JAZZ IS ACTIVISM
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JAZZ IS ACTIVISM 〰️
THE 30TH ANNUAL PAPPY MARTIN LEGACY MASTEN JAZZ FESTIVAL
JULY 20 AND JULY 27, 2025
CITY OF BUFFALO - MASTEN DISTRICT COUNCILWOMAN ZENETA B. EVERHART
To celebrate 30 years of the Pappy Martin Legacy - Masten Jazz Festival, we have curated a week-long series of Jazz events to connect the two Sundays of the festival.
Come out, relax and enjoy! We look forward to seeing you!
2025 NATIONAL ARTISTS
JAMES CARTER
ORGAN TRIO
“To hear saxophonist James Carter is to be blown away,” wrote the Washington Post, hitting the nail on the head. From moonlit ballads to funky workouts to the most cerebral kind of post-bop, in an intimate club or on a sprawling festival stage, the Detroit-born saxophone master can seem to deliver all of jazz history in a single set.
“One of the most charismatic and powerful soloists in jazz,” per the New York Times, Carter harbors a command of his instruments that is astonishingly complete, though he only employs that technique in the service of canny ideas. Read more HERE.
ISAIAH
COLLIER-
THE WORLD
IS
ON FIRE!
An explosive young saxophonist, vocalist, composer, and bandleader, Isaiah Collier performs in the Joe Henderson Lab with a night devoted to his project I AM, with drummer Timothy Regis, and one with his band The Chosen Few, playing his latest music including songs from his most recent album The World Is On Fire.A self-described “sonic scientist” at the forefront of the vibrantly creative Chicago scene, Collier has earned rapturous acclaim and a fervent following since the bow of his 2018 debut Return of the Black Emperor. He has collaborated with legends including Wadada Leo Smith and channels the churning, relentless energy of his hometown forebears the AACM and Art Ensemble of Chicago. Read more HERE.
CURTIS LUNDY
Bassist Curtis Lundy (brother of Carmen Lundy) is best-known for his work as part of jazz vocalist Betty Carter's band, which has at one point or another had several eventual renowned musicians pass through their ranks (including Jack DeJohnette, Dave Holland, and Don Braden, among others). Lundy has also played on other jazz artist's recordings (including select albums by John Hicks, Bobby Watson, Steve Nelson Quintet, Johnny Griffin, etc.) and in the late '80s briefly stepped out of the background and issued Just Be Yourself (1988). A decade later he united with Justin Time Records for Against All Odds (1999), followed shortly thereafter by Purpose (2002). Both albums features pianists John Hicks and Anthony Wonsey.
EKEP NKWELLE
Ekep Nkwelle, age 24, is a DC-born, New York-based jazz vocalist of Cameroonian-American descent. She has trained at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Howard University, and The Juilliard School and worked alongside jazz masters such as Russell Malone, Cyrus Chestnut, and Peter Washington.
She was also featured at Radio City Music Hall with renowned classical pianist Lang Lang in collaboration with Disney. She has performed at Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, and Newport and Montclair jazz festivals, but most notably, she was featured in 2022 on NPR’s Tiny Desk singing her arrangement of Geri Allen’s “Timeless Portraits and Dreams.”
2023 marked a pinnacle in Ekep’s career as she was honored with the prestigious Juilliard Career Advancement Grant, a testament to her artistry and character, nominated by jazz master trumpeter Wynton Marsalis.
Nkwelle is one of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s newest rising stars, and is poised to shape the future of jazz. She strives to display her artistry and passion for music with audiences worldwide.
PREVIOUS YEARS
THE 28TH ANNUAL PAPPY MARTIN LEGACY MASTEN JAZZ FESTIVAL WAS HELD JULY 23 + 30, 2023. This year’s Line-up is as follows:
Buster Williams, Lakecia Benjamin, Curtis Lundy and UMOJA, Nasar Abadey and SUPERNOVA, George Caldwell, Brian Freeman, Odyssey, Carol McLaughlin and Trigger and The Sermon, and The Love Supreme School of Music.
(Art by Alexa Wajed)
HISTORY OF OUR FESTIVAL
In 1996, James “Pappy” Martin collaborated with Councilmember Byron Brown, Darryl Peebles, Council President James Pitts and Steve Porter to implement an innovative community enhancement program entitled Masten Jazz Festival. READ MORE…
VIDEOS
COMMEMORATIVE BOOKLETS
BECOME A SPONSOR TODAY
The Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Collective graciously thanks you for supporting our vision and mission. You are helping to preserve the legacy of one of the finest straight ahead jazz festivals in WNY, the Love Supreme Music School, and year-round events.
Help us to keep our festival free to the community with your sponsorship!
Photos courtesy of Deborah Cahee-Christopher.