World Class Jazz Comes to Syracuse
Aretha Franklin, Wynton Marsalis, Buckwheat Zydeco and Lake Street Drive to Headline Jazz Fest
Jazz, and jazz musicians hold a special place in my heart. You see, to play jazz right one has to know music theoretically at an extremely high level. I’m talking tip-top, astute, badass understanding of the music language, here. Jazzers understand music like you understand English. Perhaps more. Further, to do jazz right, one has to possess the spirit of an astronaut, because, well… to me, anyway… the whole thing is about exploration and invention, right here and right now. In this way jazz musicians are the true astronauts of music. They boldly go where no solo has gone before – evolving the tune one quarter-note at a time, based on what’s happening right now. They can take a simple nursery rhyme and bend, bump, twist and flip that ditty into a hi-tech piece of elaboration that almost always seems to introduce oneself to another part of their own soul.
How can you not dig jazz.
Jazz is a privilege.
Then there’s the historical side.
While jazz is a blast, it also marks and defines history in America in profound ways. Jazz is one of the quintessential expressions of true original America—documented in the musical freedom which is essential to jazz itself. With that, I find myself leaning forward in my seat with anticipation for this year’s M&T SYRACUSE JAZZ FEST 2015, which takes place at Onondaga Community College on July 17th and 18th. The roster of artists is outstanding.
Founder and Executive Producer Frank Malfitano has assembled a 2015 lineup that again features an eclectic and trademark Syracuse Jazz Fest mash up of Artists and musical styles that have made Jazz Fest “The Northeast’s Largest Free Jazz Festival” and which has earned Jazz Fest “Best Musical Festival” honors and accolades for the past decade.
Jazz Fest will feature performances by four Artists and groups that have each been ranked “Number One” in their respective categories. According to Malfitano, opening night co-headliners for the evening of Friday, July 17 include the top ranked and legendary Louisiana zydeco artist “Buckwheat” Zydeco, and an artist generally regarded as the ‘poster child’ for jazz worldwide and the pride of New Orleans, Wynton Marsalis and the prestigious Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra.
Buckwheat Zydeco and Wynton Marsalis will be joined on stage opening night by the City of Syracuse Parks & Rec All Star Band and a Special Encore Presentation of AppleJazz! – which features a host of Syracuse-area jazz legends and notables, including Charlie Bertini, Ronnie Leigh, Mark Doyle, Ronnie France, Dave Hanlon and Joe Whiting.
According to Malfitano, the festival’s second evening, Saturday, July 18th, will feature co-headline performances by two artists also currently ranked number one by Rolling Stone Magazine,when rising stars and Brooklyn-Based Indie, Jazz, Pop & Soul stars Lake Street Dive – Rolling Stone’s “Best New Band” – open for the Artist ranked number one by Rolling Stone as “The Greatest Singer of All Time”… the legendary and undisputed Queen of Soul, Ms. Aretha Franklin.
Ms. Franklin and Lake Street Dive will be joined on stage Saturday evening two other All Star jazz ensembles with ties to Syracuse and Central New York – Noteified, the regional student all star group discovered by Carrie Lazarus, that features Dunham Hall, Sam Smith, Scottie Madonia, Dave Millen and Rich Bostick, and a group called The Upstate Burners, which features top ranked baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan, legendary jazz drummer Danny D’Imperio, trumpet great Greg Gisbert, upright bassist Peter Mack and pianist Andrew Carroll.
There’s a repeat theme for this year’s 33rd Annual M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest at OCC, says Malfitano….” and it’s once again “Superstars, Shooting Stars & Rising Stars”
Headliners Aretha Franklin and Wynton Marsalis are superstars, two of the most-recognizable entertainers in the world, and Artists that everyone knows and loves. They’re true American musical royalty, and two of the greatest American entertainer in history” said Malfitano. “They’re also American-born Artists who never fail to deliver, who have each put their stamp on American music forever!”
In addition to the festival-closing performance by Aretha Franklin on Saturday evening, the 2015 festival will also feature a free fireworks display sponsored by Price Chopper Supermarkets immediately following Ms. Franklin’s set.
Rising stars Notefied are already well on their way to solid jazz careers, thanks to the introductions given them by the Carrie Lazarus Fund for Extraordinary Talent. “We’re very proud that Noteified is making their major jazz festival debut right here in their hometown of Syracuse, said Malfitano. “For us, it’s a really great honor to be able to showcase their talents on the Jazz Fest main stage.”
On Friday evening, a performance by the world’s leading Zydeco Artist – Buckwheat Zydeco – will immediately precede that evening’s headline performance by New Orleans phenom, trumpeter, multiple Grammy winner and Pulitzer Prize-winner Wynton Marsalis & the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra, in what looms as a dynamic musical gumbo and Louisiana-style double bill that will have festival goers hopping and bopping on the hills of Onondaga.
Admission to the 2015 M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest is free, and all events are open to the public. For more information, visit syracusejazzfest.com or visit Syracuse Jazz Fest on Facebook.
M&T SYRACUSE JAZZ FEST 2015 SCHEDULE
Friday, July 17
National Grid Main Stage
Dedicated in perpetuity to the memory of Louis H Everding
5:00 pm
City of Syracuse Parks & Rec All Star Band
Under the Direction of Joe Carello
Presented by the Carrie Lazarus Fund for Extraordinary Talent
in Association with NewsChannel 9
6:00 pm
AppleJazz: Special Encore Presentation!
featuring Charlie Bertini, John Allred, Terry Myers,
Mark Doyle, Dave Hanlon, Ronnie France,
Andy Calabrese, Joe Whiting and Ronnie Leigh!
Presented by Mack Studios in Association with WAER
7:45 pm
BUCKWHEAT ZYDECO
Presented by The Eric Mulhauser Endowment for the Arts & Y94
9:30 pm
WYNTON MARSALIS &
THE JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA
Presented by The M&T Bank Charitable Foundation
in Association with Syracuse Media Group
Saturday, July 18
National Grid Main Stage
Dedicated in perpetuity to the memory of Louis H Everding
5:00 pm
Noteified
featuring Dunham Hall, Sam Smith,
Scottie Madonia, Dave Millen and Rich Bostick
Presented by the Carrie Lazarus Fund for Extraordinary Talent
in Association with NewsChannel 9 WSYR
6:00 pm
The Upstate Burners
featuring Gary Smulyan, Danny D’Imperio,
Greg Gisbert, Peter Mack and Andrew Carroll!
Presented by Mack Studios in Association with WAER
7:45 pm
LAKE STREET DIVE
Presented by The Society for New Music & Y94
9:30 pm
The Legendary Queen of Soul
ARETHA FRANKLIN
Presented by The M&T Bank Charitable Foundation
in Association with Syracuse Media Group
11:00 pm
Free Fireworks Display!
Presented by Price Chopper Supermarkets
Music & Events Calendar
