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The Ladies First Big Band, with singer Peggy Farrell, performing at Jamestown Community College.
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The Ladies First Big Band is a 16-pc. all-female group formed by bassist Jennifer May. The band has its roots in a six piece ensemble started in 1994, currently known as The Ladies First Jazz Combo.
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An early version of the band performing at the Colored Muscians Club in Buffalo.
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In March of 2003, Jennifer expanded the Combo 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 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.
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At the Tralfamadore Cafe.
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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 historic Colored Musicians Club in downtown Buffalo. Their debut CD, Ladies First Live at the Tralf was released in 2009, and a second CD is currently in the works.
To read about the individual members of the Ladies First Big Band, click on the link below: