Legacy

Our Founder

James "Pappy" Martin was a beloved jazz advocate, cultural steward, and visionary whose life's work was devoted to preserving the sacred legacy of jazz as a living expression of African American history, creativity, and spirit. He believed deeply in the spirituality of jazz—its ability to transform lives, strengthen community, and awaken something greater within us.

That belief became his life's work. Pappy founded the Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Festival and the Love Supreme School of Music to ensure that young people could experience the same power of jazz that had shaped his own life, and that the Buffalo community would have lasting access to this rich musical tradition. He understood that jazz was not simply meant to be remembered, but lived, shared, and passed from one generation to the next.

Today, his daughter, Dawn Martin Berry-Walker, carries that vision forward through the Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Collective. Under her leadership, the Collective continues to create opportunities for education, cultural engagement, and artistic excellence, honoring her father's belief that jazz is both a profound art form and a source of healing, connection, and community. His vision remains the foundation of the Collective's work, ensuring that the legacy of jazz continues to inspire generations to come.

Our Leadership

Dawn Martin Berry-Walker

Dawn Martin Berry-Walker has served as Chief Executive Director of the Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Collective for more than a decade, carrying forward the vision of her father, James "Pappy" Martin. Under her leadership, the Collective has expanded its educational programs, cultural and wellness initiatives, and signature events while preserving and advancing Buffalo's rich jazz legacy for present and future generations.

Chief Executive Director

Curtis Lundy is an acclaimed bassist, composer, arranger, and educator that is known for his rich, lyrical sound which has made him one of the most respected voices in jazz. A longtime collaborator with artists including Betty Carter, McCoy Tyner, Johnny Griffin, and Pharoah Sanders, Lundy has performed on hundreds of recordings and stages worldwide. As both a master accompanist and bandleader, he continues to shape the tradition of jazz through performance, composition, and mentorship.

International Artistic Director

Curtis Lundy

Joel Nicholas

Joel Nicholas is a Rochester-born, Buffalo-raised pianist, composer, and producer whose musical foundation was shaped in the church community at Lincoln Memorial United Methodist Church. A recipient of the 2019 Mr. Canisius Award, he earned a B.A. in Music and Africana from Williams College, where he studied jazz, composition, and music production. After serving as a piano instructor at the Love Supreme School of Music for three years, Joel Nicholas now serves as the school's Director, continuing its commitment to excellence in jazz education and youth development.

Love Supreme School of Music Director

  • HISTORY

    PAPPY MARTIN LEGACY - MASTEN JAZZ 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, that would be free to the community. In 2015, upon the passing of Pappy Martin, who continued the festival, Masten District Councilmember Ulysees O. Wingo, Sr. agreed to change the name to the Pappy Martin Legacy – Masten Jazz Festival. It is held on the grounds of the Buffalo Museum of Science in Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, the heart and crown jewel of the Masten District. Over the past 30 years, there have been performances by many internationally acclaimed musicians including: Nasar Abadey, Mario Abney, JD Allen, Bootsie Barnes, Gary Bartz, Jean and Marcus Baylor, Lakecia Benjamin, Andy Bey, Junie Booth, Keith Brown, Brownman, Abraham Burton, Ron Carter, Etienne Charles, Isaiah Collier, Theo Croker, George Caldwell, Steve Davis, Wayne Escoffery, Josh Evans, Joe Ford, Tia Fuller, Kenny Garrett, Giveton Gelin, Dodo Greene, Terreon Gully, Craig Handy, Phillip Harper, Winard Harper, Keyon Harrold, Donald Harrison, Louis Hayes, Eddie Henderson, Freddie Hendrix, JazzCats, Shenel Johns, Mimi Jones, Mike King, Bobby Lavell, Carmen Lundy, Curtis Lundy, Russell Malone, Spider Martin, Steve Nelson, Johnny O'Neal, Endea Owens, Jeremy Pelt, Nat Reeves, Herlin Riley, Wallace Roney Jr., Wallace Roney Sr., Shamie Royston, Vanessa Rubin, Patrice Rushen, Serious Young Musicians, Mark Shim, Barry Stephenson, Straight Ahead, Malachi Thompson, Camille Thurman, Al Tinney, Charenee Wade, Mike Wade, Donald Walden, Bobby Watson, Rodney Whitaker, Lenny White, Ben Williams, Buster Williams, Jordan Williams, Mark Whitfield Jr., Warren Wolf and Brandee Younger, among many other esteemed artists. The festival has also presented many locally-based musicians including: Bilal Abdullah, Zaid Aleem, Rodney Appleby, Rod Bronner, Sehrea Brown, Joyce Carolyn, Tim Clarke, Ben Clyburn, Drea d'Nur, Brian Freeman, Douglas Gaston, Isaiah Gethers, Jaman, Jacob Jay, Nikki Hicks, Will Holton, Danny Jelks, Marcus Lolo, Nelson “Poppa” Lucas, Quentin McCauley, Carol McLaughlin, Bobby Militello, Greg Millar, Janice Mitchell, William Murphy, Sehrea N’Dayu, Joel Nicholas, Charles Reedy, Larry Salter, Dalton Sharp, Gregory Treadwell, Darryl Washington, Joyce Wilson-Nixon, Oscar Woodrich, Armani Works and Jerry Youngman, to name a few, along with numerous students from the Love Supreme School of Music and, of course, visionary Pappy Martin.

    Buffalo is a city with deep roots in the jazz tradition. It has touted numerous venues that showcased jazz performances such as the Blue Note, Bon Ton, Calumet, Colored Musicians' Club, Little Harlem, Pine Grill, Moonglow, Revilot, Royal Arms, Shalimar and many more. The city is home to several jazz giants and has provided mentors, teachers and audiences for hundreds of developing musicians. This festival is dedicated to keeping that tradition alive as it reinforces confidence, in young and old, that Western New York is a place to not only present world-renowned musicians, but also, develop and nurture future musicians. The rich legacy will continue by grooming the next generation of jazz lovers. It helps ensure that this art form will remain a part of our local cultural tapestry. We believe that through exposure, appreciation for this music is undeniable.

    The Pappy Martin Legacy – Masten Jazz Festival is committed to strengthening jazz as a viable entity while offering a multi-generational, multi-ethnic festival which educates, elevates and celebrates the artistic, historic and cultural significance of jazz. The festival avails the entire community to this very deserving original American art form....jazz. It serves as an outreach to all neighborhoods, especially the underserved, in its mission to make the cultural experience of jazz accessible to everyone by keeping the festival free and open to the public and presented in the central city. It helps to ensure that jazz remains a living, breathing celebration of a cultural heritage for the descendants of its creators. The organization’s dedication is boosted by the understanding that jazz has the power to cleanse your spirit and refill it with something beautiful. The festival offers a stage from which freedom of expression flows and reflects the democratic philosophy that each individual's unique contribution helps to create a whole which is enhanced by collaboration. It presents authentic artists who understand that jazz is not mere entertainment but also enriches spiritual, emotional and mental health wellness. It is an expression of activism and serves as a testament to human resilience supported by the power of improvisation which creatively expresses our spirit and uplifts our community. After 30 years, the Pappy Martin Legacy – Masten Jazz Festival continues to intentionally offer an atmosphere within which audience members have the opportunity to congregate, fellowship and unify while elevating their consciousness and love of a culture called jazz.

    HISTORY OF THE LOVE SUPREME SCHOOL OF MUSIC

    The Love Supreme School of Music reopened in 2019 with major funding from the Ralph Wilson Foundation.

    LOVE SUPREME SCHOOL OF MUSIC (LSSM) In 2001, James “Pappy” Martin founded the Love Supreme School of Music as a continuation of his commitment to honor the legacy of music study and appreciation. He was inspired by the discipline that studying the science of music can bring to increased academic performance, particularly in mathematics, as well as its overall enrichment of life. Over the next several decades, LSSM taught hundreds of young people and, as a result, launched the careers of many successful musicians who now enjoy worldwide recognition. This is in addition to positively affecting the academic success and general well being of many other of its former students. Sadly, with the passing of Mr. Martin in 2015, LSSM closed its doors. The LSSM reopened in July 2019 with the embracing of a new generation of music students.

  • Brenda W. McDuffie, Chair

    Grace Tate, Vice-Chair and Acting Secretary

    Roslyn Owens, Treasurer

    Deborah Cahee-Christopher

    Charles Campbell

    Breauna Crumpler

    Jay Martin

    Kenneth Martin, Jr.

    Dawn Martin Berry-Walker, Chief Executive

  • Dawn Martin Berry-Walker, Chief Executive Director; Curtis Lundy, International Artistic Director; Joel Nicholas, Love Supreme School of Music Director; Carlo Hinds, Administrative Assistant.

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