On the first day, Frank rested for a minute to sample the New Orleans flavor for the 2014 Syracuse Jazz Fest at OCC
Posts Tagged ‘Frank Malfitano’
Concert Producer-in-Chief
Saturday, July 12th, 2014Romancing the Stage
Tuesday, November 5th, 2013
Singer Gregory Porter returned to Syracuse last week.
A Gregory Porter concert is a little like the Matrix: We could tell you what it’s like, but you really have to experience it for yourself.
We wrote in a previous post that it’s difficult to classify Porter, but in his vocals one can hear Nat Cole, Ray Charles, Joe Williams and even Donny Hathaway. He effortlessly blends ballads, shout blues and the sacred sounds of the church.
The superstar jazz singer returned to Central New York Friday for the first time since his appearance at the 2012 Syracuse Jazz Festival. Earlier in the day he did a clinic for students and also talked about his life’s story.
But the real treat was the show.
From the time they hit the stage at about 7:30 p.m. Porter and his band (Chip Crawford, Emmanuel Harrold, Aaron James and Yosuke Sato) nearly blew the doors off Storer Auditorium.
Porter kicked things off with the ballad Be Good, and from the first note, a wave of goosebumps washed over the theater. He sprinkled in Liquid Spirit and No Love Dying from his new album, as well as the crowd favorite On My Way to Harlem.
For an encore they poured it on with the bass-driven cut, 1960 What? which featured Aaron James slapping and literally dancing with his upright instrument.
The music created by the band was spicy like Cajun catfish and Porter’s strong, spiritually connected vocals were smooth like banana pudding.
At the end, most people lingered to soak in the experience, and everyone left satisfied.
WAER-FM 88’s Eric Cohen and Jazz Fest Producer Frank Malfitano welcome Gregory Porter to the stage.
WAER FM-88’s Program Director Eric Cohen said it best when he said that for one night, Syracuse became the center of the Jazz Universe.
A great starting five: Crawford, James, Porter, Harrold and Sato
Devotion: Jazz Fest, Day 3
Monday, July 8th, 2013
Ronnie Laws (sax) and Perry Hughes
Day Three of the 2013 Syracuse Jazz Festival kept it hot. Ronnie Laws (with a voice every bit as rich as Lou Rawls) and Taylor Dane gave the fans all they could handle. Laws provided a great East Coast vs. West Coast love fest by blowing a tribute to the late Grover Washington, Jr. And from the looks of it, you’d never know Dane had her breakout hit, “Tell it To My Heart” over two decades ago. She announced that she’ll be returning to Central New York later to play a role in the Musical Cats.
Also, one of the cool things about the final installment of this year’s edition was getting to see collaboration with folk from the local scene such as Neva Pilgrim (co-founder of the Society for New Music). Fans also got to hear the superior skills of supporting musicians like Chuck Lamb (Brubeck Brothers Quartet) and Perry Hughes (Michigan State University educator and guitarist for Ronnie Laws).
Brubeck Brothers Quartet (pictured Mike DeMicco, Dan Brubeck and Chris Brubeck) playing Jamesville Beach.
Vintage: Taylor Dane first hit the pop music scene 25 years ago.
Neva Pilgrim on stage with Frank Malfitano before the Brubeck Brothers set.
Below check out a clip from the gospel sounds of Five to Life, who provided a spiritual set with the sounds from the sanctuary.
Chuck Lamb plays during a hot sunset, then visits with fans.
Born to Sing: Taylor Dane
Ronnie Laws goes double barrel during a short rendition of Grover’s “Mr. Magic.”
Extension: Jazz Fest, Day 2
Saturday, July 6th, 2013
Napoleon Murphy Brock of the Grandmothers of Invention and Festival Producer Frank Malfitano hug it out during a lengthy rain delay.
At Day Two of the Syracuse Jazz Festival the weather almost trumped the music. After lightning flashes, a near monsoon, and baseball-length rain delay, however the music continued and the GrandMothers of Invention (formed in 2002 from Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention) gave those remaining a high-impact show.
Earlier in the day, Sophistafunk and the Yellowjackets, as well as Giacomo Gates, were on stage.
William Kennedy, Drummer, Yellowjackets
Adam Gold, Keyboardist, Sophistafunk
Don Preston, who started with Frank Zappa in 1967, is showing no signs of slowing down on this “One Size Fits All” US Tour. He came to the Syracuse show from Chapel Hill, NC. Tomorrow the GrandMothers of Invention play Annapolis, then NYC, before heading back Upstate to Rochester on July 10.
WAEF FM 88’s GM Joe Lee brings on the Yellowjackets.
Sophista-Fan
Piano tuner Kenny Williams has been working festivals and concerts in Syracuse for more than a half century.
Napoleon Murphy Brock (left),who started with Zappa in 1974 and now is the lead vocalist for the GrandMothers of Invention, shows off his Suavenicity during an opening number.
Nobody Knows My Name
Sunday, June 24th, 2012
Jazz Singer Gregory Porter, Soul to the Bone
Saxophone-legend Kenny G may have been the headliner for the first night of Syracuse Jazz Fest on Friday, but Grammy-nominated vocalist Gregory Porter stole the show.
A self-described preachers kid, Gregory impressed those in attendance at Jamesville Beach with songs such as Be Good, On My Way to Harlem, and Mother’s Song. These Sophistasoultastic cuts conjure up images of the Cosby Show of the 80s, Spike Lee’s early films and even the choreography of Garth Fagan.
His song-writing is vivid and his performance high spirited.
To call Porter a jazz singer may be restrictive. His mature and robust sound may be jazz, but it’s corseted in soul and the cadence of his church rearing.
Gregory Porter, a singer’s singer
Some singers are vanguards. Nat had it. Donny had it. Ray had it. Sam had it. Stevie has it and yes Porter too, has that vibe of a pioneer.
Jazz Fest Producer Frank Malfitano even said he was one of the most talented jazz singers of the last 3 decades.
During the finale Porter mesmerized the crowd with 1960 What, a homage to cities such as Detroit. Coincidentally, Malfitano used to produce that city’s Jazz Fest.
New fans showered Porter with appreciation during an impromptu meet-and-greet beside the stage following his set. Many shared their disbelief that they weren’t familiar with this man.
From now on his reputation in Syracuse is all good.
Hilltop Jazz
Tuesday, June 28th, 2011
Return to Forever IV: Chick Corea
Bass Man: Stanley Clarke
Klyde Jones: Average White Band
Dance, Dance, Dance: AWB Fans
Robert Cray
Nothing but strings: RTFIV’s Jean-Luc Ponty
Al Chez and his family of funk
Picking up the Pieces: AWB’s Onnie McIntyre
Mr. Jazzmatazz
Saturday, April 2nd, 2011
Dr. Lonnie Smith pounds the organ at OCC to close out the Legends of Jazz Series.
Props
Monday, March 7th, 2011
Syracuse JazzFest Founder Frank Malfitano presents Lionel Batiste with a Jazz Legends Award at OCC on Friday.
“Uncle” Lionel Batiste, Benny Jones, Sr. and the Treme Brass Band brought the sweet sounds of New Orleans and the energy of a street parade to Friday’s performance at Onondaga Community College.
Jazz for a Sunday Afternoon
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
Dave Mann, Will Lee and Chris Parker
The 28th Annual Syracuse Jazz Fest took place again at Onondaga Community College last weekend. I got cover the final day, which featured Natalie Cole, Toph-E, Sheryl Bailey, and Michael Kaeshammer. One fan I spoke with said the Friday night Jam Session was the best set he’d seen at this particular event (he’s been attending for over 20 years).
Michael Kaeshammer and Marc Roberts
Other artists who performed on days one and two of the festival (who I missed) included Gil Scott Heron, Boz Scaggs and Jeff Lorber.
It was also good to see, photograph and talk with piano tuner Kenneth Williams. According to Jazz Fest Producer Festival Frank Malfitano: “[Williams] is the best in the business and a very dear friend of the festival, he’s indispensable.”
Natalie Cole
