Eulis Cathey knows the Queen City well.
Cathey, a Sirius XM radio host and Buffalo native, understands jazz’s deep roots in the city’s history.
Now he wants to help continue this tradition and bring Grammy-winning saxophonist and flutist Kenny Garrett to the Tralf Music Hall on Saturday.
Garrett, known for his post-bop moves on the alto sax, will perform a one-time show at the downtown venue on May 25. Garrett has jumped between smooth and post-bop styles over his solo career and won a Grammy in 2010 for his collaborative work on the album “Five Peace Band Live.” Cathey is set to host the show for the evening and tickets start at $25.
Cathey said he’s impressed with acts who have performed in the city in years past but he wants to continue to see national jazz acts consistently visit the Tralf, a music hall that originated as a jazz club.
“There hasn’t been that consistent track record of mainstream jazz and contemporary jazz for a while. That’s something I want to have happen so acts can look upon the Tralf as a destination in Buffalo,” Cathey said.
Cathey, who hosts Real Jazz on Sirius, said it would be nice for the Tralf to have a resurgence so new generations can discover jazz music as older generations have since its start in the ‘70s. Cathey said he’s talked with the Tralf’s owner Tom Barone, who expressed interest in having jazz come to the Tralf.
“Garrett’s [show] is the initial foray for people to come out, support the music and hear a great artist, one of the finest alto saxophonists today,” Cathey said.
The radio host said Garrett is an act that is representative of jazz’s “very strong presence.” He said Saturday is an opportunity to “hear some great music” from an act that’s played with artists such as Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, as well as Miles Davis.
“When it’s presented before you to hear somebody who is outstanding, you never know what it will do in terms of turning your head around,” Cathey said.
Benjamin Blanchet is the engagement editor and can be reached at benjamin.blanchet@ubspectrum.com and on Twitter @BenjaminUBSpec.
Benjamin Blanchet is the senior engagement editor for The Spectrum. His words have been seen in The Buffalo News (Gusto) and The Sun newspapers of Western New York. Loves cryptoquip and double-doubles.
