The Syracuse International Jazz Fest returns to both downtown and Syracuse University for its 38th year this June. The headliners for the weekend include The Mavericks, Kenny G, and the O-Jays. Local Syracuse musicians will also take the stage, with scheduled performances by Baldwinsville middle schoolers and an SU student jazz combo, among others.
The lineup brings together a range of artists and styles, including straight-ahead jazz, Latin jazz, big band sounds and more. Jazz Fest founder and organizer Frank Malfitano said he hopes the wide range of performers appeals to everyone.
“[Jazz Fest] serves everyone in the community. It brings every population and demographic group out, ethnically, racially, socially.” said Malfitano. “If you go to a country concert, for example, you’ll see all country fans. You come to a Jazz Fest concert and you see the entire city… and I think that’s the value to sponsors.”
Malfitano said sponsors are a large part of what makes the event happen and works with them intensively to make the festival enjoyable for the whole community. (WAER is a media sponsor of Syracuse Jazz Fest.)
In addition to the fun of the weekend, Visit Syracuse head Danny Liedka said it brings an economic boost to the region.
“Fans come from everywhere, we’ve had fans from Canada, from India.” as well as from across the U.S., he said. “The economic impact was well over $1 million. But what I took away is that people wanted more, which really cements us as a music destination.”
Jazz Fest kicks off on Wednesday, June 26, with local musicians playing in bars and restaurants throughout Syracuse. The mainstage performances will take place June 27-29.
The festival concludes on Sunday with a Jazz Gospel service led by the Black Celestial Choral Ensemble in Syracuse University's Hendricks Chapel.
The entire lineup can be found here.
