The line up for the 35th Annual Syracuse Jazz Fest was released during a press conference this afternoon at M&T Bank. At the podium Jazz Fest producer Frank Malfitano readies for media questions.
Thirty-five is halfway between 20 and 50, so the line-up for the 2017 Syracuse Jazz Festival includes some old school and some new school. The line up includes the following:
Frank Malfitano and Joanie Mahoney: Building Consensus
This week we heard rumors that The Syracuse Jazz Fest may have to move to the Lakeview Amphitheater; we also heard if it did not move, funding may be withheld. Well, Jazz Fest Producer Frank Malfitano and Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney appeared at a press conference this afternoon to set the record straight. Their mutual admiration was evident from the start, and if this kind of cooperation is wrong, none of us should wanna be right.
To hear a clip of the press conference, including Malfitano’s comments on why he chooses to keep Jazz Fest on Onondaga Hill (for now), and what the college means to him, click the sound file.
The event, which was held at the historic Second Olivet Missionary Baptist Church, was attended by politicians, local musicians, concerned concert goers, and members of the media.
The more time we log covering the Cuse’ music scene, the more we experience a special spirit of collaboration recognition. Tonight musician and columnist Reggie Seigler (left), founder of JAMS (Syracuse’s Joined Artists Musicians and Singers’ ) presented a community award to Syracuse Jazz Fest Producer Frank Malfitano. The ceremony was during the intermission for the FunkFest 2K16 show.
There’s a top 10 list somewhere as to why Frank Malfitano, producer, director, talent cultivator, and cultural savant “gets it” when it comes to showing pride for Syracuse and Central New York. Bringing Chief Lyons, the statesman, onto the stage at Jazz Fest tonight is high on that list. Respect.
Frank Malfitano will produce the 34th Annual Syracuse Jazz Fest in July. Today Mayor Miner named April 19 “Frank Malfitano Day.”
Syracuse Jazz Fest Producer Frank Malfitano announced the lineup at M&T Bank this morning. Pictured to the right is Jazz Journalists Association’s Susan Brink, who presented Malfitano with a 2016 National Jazz Hero Award.
Sure we saw the lineup for this year’s Jazz Fest in the current issue of Downbeat already, but we still attended this mornings announcement at M&T Bank, because some things are better in person. Jazz Fest also puts together the best press kit for any music festival in the area.
This year’s stellar lineup include a former Doobie (Michael McDonald), a Shorty (Troy Andrews) a Missy (Melissa Gardiner and her band Second Line Syracuse) as well as a tribute to a Murphy (Mark) and an artist-in-residence named Randy (Brecker). In addition, Groove Legacy, the Maverick’s and Notefied promise to make this another must see event.
We also found out that the Mayor issued a proclamation naming today “Frank Malfitano Day” in Syracuse.
Christine Fawcett-Shapiro and Mike Massurin (Syracuse International Film Festival), along with Frank Malfitano (Syracuse Jazz Fest) and Eric Bush (General Manager of Sound Garden) announced that the DVD release and Northeast film premiere of Jaco will take place in Syracuse.
A quartet of Syracuse arts groups, including The Place Theater, Syracuse Jazz Fest, The Syracuse International Film Festival and Sound Garden, held a press event today in Armory Square. The group will collaborate to host a premiere of Jaco, a documentary about bassist Jaco Pastorius. The film was produced by Robert Trujillo and directed by Paul Merchange and Stephen Kijak.
Trujillo will make an appearance at the screening, which will take place at the Palace on Friday, November 27. Earlier in the day he will he will do a in-store DVD signing at The Sound Garden.
The 2007 Syracuse Jazz Fest was dedicated to Jaco Pastorius.
Syracuse Jazz Fest Producer Frank Malfitano tries to get the crowd to cheer on Buckwheat Zydeco to do one more encore last night.
Free event + Premium content=Freemium.
Bravo to Frank Malfitano for putting together what sounds like another great line up for Syracuse Jazz Fest. This year’s festival features Aretha Franklin, Wynton Marsalis, and Lake Street Drive.
Once again the festival is free.
The Friday night shows at Jazz Fest have become legendary (Trombone Shorty, Gregory Porter, Preservation Hall Jazz Band), and this year we are particularly interested in seeing the evening sizzle with a combination of Marsalis and Buckwheat Zydeco.
To see Buckwheat Zydeco at a New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest back in the day check this out:
To get some background on Creole music and the culture of SW Louisiana, listen to one of our favorite DJ’s, historian Cowboy Texas Fred: