JZ Jazz Quintet (Jazz)

$10 Suggested cash donation at door
Doors and bar open at 6pm
Band starts at 7pm
Guitarist John Zaffiro leads the JZ Jazz Quintet and has been a staple of the Milwaukee music scene for over 50 years. He started his first band at age 13 with classmates, inspired by the British invasion bands like The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and The Zombies. His musical journey continued through high school, even taking him to Nashville, Tennessee, to record with one group. Zaffiro later pursued jazz, enrolling in the inaugural Jazz Performance Degree Program at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in 1973, where he studied improvisation under pianist Tony King and master guitarist Manty Ellis. He also spent a summer studying with world renowned guitarist Joe Pass. During his time at the Conservatory, he collaborated with fellow students and teachers, performing at local jazz clubs. He went on to join groups such as Montage Project, the Tony Pagano Quartet, and co-founded Rainbow’s End with Marcia Cunningham. Zaffiro also served as a Jazz Educator at the Conservatory. His performances have spanned venues like Alpine Valley Music Festival, Milwaukee Summerfest, Potawatomi Northern Lights Theatre, Belfry Music Theatre, and even extended to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Today, he continues to perform both solo and with various ensembles, including Jazz Flux and the Jane Taylor Band.
Vocalist-Paula Marie Bynum is a powerhouse vocalist whose electrifying blend of soul, R&B, blues, reggae, jazz, and pop/rock has lit up stages across Milwaukee and around the world. Rooted in the church and performing professionally since eighteen, Paula brings a fire and authenticity that audiences feel instantly. Cited: “Paula Marie Bynum… has performed professionally since the age of eighteen.” Her dynamic voice has fronted some of the region’s most respected groups — Exec, Black Earth Plus, Eddie Butts, US Project, the Mike Drake Band, and her own Paula Marie with Faith, Hope & Love — each showcasing her ability to move effortlessly between styles with power, grace, and emotional depth. She’s a familiar force at major events like Milwaukee’s Summerfest and the Wisconsin State Fair, commanding the stage with a presence that’s both soulful and magnetic. Cited: “Paula has performed everywhere including Milwaukee’s Summerfest and Statefair.” Paula’s talents extend beyond performance: she has contributed vocals and lyrics to multiple recording projects, and in the late ’80s she too her sound global, touring Korea, Iceland, Norway, and Germany on a USO tour with Black Earth Plus. Cited: “Travel with the band Black Earth Plus to Korea, Iceland, Norway and Germany on a USO tour.” With a voice described as “phenomenal… very soulful and richly moving,” Paula Marie Bynum continues to captivate audiences with every note — a true musical force whose energy, passion, and artistry leave a lasting impression. Cited: “Ms. Marie has a phenomenal voice that is very soulful and richly moving.”