LOCKPORT, N.Y. — It’s been more than a year since the historic Kenan Center had an audience in its Taylor Theater. On Saturday, that will all change. What started as a story to bring you the how and what in safety procedures ended in a story of passion, perseverance and patience of local musicians.

What You Need To Know

  • The Kenan Center's Taylor Theater resumes Jazz at the Taylor series with you in the seats 

  • In June, an outdoor concert series starts

  • Family activities will also resume in person 

Ed Croft tunes up his bass per usual. This time though, in a long time, it’s here inside the Taylor Theater at the Kenan Center.

“It’s always a treat to play here,” Croft said. “It’s one of the best sounding rooms in Western New York.”

His trio, Nixon, Croft and Goretti are the first musicians to play with a live audience since last spring.

“It’s coming back, thank God,” Croft said.

Their performance, as they celebrate the life of the late Chick Corea, kicks off the Jazz at the Taylor series. It’s a popular musical event that’s been around since 2016, by accident.

“It was supposed to a Christmas play, but we couldn’t get the rights,” Kathleen Rooney, Jazz at the Taylor series producer, saidunder her mask.

It's safe to say that after a year of virtual concerts, this has been a long time coming.

“I think everyone is very eager to be back in the seats,” Rooney said.

This trio might be even more eager just to see you.

“Well, I mean, I took a stage at a place doing virtual events, so I saw a stage of emptiness,” said Joe Goretti, the trio’s drummer. “It’s been like a year, yeah."

The pandemic put center stage just what music really means to each of them.

“You realize how much priority, or how much of what makes you, you, relies on playing in front of other people,” Croft explained.

There’s the steady beat they feel from their instruments, that keeps them jamming along. But really, it’s the faces, the head nods, the foot taps. They enjoy every note of it.

“It never gets old, that’s for sure,” Croft smiled.

And we should casually mention, as pianist Andrew Nixon did, the project they got done. It was the silver lining to a roller coaster of a year as they describe it.

“The three of us were able to do a record together,” Nixon said.

It’s called "Incongruence." You can find it on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.

“We finally had time to do it,” said Nixon.

They've also finally been given the time to fill this intimate 150-seat venue. Per state regulations, it will be at 33% capacity. Face masks are required and sections where you can’t sit are taped off.

The final requirement: Sit back and enjoy the music.

“People’s joy of listening to music, I mean, that’s what we feel,” Croft said.

This is just the beginning of events at the Kenan Center. There’s a garden concert series that starts next month; yoga classes; and other activities for the entire family.