The 33rd edition of Syracuse Jazzfest is approaching, and founder and executive producer Frank Malfitano says he’s always seems to set a new bar for himself.
"It doesn't get any bigger than the queen of soul, the prince of jazz, and the king of zydeco."
That would be headliners Aretha Franklin, Wynton Marsalis with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and Buckwheat Zydeco.
Malfitano is mixing things up a little bit this year. Instead of the fireworks closing things out Saturday, he decided they fit the programming better on Friday.
"It's tough to follow Buckwheat Zydeco. His energy level is off the charts. So we thought by putting the fireworks in between the end of Buckwheat's set and the start of Wynton's set at 9:00, families and kids would have an opportunity to come. When you do the fireworks at 11 p.m., it's a little tougher on families, I think."
Plus, he says, Aretha will bring enough of her own fireworks Saturday. As always, local and regional artists are also on the schedule, including a supergroup of sorts called Applejazz, The Upstate Burners, and Noteified, a five piece, scholastic-age ensemble featuring some of the area’s finest young jazz musicians.
"When you showcase resident artists from the region, they get greater exposure. You're putting them out there in front of anywhere from five to 20,000 people. The opportunity to play along side their professional counterparts is really something that takes their game to another level."
Malfitano wishes he could include more, but the timing of this year’s festival didn’t fit well with high schools. The schedule and more information is at syracusejazzfest.com.
