Syracuse Jazz Fest
It’s always a long road when you’ve been “at” something – in it – for 40 years. And the difference between it being a matter of “doing time” as opposed to true devotion, comes down to whether or not, and how much you love the endeavor of seeing it through.
He hardly needs an introduction. But, enter Frank Malfatano. You know him as the colorful mastermind and leader of the Syracuse Jazz Fest; who puts Syracuse onto the big jazz hotspot map. And as with any devotion to an endeavor such as this, it becomes its own story. And this is Frank Malfitano’s story to tell.
Chuck Schiele: So. Will you be wearing a cape this year?
Frank Malfitano: Haha. Well, once a year it may seem like I’m a member of the Marvel Comics Universe, but I actually leave the flying to Pink, Iron Man and others who are much better equipped for that sort of aerial-ballet-in-space style maneuvering. Although I do recall donning a black and white cape once for Avant Garde jazz artist and bandleader Sun Ra who always insisted on costumed attire for members of the Arkestra and his extended space family.
CS: The 40th Syracuse International Jazz Fest is taking place at Beak & Skiff, this year. Every venue offers a different dimension to a show or an event. What are some of the new factors in the Jazz Fest experience now that it’s here?
FM: I tend to shy away from using trending terms like reinventing, rebooting, reimagining and re-envisioning, but in all honesty that’s pretty much what’s happening this July and with Jazz Fest’s 40th. We have new venues, a new outdoor staging site, a new opening night event, a new format and model, and a new month and a new weekend. We also have new built in after parties at the Beak & Skiff site which is something we’ve wanted to do for a long time. After Tower of Power and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue finish up their sets on the Micron Main Stage on Friday and Saturday, we’ll be heading indoors at the 1911 Tasting Room to keep the party going with Pocket Nod and Los Blancos.
CS: It looks like a terrific lineup once again! I see a few returning favorites, and it looks like we have some new acts! Tell us what’s up.
FM: Thanks Chuck. Our goal annually is to program the festival in a manner that serves the music, the creators of the music, the fans and the attendees. Whenever anyone in the industry whose opinion we value tells us they think we’re doing a good job, it means the world to us. With a new model and new sites, everything we’re doing this year is largely experimental and has never been done or attempted before. With that being the case, we wanted to intentionally front load this year’s lineup with some familiar fan and festival faves who have consistently delivered. I’ve been involved with and in and around the music for 68 years now and have been on the presenting side of things for 56 years, so I think I have a decent sense of what works and who the art form’s best entertainers are, and for me that’s folks like Trombone Shorty, Zydeco legend Nathan Williams Sr., and the amazing Gunhild Carling, Sweden’s Queen of Swing. And Oakland’s Tower of Power also definitely belongs on that list. Those guys have been on the road for 58 years entertaining audiences around the globe for six decades. No one stays in the game that long without being great. And that brings us to our primary goal. We always want jazz fest to be as great as it can be because we believe that Syracuse deserves great.
CS: Forty years. You’ve been doing this for a long, long time. I know what times it can be a grueling way to torture yourself while trying to do something good for your city. It also has its moments of glory. Nobody hangs in there this long unless it’s worthwhile. You…are downright devoted. Please share with us about why and how you keep going for all these years. Tell us what it means to you.
FM: Music is my life. It’s the air I breathe. And it’s been that way ever since I first picked up a clarinet in 4th grade. The night of my first big concert with the All County Band & Orchestra I was 13 years old. But I knew that night that I would be involved with the music and with show business for the rest of my life. That was 68 years ago. I had no idea that evening that things would lead to where they have taken me, because I’d never gotten this far in my dreams. I’ve been very blessed and I know it, and I owe that all to my parents, my music teachers and band directors and to the incredible Artists that took a chance on me. I’m so glad they looked into my soul and saw something that made it possible for them to trust me. I owe them everything.
CS: Please share with us some of the highlights along the way that stand out most to you. The quintessential and pivotal moments both in the music and the city’s love for jazz.
FM: I’ve honestly loved and been very proud of each and every one one of the 40 festivals in Syracuse we’ve produced, and I love and respect each of the phenomenal artists, bands and legends that have graced our Jazz Fest stages over the years. Certainly working with legendary artists and big names like Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, BB King, Sonny Rollins, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck and Kenny G has been thrilling and memorable, but I’m equally excited about working with groups I haven’t previously presented before on our stages like this year’s wonderful 7-piece Hejira jazz ensemble from the UK, and New Orleans’ Dumpstaphunk who will be honoring the catalog of the great Sly Stone and Oakland’s legendary Sly & The Family Stone.
CS: What does your future vision see for the Syracuse International Jazz Fest?
FM: Well, my crystal ball isn’t working all that well this week, but naturally I think we all hope we can keep it going for another decade or more. If we have decent weather, positive outcomes and a successful turnout this July, I think there’s an excellent chance we’ll be off and running and hard at work on the 2027 festival immediately after this year’s Jazz Fest wraps. Things are definitely teed up and ready to go. Now we just have to wait and see how things go on Jazz Fest weekend.
CS: OK, Frank. Thank you so much for chatting with us here at Sounds of Syracuse. We will see you at the show.
FM: We love your column, Chuck. Thanks so much for letting us be a part of it this month. We’ll see you at Jazz Fest!
You can find the schedules and everything you need to know at:
https://www.syracusejazzfest.com/
