Syracuse Jazz Fest poised to make more memories this summer

Frank Malfitano, the founder of the Syracuse Jazz Festival, once told me that – although he loves presenting world-class entertainers – that’s only the method by which he achieves even greater satisfaction.

“Man, I’m in the business of creating memories,” Malfitano exclaims.

And he’s proud to do that by bringing our community together to revel in rhythms, to dance to the dynamics, to sing along with the stars.

Ah, memories! I’m sure yours are some of the same as mine: The audience spilled out easterly over Salina Street when Diana Krall and Ray Charles headlined in Clinton Square in June 2000. Many thousands filled the Onondaga Community College outdoor amphitheater for smooth-jazz saxophonist Kenny G in 2012. An even larger crowd heard Aretha Franklin’s climactic set in 2015 also at OCC.

As a fan of early New Orleans jazz, I was blown away in 2013 when the Preservation Hall Jazz Band took the stage at Jamesville Beach and cranked out the old Mardi Gras anthem, “Tootie Ma is a Real Big Thing.”

Personal highlights

A couple personal highlights for me came when I ascended the main stage at Clinton Square to introduce pianist Les McCann in 1994 and banjoman Bela Fleck & The Flecktones in 1996.

Malfitano, who now lives in

Baldwinsville, possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of the history of jazz, and his bookings have reflected that.

Some of my favorite Jazz Fest moments featured pioneering musicians such as pianist Dorothy Donegan, bluesman

B.B. King, clarinetists Peanuts Hucko and Pete Fountain, bebop vocalist Mark Murphy, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and the eclectic Sun Ra Orchestra.

And over the years, Malfitano made sure to showcase Syracusearea performers such as Charlie Bertini’s AppleJazz Band, scat singers Nancy Kelly and Ronnie Leigh, the Salt City Collective, standards singer Nick Ziobro and noir guitarist Mark Doyle, just to name a few.

This year’s fest June 21-25

More marvelous memories will surely be made when the 37th annual Syracuse Jazz Fest starts its unprecedented five-day run on June 21 in downtown Syracuse.

Veteran keyboardist, NEA Jazz Master Herbie Hancock will join songstress and 2022 Kennedy Center Honoree Gladys Knight

Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24, respectively, to coheadline the festival. The event has a new title sponsor, longtime festival supporter National Grid.

Ten other recording artists will appear at the 2023 festival, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at Hanover and Clinton Squares, and on Wednesday evening in clubs throughout downtown. Groups include Spyro ext 331, art@eaglenewsonline com

Gyra, Tower of Power, Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, Tuba Skinny, Joyce DiCamillo, Nancy Kelly, Joe Magnarelli and Marissa Mulder.

The long-running music festival successfully returned in June 2022 following a five-year hiatus after the conclusion of the 2017 festival.

On its opening evening Wednesday, June 21, this year’s festival will feature 24 nightclub performances at two dozen downtown bars and restaurants featuring 24 of the Syracuse region’s top jazz artists.

On Thursday, June 22, on the festival’s new Hanover Square outdoor stage will feature two performances from 5 to 9 p.m. beginning with Harri Stojka & Acoustic Drive from Vienna, Austria. They will be followed by an soul-jazz ensemble called Something Else!

The festival will close out on Sunday, June 25 on the Syracuse University campus with a Jazz Fest Gospel concert featuring the Dillard University Choir of New Orleans.

For information, visit syracusejazzfest.co m

Last word “In order to keep attracting the Amazons and Microns of the world to our region to help the community stay on its current growth path, it’s imperative that we have first-rate entertainment and cultural menu offerings that will help local leaders with recruiting and retention.”

–Syracuse Jazz Fest Artistic Director Frank Malfitano.