Kerr
Spoken Word Verniece Turner
$20 presale $25 day of show
PAST SHOWS
Buffalo Dolls & Ladies First Jazz 10 piece
Christmas Show
Sunday December 19
Westfalls Center for the Arts
2:00pm
https://www.westfallsartcenter.org/latest-events/
1863 Davis Rd Westfalls NY 716-570-6520
$
Reserve your seats today!
YEAH! OUR FIRST PUBLIC GIG SINCE MARCH 2020
WEST FALLS ARTS CENTER
Saturday August 21
7:00pm $20
https://www.westfallsartcenter.org/latest-events/
THE BUFFALO DOLLS
&
The Ladies First Jazz 10 Piece Big Band
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LADIES FIRST JAZZ QUARTET
Saturday July 24
2-4pm
Williamsville Train Depot
86 Long St. Williamsville, NY
FUNDRAISER
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Ladies First Jazz Drummer Peggy Scalzo in the spotlight:
I'm honored to have been selected as the current SEN (Sabian Education Network) "Featured Teacher"!
Unfortunately you have to be a member of SEN and log in to actually see the post (which really means only drum teachers see it!), but here's some pictures of what it looks like. Thank you Sabian
(& Joe Bergamini)!
L
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It is with much sadness that we share the news of the loss of Trumpeter Carol Svensen on October 11, 2020, who was a long time member of Ladies First Jazz. She will be greatly missed.
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We are deeply saddened by the loss of our band member, trumpeter,
Kristina Gailie Bordeleau.
She lost her courageous battle with cancer
on Wednesday December 4th. 2019
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LADIES FIRST JAZZ BIG BAND AWARDED: Best jazz Big Band, Best Jazz Large Ensemble Most Memorable Jazz Performance (with the Buffalo Dolls), from the 2019 5th Annual JazzBuffaloPoll. Thank you Buffalo we are honored!
The Ladies First Big Band and Ladies First Combo, created by award-winning bassist Jennifer May, are all-female jazz groups based in the Western NY area. Both the Big Band and the Combo have been awarded the titles of "Buffalo's Best Big Band" and "Buffalo's Best Small Jazz Group", respectively, by the Buffalo Music Awards (sponsored by Nightlife Magazine). Additionally, both groups have been nominated for Artvoice's Best of Buffalo Awards numerous times as well as the JazzBuffalo Awards.
The Big Band and Combo have been seen performing everywhere from Jamestown Community College to The Riviera Theater, The M&T Noontime Concert Series, The Tralf Music Hall, The Chautauqua Amphitheater and many more locations.
The Combo...
The Ladies First Combo consists of a subset of performers from the Big Band. The flexible sizing of the group, as small as a trio or as large as a 6-peice, allows the Combo to perform at events not suited for the Big Band.
The Combo has performed at venues such as Canalside, M&T Plaza; Queen CIty Jazz Festival, Elmwood Ave Festival of the Arts, Montante Center; Taste of Buffalo, etc.They have been the recipients of the Buffalo Music Award for "Best Jazz Combo" three times.
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