The kick-off announcement about the next Syracuse International Jazz Fest carried with it a big piece of news regarding the popular event.
“Everyone who's come to see a show here at Beak and Skiff really feels the passion," said Beak & Skiff president Eddie Brennan, who removed any secrets about where the next Jazz Fest will be staged. He related the five generations that have run the apple orchard and related businesses, including the addition of concerts. "And we're just so incredibly proud to shepherd Jazz Fest on to the next generation.”
Jazz Fest will be moving from downtown to the outdoor concert venue at the orchard and will mark the 40th Anniversary, July 10 and 11. A kickoff concert Thursday, July 9. will take place at Syracuse University, which will also host a Gospel-Jazz brunch on July 12.
Founder and Executive Director Frank Malfitano acknowledged the milestone.
“We've now become a member of a global over 40 jazz festival club. The significance of that is we're the smallest market in this group. We're the little engine that could. Like I said, we punch above our weight. But we are now in the listing of the top 25 jazz festivals in the world. that have reached the 40-year mark,” Malfitano said.
That puts Jazz Fest in a group that includes festivals such as Newport, Montreal, New Orleans, Chicago and Detroit.
National Jazz and R-and-B artists Tower of Power, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue will headline the event Friday and Saturday, respectively. other acts include: Gunhild Carling, Nathan and the Zydeco Cha-Chas, Dumpstaphunk Plays Sly, and Hejira.
Local and student musicians will be featured earlier each day at the venue.
Visit Syracuse President Danny Liedka tied the popularity of Syracuse Jazz Fest with the city's growth as a tourism destination. "you can't build a tourism economy without marquee events. And this event is top shelf. And when we position Syracuse as a poor man's Nashville, ... there's great entertainment in this town every night of the week, and this is the marquee event. And the fact that it's went on for 40 years, to me is really mind boggling."
Find the entire Jazz Fest schedule here.
