Acclaimed Buffalonian returns to headline Lewiston Jazz Festival

Vocalist Paul Marinaro coming home for first performance in 10 years – Friday, Aug. 28, on main stage

By Céline Peterson Productions

A lot can happen over a few short years and, for Buffalo native Paul Marinaro, he made every year count. Since we last saw him in Buffalo, Marinaro has toured throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe, and released three formidable studio albums – the latest of which is a sweeping, 25-song collection of material from the catalog of one of the most formidable names in music: Duke Ellington. Marinaro has established himself as one of the most in-demand and respected jazz vocalists of his generation, earning recognition as being “among the top five male jazz singers active today.” (Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene)

The Lewiston Jazz Festival is an annual attraction that has consistently featured some of the most formidable names in jazz music, including Kurt Elling, Karrin Allyson, John Pizzarelli, Mark Murphy, The New York Voices, and, on Friday, Aug. 28, Marinaro’s name will be added to that list. He will take the stage with his long-time quartet – Tom Vaitsas (piano), Mike Allemana (guitar), John Tate (bass) and Ethan Phillion (drums) – showcasing the vocals, musical selections, style and charisma that leaves his audience members smiling and looking forward to their next opportunity to hear him.

So, why now for this long-awaited hometown performance?

“The timing couldn’t be more perfect for me to be returning home to Western New York as my entire large Italian family and I will be celebrating my mother’s 90th birthday,” Marinaro said. “I'm so happy to have this performance be part of the many celebrations we'll be having for her.”

Known for his expressive phrasing and deep connection to lyric, Marinaro brings both authority and immediacy to his performances, engaging audiences through interpretations that are at once deeply rooted in tradition and unmistakably personal.

Critic and author Neil Tesser has noted his “jazz-steeped, expressive baritone … interpreting intricate melodies with a fresh, innovative perspective.”

When asked what the Lewiston audience can expect from his setlist, Marinaro said, “I’ll be bringing my Chicago band with me, and we’ve got a really special set planned for this show – selections from each of my albums; songs that honor both my Buffalo and Italian roots; some fan favorites, and, of course, music from my latest release, ‘Mood Ellington.’ ”

In Chicago, Marinaro performs regularly to sold-out audiences at premier venues including the Jazz Showcase, Green Mill, Winter's Jazz Club, and Studio5 Performing Arts Center. Complementing these club engagements, Marinaro has also appeared in larger concert settings at notable venues including the Auditorium Theatre, the Studebaker Theater, and City Winery Chicago. A frequent featured artist at major festivals, Marinaro has appeared multiple times at the Chicago Jazz Festival, including a widely acclaimed duet performance with Sheila Jordan at the Pritzker Pavilion that earned “Best of the Year” honors from the Chicago Tribune. He has also appeared at the Rochester International Jazz Festival and at leading venues and festivals across the U.S. and Canada.

Internationally, he has appeared at Birdland Jazz Club in New York City and at leading venues and festivals across Canada, including the Bravo Niagara! Festival of the Arts and Jazz Sudbury. In Europe, he has performed at Jazzhus Montmartre and Konserthuset Stockholm, and throughout Italy, including being honored at the Premio Penisola Sorrentina in Sorrento in 2024. In 2025, Marinaro toured with the Oscar Peterson Centennial Quartet across Canada, with additional appearances in Europe including Marian’s Jazzroom in Bern, Switzerland, and a featured performance at the Montreal International Jazz Festival.

Marinaro is also a featured vocalist with the Metropolitan Jazz Octet and the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, appearing in major concert works and festivals. Highlights include a celebrated recreation of “Sinatra at the Sands” at the Studebaker Theater, which earned “Best of the Year” honors from the Chicago Tribune, part of six such distinctions he has received, along with “Best of Chicago” recognition from NewCity Magazine.

His recordings include the critically praised debut “Without a Song” (2013), a tribute to his father, and the live album “One Night in Chicago” (2015). In the years that followed, Marinaro expanded his artistic scope through a series of large-scale projects, including his post-pandemic concept album “Not Quite Yet” (2022) and “The Bowie Project” (2023) with the Metropolitan Jazz Octet, both of which were met with widespread critical acclaim and national press, including features in DownBeat Magazine.

His latest release, “Mood Ellington” (2025), is a feat of immense excellence, with the 25-song collection featuring 21 musicians and 13 nationally acclaimed arrangers, offering a bold, large-scale and deeply personal reimagining of the music of Duke Ellington. The album has been met with widespread critical acclaim, appearing on numerous “Best Vocal Album of the Year” lists and charting nationally, with Jonathan Widran calling it “the ultimate Duke Ellington tribute album of all time.”

Marinaro is currently working on the LP release, which will come in 2027. 

Marinaro is a Friday night headliner of the 2026 Lewiston Jazz Festival on Aug. 28. Reserved seating and more information on the festival can be found at lewistonjazz.com.

Paul Marinaro (Photo by Janet Takayama)