Berkshire Bank Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival returns
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Larry Luttinger
CNY Jazz Arts Foundation
T: (315) 479-5299
C: (315) 436-9082
Berkshire Bank Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival returns
CNY Jazz celebrates Artsweek with major music event
Syracuse NY – CNY Jazz will continue to serve Syracuse and Central New York with an international jazz festival accompanied by fine wines, food, and fun when the Berkshire Bank Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival holds court in Clinton Square, the heart of downtown Syracuse, on July 28th and 29th.
The two-day event provides the performing arts anchor of Artsweek in Downtown Syracuse, the “festival of festivals” that stretches from Clinton Square to the Everson Museum, with a history of attracting over 66,000 festivalgoers to downtown Syracuse every summer. Make it a staycation and prowl all of our activities for a long weekend. You won’t be disappointed.”
The festival again boasts a powerful talent lineup, thanks to title sponsor Berkshire Bank, a loyal host of returning sponsors, and public sector support from Assemblyman Al Stirpe, Assemblymember Pam Hunter, and Senator Rachel May. It will again present jazz and a wide array of American music styles on three stages in Clinton Square, as well as new and exciting group of wines provided by sponsor Palm Bay International. Along with acclaimed international and regional acts plus local bands in their twin party tents, the event will also serve as a showcase for the CNY Jazz Youth Orchestra, whose members hail from city and county school districts and area colleges.
“This is the 20th jazz festival we’ve presented downtown in 22 years, and we’re glad to be well into our third decade of service to downtown Syracuse,” according to the organizer and founder of CNY Jazz, Larry Luttinger. “Syracuse doesn’t have to worry about losing any year-round jazz capacity while we’re on watch. We’re here for the long haul, to ensure year-round support for the jazz art form and to help Artsweek continue to grow as a regional cultural tourism magnet. Jazz, and the arts as a whole, are a huge, largely untapped economic driver for our region. We’ve worked hard to fulfill that promise by building an even bigger and better total experience for residents and visitors alike.”
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh added, “The Jazz & Wine Festival is one of the many great events happening downtown during Artsweek that brings together a diverse group of incredibly talented national and local artists. This festival in July and the Jazz in the City concert series have become staples of the arts scene in our community.”
Assemblyman Al Stirpe commented, “Thanks to CNY Jazz for all the things they do for our Central NY community, especially their work with students in their CNY Jazz Scholastic pipeline, Jazz in the City and CNY Jazz Club series. You know it’s summer with the Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival in Clinton Square!”
Assemblymember Pam Hunter said of the event, “The Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival stands tall among the remarkable lineup of events taking place downtown during Artsweek, uniting an array of immensely talented national and local artists. Come July, this festival, alongside the Jazz in the City concert series, will once again cement their status as integral parts of our community’s thriving arts scene.”
Senator Rachel May said, “I am thrilled to be part of making the comeback of the Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival happen here in Clinton Square. It’s been a great start to summer in Syracuse and having this incredible festival occurring will continue the fun and energy. Thanks to CNY Jazz for bringing another great event downtown!”
Jim Morris, New York State President of Berkshire Bank, added “Berkshire Bank is once again thrilled to sponsor the Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival. This Syracuse tradition brings our community together to celebrate and appreciate the music of so many talented artists over two days. We look forward to enjoying this family friendly festival with members of our Central New York community.”
This year’s lineup of artists is proof of the many faces that jazz can take. The main stage opens with a quartet led by the young Texas wunderkind Ryan Peterson, a product of the prestigious North Texas State University, followed by the unique mainstream sounds of New York City-based S.O.A.R., finishing with a closing contemporary jazz set by Jeff Kashiwa, formerly of The Rippingtons and founder of the Sax Pack. Student and community ensembles including the CNY Jazz Youth Orchestra and Alumni Trio, Brig Juice, and Utica’s Easy Money Big Band play Saturday afternoon starting at noon, CNY Jazz alumnus Luke Hart plays on the main stage with his quartet, then the evening’s lineup commences with Lindsey Holland, a new singer on the national scene from Western New York; New York City’s rising tenor sax sensation Lucas Pino with the Lamb, Mack & Sorgen Trio, and Michael Buble protégé Jumaane Smith, trumpeter and vocalist, taking the stage with his band to finish the night. The twin party tent stages in Clinton Square will again host a CNY Jazz Alumni Jazz Reunion curated by Nicholas DiMaria; Syracuse expatriate organist Will Gorman’s “WG3” trio, Mike Serafim’s hard-hitting Funky Blu Roots, and area soul legend Trumptight 315 return after a multi-year hiatus.
“As you can see, our lineup reflects the best of the art form in all its many styles, and shows off our CNY Jazz legacy performers as well, many out there touring with the best in the business,” said Larry Luttinger, organizer and founder of CNY Jazz. “This is the jazz of the present and future, not the past. It’s all new, fresh, and fun. We’re a lifestyle festival for sure.
Additional corporate sponsors make this year’s festival possible, including major new sponsor A-Verdi, as well as returnees Mack Studios, C & S Companies, Costello Cooney Fearon PLLC, National Grid, Baldwin, Sutphen & Frateschi PLLC, FustCharles, Lockheed Martin Employees Federated Fund, Brown & Brown, Bond Schoeneck & King, Critical Link, Ra-Lin, Galaxy Media Partners, WAER 88.3, Cabot Cheese, and generous support from Bill and Nancy Byrne. New media sponsor WOLF Radio via The Dinosaur and The Beat comes on board with a major presence.
New lodging sponsor Collegian Hotel and Suites offers a flexible package including one-to-three night stays, complimentary festival wine, up front VIP seating at the festival, and breakfast, offered for $150 to $185 per night.
The festival’s evolving selection of world class wines is again provided by major sponsor Palm Bay International and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. Back by popular demand, outstanding wines from Northern Italy are represented by The Cavit Collection. Their line of crisp flavored Roscatos will be featured. Lunetta Prosecco and Prosecco Rose is again included, and boutique selections by Yealands, Portillo, Bottega Vania, Vanderpump and Au Contraire complete the wine list, offered at accessible prices from $7 to $14. Premium and craft beers and hard selzers will also be sold. “The jazz and wine lifestyles are the perfect match and make for the coolest festival of our hot summer,” said Luttinger. “We’ll see you all in Clinton Square for a dynamite jazz festival and a super Artsweek.”
Artsweek in Downtown Syracuse is the city’s “festival of festivals”, designed as a major cultural tourism vehicle showcasing our many downtown cultural assets. Other activities throughout that week include the behemoth Syracuse Arts and Crafts Festival, a resurgent Street Painting festival curated by Tommy Lincoln, and many other supporting downtown cultural events.
Full information about the festival, complete wine list, links to artist videos and printable schedules are available at www.nejazzwinefest.org.
To schedule phone interviews with artists, call CNY Jazz at 315-479-5299.
2023 Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival Talent Schedule
Friday July 28
Main Stage
6-7 p.m. Ryan Peterson Quartet
7:45-9 p.m. S.O.A.R.
9:45-11 p.m. Jeff Kashiwa
WAER Mardi Gras Pavilion
5 p.m. Will Gorman Trio
7 p.m. Will Gorman Trio
9 p.m. Will Gorman Trio
WAER World Beat Pavilion
5 p.m. Funky Blu Roots
7 p.m. Funky Blu Roots
9 p.m. Funky Blu Roots
Saturday July 29
Main Stage Youth and Community Groups
12 to 1 p.m. CNY Jazz Youth Orchestra
1 to 2 p.m. CNY Jazz Alumni Trio
2 to 3 p.m. Luke Hart Quartet
3 to 4 p.m. Brig Juice
4 to 5 p.m. Easy Money Big Band
Main Stage
6 to 7 p.m. Lindsey Holland
7:45 to 9 p.m. Lucas Pino with Lamb, Mack & Sorgen
9:45 to 11 p.m. Jumaane Smith
WAER Mardi Gras Pavilion
5 p.m. Nicholas Maria’s CNY Jazz Jam
7 p.m. Nicholas Maria’s CNY Jazz Jam
9 p.m. Nicholas Maria’s CNY Jazz Jam
WAER World Beat Pavilion
7 p.m. Trumptight 315
9 p.m. Trumptight 315
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About CNY Jazz – The CNY Jazz Arts Foundation, established in 1996, is the largest year-round provider of jazz presentations for the public and for schools across the entire Upstate New York region. Its growing list of programs includes the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival, Nancy Kelly Vocal Jazz Jams and Stars of Tomorrow Cabarets, SummerJazz Workshop, Sharkey’s Interscholastic Jazz Festival, Jazz in the City, Jazz at Timber Banks, Jazz at the Sherwood, Syracuse Stage Opening Night Cabarets Black History Month Cabaret, a busy arts-in-education service, the CNY Jazz Youth Orchestra, and shows of all kinds at the Jazz Central theater. Learn more at www.cnyjazz.org