Jason Seber

Jason Seber is a conductor appearing with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in October 2026 for a "Smooth Sailing" program devoted to yacht rock, the smooth, radio-friendly soft rock sound of the 1970s and '80s. Listeners can expect an evening built around orchestral arrangements of that era's laid-back hits rather than a classical concert program.

This concert centers on yacht rock, the smooth, softly grooving soft rock style associated with acts like Steely Dan, Christopher Cross, and Toto, known for polished production, easy tempos, and breezy vocal harmonies. In an orchestral pops setting, a conductor leading this repertoire typically shapes the evening around full-band arrangements of these hits, keeping the rhythm section's laid-back groove intact while the orchestra adds string and brass color to the original songs. Listeners new to orchestral concerts can expect a relaxed, singable program of recognizable melodies rather than dense or challenging classical writing, with the orchestra functioning much like a supersized backing band behind guest vocalists or instrumental soloists. The pacing tends to favor steady, mid-tempo grooves over dramatic contrasts, keeping the "smooth" character of the source material front and center throughout the night.