UB to host Spectacle of Sound featuring high school students

On Saturday, March 31, the University at Buffalo Marching Band will host The Spectacle of Sound Jazz Festival.

"The UB Marching band becomes a pep band in the spring for basketball games," said John Hathaway, chairman of the event. "This is just their end-of-the-year concert."

Doors for the event will open at 5 p.m., with the first group playing at 6 p.m. at Club Infinity, 8166 Main St., Williamsville.

Admission is $5 per person, with all proceeds going to support the marching band scholarships at the university.

Refreshments will be available throughout the evening. The event is for all ages.

The festival will feature many of the area's top jazz groups, including the University at Buffalo "Blue Noise" Band, Mount Saint Mary Academy All Girl Jazz Ensemble, St. Francis High School Jazz Ensemble and groups from Buffalo Performing Arts School and Forestville High School.

Forestville will perform first, followed by UB, Mount St. Mary's, Buffalo Performing Arts, St. Francis and a second set by UB.

The Spectacle is in its fifth year, but this is the second year it has been held at Club Infinity, according to Hathaway.

"Vinnie Lesh (owner of Club Infinity) said that if we gave him all the money from the refreshments he would let us have the club," he said. "It's really generous of him to give us the club on a Saturday, one of the busiest nights of the week, but he wants to help out high school and college kids."

Last year, the event was attended by more than 250 people, according to Hathaway, a number organizers hope to exceed this year.

Hathaway noted that the high school students are excited to play in a nightclub setting because it's very different from the school auditorium.

He also noted that the college students are excited to show their program off to younger people in high school, who may one day be prospective members of the department.

For more information or tickets, call 689-1100. Tickets are also available by going to tickets.com or calling 565-0110.