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CNY Jazz collaborates on Snarky Puppy concert

PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT:

Larry Luttinger

315-479-5299

larry@cnyjazz.org

CNY Jazz collaborates on Snarky Puppy concert

Syracuse NY – The extended “CNY Jazz Family” will enjoy special treatment and privileges surrounding the upcoming Syracuse concert by Snarky Puppy, the world’s premier jazz, funk, and world music band, five-time Grammy winner and staple of the international festival circuit. The nearly 20-strong ensemble will appear at Sharkey’s Event Center on June 25th as a stop on their 2023 world tour.

CNY Jazz donors holding “CNY Jazz Club” cards will receive $10.00 to $15.00 off advance tickets to the show for the cardholder and one companion only, and all students showing a current college or High School I.D. will gain entry to an exclusive pre-concert clinic and pre-show educational event with members of the band. All cards must be shown at the entry gate.

“We were overjoyed, stunned, actually, when the band’s promoters reached out to us to collaborate on this event,” said Larry Luttinger CNY Jazz founder and director. “To have our regional mission and our year-round programs noticed like this is a real honor, and the kids in our scholastic programs will be super excited. This is one of the highest value, unique benefits that any arts organization could hope to offer their core supporters.”

Led by bassist Michael League, Snarky Puppy has blazed a unique trail through the music world, known for their unique, totally live recording sessions with no overdubs in front of a live audience and recordings with an eclectic list of guest artists ranging from Jacob Collier to David Crosby. A musical collective, it predominantly performs with an army of musicians, from 20 to 30, including multiple brass, reeds, guitars, drummers and percussionists.

Advance tickets to the show are on sale now, and student tickets are offered at $30.00. For information on how to get a CNY Jazz Club donor card for privileges at this and other events, visit https://www.cnyjazz.org/general-donations/

If You Go

Who: Snarky Puppy

Where: Sharkey’s Event Center, 7240 Oswego Rd. Liverpool NY

When: Sunday June 25th, doors at 5:00 p.m.

Tickets: $45 to $85 Advance, $55 to $100 Door, students $30 at https://syracusetix.com/event/snarky-puppy/

Discounts: current CNY Jazz Club cards and student I.D. must be shown at entry

New CNY Jazz club series extended through summer

PRESS RELEASE

Contact:

Larry Luttinger

315-479-5299

larry@cnyjazz.org

New CNY Jazz club series extended through summer

Syracuse NY – The first season of the successful “Jazz at Timber Banks” music series presented by CNY Jazz has been extended through the summer months at Persimmons restaurant in the riverside golf community’s event facility. The series moves to Tuesdays from June 6th through September 12th with a break for the July 4th week, to coincide with the expansion of the dining schedule at the Carlton Holmes-designed lodge near their marina on the Seneca river.

“Rarely have I seen such a complete success like this in any location,” said Larry Luttinger, CNY Jazz founder and curator of the series. “Before this, Central New York north of the Thruway had no appreciable dinner-and-music options offering a wide variety of entertainment and quality dining in a spacious, beautiful environment. Customer feedback has been totally positive, and there’s no way to go but up with this; it brings a fun, family-friendly cultural experience to this part of the county. Many thanks to the Alberici family and their great staff for their enthusiasm for this partnership with our arts organization.”

As originally conceived, the lineup will continue as an eclectic sampler of all that the region’s finest artists can muster, in jazz, cabaret, funk and RnB, Latin pop, country swing, and progressive Americana styles. There is no cover charge, and individuals with CNY Jazz Club discount cards shown before ordering will enjoy 10% discounts on food and drink. All music occurs from 6 to 9 p.m. The schedule and more information is available by visiting https://www.cnyjazz.org/jazz-at-timber-banks/ and CNY Jazz Club discount cards are available at https://www.cnyjazz.org/general-donations/

Concert Schedule

June 6 Chuck Schiele’s Quatro

June 13 Stringdom

June 20 Bob Piorun Quartet with Julie Howard and Luis Molina

June 27 Julie & Rick’s Jazz Asylum

July 11 Kirsten Tegtmeyer & ESP

July 18 Drew Serafini Trio

July 25 Swing This!

August 1 Nancy Kelly

August 8 Cherie Giraud

August 15 Scott Dennis, Donna Pacini & Aaron Ruiz

August 22 Nick Fields Trio

August 29 Marianne Solivan

September 5 Vanessa Vacanti & The Jazz Mafia

September 12 Cherie Giraud

CNY Jazz scholastic pipeline returns full force

PRESS RELEASE

Contact:

Larry Luttinger

315-479-5299

larry@cnyjazz.org

CNY Jazz scholastic pipeline returns full force

Syracuse NY – Despite the hard hit by the pandemic and its negative impact on schools and families, CNY Jazz continued to present its youth programs in virtual and hybrid settings. This year, the organization’s “pipeline” of enrichment programs that follow students through grade school and into college returns full force, with the goal of full enrollment in live settings across the area.

The first to occur is the 3rd annual “Berkshire Bank Interscholastic Jazz Festival,” to take place Sundays May 7th and 21st at the newly renovated and covered Sharkey’s Event Center in Liverpool. From 3 to 8 p.m. each day, the public and band parents can enjoy free admission, Sharkey’s food, drink, and the region’s finest school jazz ensembles of all kinds: combos, big bands, even a jazz string group, accompanied by nationally renowned guest soloists who will double as master class clinicians with each group. This year’s guest teaching artists are Claire Daly, baritone saxophonist with the seminal DIVA jazz orchestra and founding member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center education faculty, and Mike Carbone, jazz studies leader at Binghamton University. “This program was born because kids everywhere were forced to rehearse 12 feet apart in school with masks and were not able to perform in school,” said Larry Luttinger, CNY Jazz leader. “Morale was non-existent, and programs were in jeopardy. When I heard this, we put this outdoor event together quickly. As it turned out, educators, students, and parents alike loved the format and setting. Now it’s a permanent fixture on the enrichment scene for the extended region.”

For over 20 years in Central New York, the last day of school in June is always closely followed by the CNY Jazz SummerJazz Workshop, where kids get to explore the arts of improvisation. Newly moved to the W. Carroll Coyne Center for the Performing Arts at Le Moyne College, the 2023 workshop will be topped off with a visit by internationally recognized jazz educator John Piazza, Jr., who will coach the program’s four combos and solo with them. Scheduled for June 26 to 29, registration is now open at https://www.cnyjazz.org/summerjazz-workshop-2023/. All those interested may visit this site for full details on the program. “We’ve turned out scores of professionals in all walks of life from this workshop, over a thousand graduates and counting,” according to Luttinger. “Every year, almost all students selected for All-County jazz groups are grads. That says something.”

The ultimate CNY Jazz pipeline program is the CNY Jazz Youth Orchestra, accessible by audition to all as a pre-professional apprenticeship program, a paying summer job for area youth, who join the American Federation of Musicians and receive prevailing rates for performing free public concerts throughout the summer. This season’s venues include Cazenovia Counterpoint, Le Moyne College, the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival, and the Manlius Amphitheater. “We prepare and follow these kids and others by helping record their college audition videos and offering letters of recommendation, a kind of ‘On Point for College’ for music,” said Luttinger. We’re proud to say that we’ve been a small part of their success in life in many fields, as professional teachers, doctors, lawyers, and more. Back in the day, even Syracuse’s famous expatriate and former Governor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe was in this program.”

The programs are supported by a large family of supporters, including Senator John Mannion, Berkshire Bank, the John Ben Snow Foundation, Mackenzie Hughes, Bousquet Holstein, Music & Arts, The Golub Foundation, Syracuse Sounds of Music Association, the American Federation of Musicians MPTF Fund (Musicians Protective Trust Fund), CNY Arts and Onondaga County, and corporate and individual scholarship donors for underserved and urban kids.

For more information on all programs and how to donate or create a named scholarship, contact CNY Jazz at 315-479-5299 or info@cnyjazz.org. Detailed program information is available at https://www.cnyjazz.org . CNY Jazz Youth Orchestra dates and times will be announced at a later date.

Saxophone phenom Chico Freeman returns to Jazz Central

PRESS RELEASE

Contact:

Larry Luttinger

441 E. Washington St.

Syracuse NY 13202

315-479-5299

larry@cnyjazz.org

Saxophone phenom Chico Freeman returns to Jazz Central

Syracuse NY – Jazz Appreciation Month just got a lot jazzier in Central New York. The touring performance schedule continues at Jazz Cenral with a return engagement by Chico Freeman and his quartet, performing at 7:30 pm on Saturday April 8th.  The saxophonist, composer, and producer is a veteran of the bands of Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, Charles Mingus, Wynton Marsalis, and countless others and is recognized as one of the most important jazz musicians of our time. He is back in the states after more than a decade working in Europe. Advance sale tickets are on sale now at www.cnyjazz.org/cny-jazz-store/ for $20.00.

This date marks Freeman’s second appearance in Syracuse and the first since his 2019 debut appearance here before the pandemic. Freeman will lead a new group consisting of the Brubeck Brothers’ Chuck Lamb, Peter Mack on bass, and drummer Harvey Sorgen, veteran of groups ranging from Hot Tuna to Paul Simon to Santana to Ahmad Jamal.

Freeman is the product of an influential Chicago musical dynasty led by his father, legendary saxophonist and NEA Jazz Master Von Freeman, and uncles, guitarist George Freeman and drummer Bruz Freeman. A master of many styles ranging from R&B to blues, hard bop to avant-garde, Chico made his bones with Memphis Slim and Lucky Carmichael, then pop and R & B greats The Temptations, Michael Jackson, The Four Tops, Jackie Wilson, The Dells, The Isley Brothers, and The Eurythmics. He has performed with such jazz greats as Elvin Jones, Sun Ra, and Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, Charles Mingus, Art Blakey, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Hank Jones, Freddie Cole, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Roy Haynes, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Sting, plus Latin greats Tito Puente, Machito, Irakere, Arturo Sandoval, Celia Cruz, Ray Barretto, Eddie Palmieri, and many others.

“Chico’s depth of talent and experience is among the heaviest on the planet ,” according to Larry Luttinger, founder of CNY Jazz and presenter of the event, which is underwritten by Mack Studios. “If you’re serious about witnessing jazz history in action, this should be a bucket list event for you. I know it’s an overused term, but this one is a must-see. Thanks so much to Peter Mack for making this happen for CNY Jazz.”

Only 75 tickets will be sold to this exclusive performance.

Who: Chico Freeman in Concert

Where: Jazz Central, 441 E. Washington St, Syracuse NY

When: Saturday April 8th, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $20 Advance, $25 Door, $10 Door with valid student I.D. www.cnyjazz.org/cny-jazz-store/

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CNY Jazz Black History Cabaret presents female double bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Larry Luttinger

441 E. Washington St.

Syracuse, NY 13202

315-479-5299

larry@cnyjazz.org

CNY Jazz Black History Cabaret presents female double bill

George Kilpatrick to receive Pioneer Public Service Award

Syracuse NY – On Sunday February 26th, this year’s CNY Jazz Black History Month Cabaret will raise the roof of the Marriott Syracuse Downtown’s Finger Lakes Ballroom with a 5:00 p.m. concert performance by Althea Rene and Jeanette Harris. George Kilpatrick, media pioneer and community affairs activist will be honored with the 2023 Pioneer Public Service Award. $35 advance sale tickets include a free buffet and are now available at https://www.cnyjazz.org/tickets/

Brackens Financial Solutions Network, LLC sponsors the event for the 15th year, with additional support from National Grid, Wegmans, WAER, UAW Region 9-NY, Visions Federal Credit Union, and others. CNY Jazz supporters Bill and Nancy Byrne have again graciously underwritten the buffet for the event, offered at no extra cost to all attendees.

The concert is a return engagement for Althea Rene, Detroit-born flutist, paired with saxophonist Jeanette Harris, dubbed the “Queens of Soul Jazz” in a rare all-female smooth jazz double bill. Rene is well-known to area jazz fans as a Motown music legacy, daughter of Dezie McCullers of the original Funk Brothers, the group that played for many Motown groups from the late 1950s through the 1970s. Harris, a native of Fresno California, is an instrumentalist and songwriter, having co-written hits with Norman Brown and Gerald Albright, with international touring experience with the legendary Teena Marie. Both artists log many thousands of miles annually, appearing in festivals and clubs worldwide.

“This by far the most groundbreaking duo we’ve ever presented to honor Black History Month and the powerful legacy of Black America’s music,” offered Larry Luttinger, CNY Jazz founder and leader. “Rene and Harris are pioneers in every way as jazz instrumentalists, singers, and songwriters, inspiring a new generation who thought it couldn’t be done. They’re already stars, and will become superstars in soul jazz for the 21st century. Come see history in the making for yourself.”

This year’s Pioneer Public Service Award will be given to radio and television host for iHeart Radio and WCNY George Kilpatrick, widely known across Upstate New York as the “progressive voice” of regional media, tireless community advocate, spokesperson for Syracuse Community Health Jazz in the City public health concert series, and founder of Syracuse’s Juneteenth celebration.

Parking is available in the garage directly to the southeast of the hotel. Patrons are cautioned that the former Hotel Syracuse garage no longer connects to the hotel via the overhead walkway.

What: Black History Month Cabaret with Althea Rene and Jeanette Harris

Where: Marriott Syracuse Downtown, 100 E Onondaga St, Syracuse, NY 13202

When: Sunday February 26th, 4:00 p.m. doors, 5:00 p.m. show

Tickets: Admission including free buffet $35 in advance, $40 at the door at cnyjazz.org/tickets or 315-479-5299.

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About CNY Jazz

CNY Jazz Central, upstate New York’s largest year-round provider of jazz and American music in public and in schools, presents more than 150 events to a total annual audience of 50,000. They include a summer season of festivals and concerts including the Northeast Jazz & Wine Fest and Jazz in the City; the CNY Jazz Cabaret Series, a busy arts-in-education service, shows at downtown’s Jazz Central theater, the SummerJazz Workshop, the Jazz at Timber Banks and Jazz On Tap Series, and other events of all kinds throughout the extended region, including shows of all kinds at their Jazz Central theater in downtown Syracuse. More information at www.cnyjazz.org, www.cnyjazzinthecity.org, and www.nejazzwinefest.org

Trumpeter Joe Magnarelli visits Syracuse

PRESS RELEASE

Contact:

Larry Luttinger

35-479-5299

larry@cnyjazz.org

Trumpeter Joe Magnarelli visits Syracuse

Touring date scheduled at Jazz Central

Syracuse NY – Joe Magnarelli, Syracuse’s world-class jazz expatriate, always makes time for his hometown when on tour. His busy road schedule includes an upcoming stop at the Jazz Central theater on Saturday January 21st at 7:30 p.m. Magnarelli, who made his bones with stints in Harry Connick’s band and the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, will front his current touring trio of luminaries, including organist Pat Bianchi, veteran of the Pat Martino and Lou Donaldson groups; Eastman School faculty Bob Sneider on guitar, and drummer Joe Strasser, former percussionist for artists as diverse as Harold Mabern, Jane Monheit, David Hazeltine, and Kyle Eastwood. All are leaders in their own right.

Advance sale tickets are available now at https://www.cnyjazz.org/tickets/

Well known to local audiences, Joe has appeared many times at CNY Jazz festivals and concerts, to play with his group, as a guest soloist with other jazz legends, or with the Syracuse Symphony and Symphoria.

“We haven’t seen enough of Joe Mags of late, due to pesky conflicts like pandemics,” according to Larry Luttinger CNY Jazz founder. “Area fans have been waiting too long for his return, so we expect them to line up for this one as well. The red carpet will be fully rolled out.”

Magnarelli’s career output continues to grow as his heavy international schedule continues into its fourth decade, including past experience with leaders Buddy Rich, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Brother Jack McDuff, Maria Schneider, Ray Barretto, his wife Akiko Tsuruga, and many groups of his own. He has recorded over 15 albums as leader and logged many, many more as a sideman.

Mask wearing is encouraged at the cozy downtown venue.

If You Go

Who: Joe Magnarelli Quartet

Where: Jazz Central, 441 E. Washington St, Syracuse NY 13202

When: Saturday January 21st, 7:30 p.m.

Cost: $25 advance at https://www.cnyjazz.org/tickets/ and at the door, $10 with valid student I.D.

January Jazzfest becomes Winter Jazzfest

PRESS RELEASE

Contact:

Larry Luttinger

441 E. Washington St.

Syracuse NY 13202

315-479-5299

larry@cnyjazz.org

January Jazzfest becomes Winter Jazzfest

CNY Jazz annual fundraiser rescheduled to February

Syracuse NY – The Seneca Savings January JazzFest, a fixture on the Syracuse area midwinter music scene since 2011, has moved to February 5th, renamed “Winter Jazzfest.” Still held at Mohegan Manor, Baldwinsville’s multi-story music venue, the event provides a full day of jazz and related musical styles accompanied by fine food and drink, serving as the annual fundraiser for CNY Jazz Central, the region’s primary provider of jazz in public and in schools since 1996.

“We’re adjusting to the longer NFL football schedule, plain and simple,” according to Larry Luttinger, CNY Jazz founder and leader. “We’ve always held this event on Pro Bowl Sunday, and when the NFL playoffs expanded last year, we felt the negative effects. So here we are, same great day of music, now in February.”

This year’s lineup features the nine-piece horn group Brass Inc playing funk, RnB, blues, and contemporary hits on the Manor’s second floor, rising star Vanessa Vacanti and the Jazz Mafia on the main floor, and Rick Montalbano and Julie Falatico curating the lineup in the downstairs bistro. The event always concludes with a celebrity jazz session. A special jazz menu and full drink selection will be available throughout the day.

“We’re going with a more fun dance party vibe this time around,” said Luttinger. “Definitely come ready to party with your best dancing shoes on. Bring some cash for our prize raffles, and remember, everyone gets a wristband for reentry, if you have to pop out for a bit. Consider this a “funraiser,” not your average rubber chicken banquet for sure.”

Proceeds from the festival will support the scholastic activities of the CNY Jazz “Educational Pipeline” of scholastic programs including the SummerJazz Workshop and CNY Jazz Youth Orchestra, as well as their arts-in-education service. A long list of corporate and media sponsors helps underwrite the annual event, including title sponsor Seneca Savings, Mohegan Manor, Riccelli Trucking, Scott Northrup’s State Farm agency, Hearth Cabinets and More, OneGroup, J.R. Clancy, Griffin Insulation, WAER FM88 and CNY Latino. This year’s commercial radio sponsor is The Dinosaur, whose on-air personalities, Bob Brown, John Carucci, and Tony Fallico, will serve as emcees.

Ticketholders will be given re-entry wristbands so that they may come and go at any time during the 7-hour day of continuous music. A “your choice” raffle will be held throughout the day. Mask wearing is encouraged but not required.

Advance sale tickets are on sale now for $25 at https://www.cnyjazz.org/tickets/ and are $30 at the door.

Schedule

Club Room (Lower Level)

1:00 p.m.  Rick Montalbano

2:00 p.m.  Julie Falatico & Rick Montalbano

3:00 p.m.  Julie, Rick & Friends

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Celebrity Jam Session

Lounge/Bar (First Level)

2:00 p.m.  Vanessa Vacanti & The Jazz Mafia

3:15 p.m. Vanessa Vacanti & The Jazz Mafia

Green Room (Second Level)

4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Brass Inc. 

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Skaneateles CNY Jazz Club series extended through March

PRESS RELEASE

Contact:

Larry Luttinger

315-479-5299

larry@cnyjazz.org

Skaneateles CNY Jazz Club series extended through March

Events will continue until lease expires

Syracuse NY – Jazz On Tap, the longest-running weekly “jazz club” offerings of CNY Jazz, was to be discontinued by Thanksgiving, due to the historic 1880 building housing the 60-tap restaurant Finger Lakes on Tap being sold. The series has been given new life, slated to continue concerts through March 2023, providing a variety of American music styles to the lakeside village until the property’s lease expires in April.

The best jazz and jazz-inflected musical groups from across the extended Central New York region including the Finger Lakes and Ithaca will appear, starting with their now-traditional “New Year’s Day Party” with Angelo Candela and his group. The remainder of the spring schedule includes veterans of the series as well as new faces, including Stringdom, Mike Houston & Sam Wynn, Julie Howard, Jimmy Johns Trio, Carol Bryant Quartet, Dan Pugh Trio, Little Jazz Trio, Bob Piorun Quartet, Edgar Pagan’s GPL, Julie Falatico & Rick Montalbano, Steve Brown Duo, and Alex Becerra & Friends.

There is no cover charge. Early arrival is recommended at the cozy two-story venue, with balcony seating available overlooking the stage.

“We’re thankful for the extension of this series, which has provided unique, regular cultural offerings for Skaneateles since 2015,” said Larry Luttinger of CNY Jazz, curator of the series. “Tom Ierardi, the creator of this venue, is to be commended for his vision and perseverance. The various club series that we present around the area are important introductions to America’s music for many uninitiated music lovers, and folks who still don’t know all that CNY Jazz does. These afternoon sessions are easy listening, engaging, exciting, and eye opening for many new to the genre. We’re sorry to see them go.”

CNY Jazz Club discount cards will be honored for 10% off food and drink at remaining events.

A complete schedule is available at www.cnyjazz.org.

If You Go

What: Jazz on Tap

Where: Finger Lakes on Tap, 35 Fennell Street, Skaneateles NY

When: Sundays 2 – 5 PM

January 1  NEW YEAR’S DAY PARTY with Angelo Candela

Jan 8 Stringdom

Jan 15 Mike Houston & Sam Wynn

Jan 22 Julie Howard

Jan 29 Jimmy Johns Trio

Feb 5 Carol Bryant Quartet

Feb 12 Dan Pugh Trio

Feb 19 Little Jazz Trio

Feb 26 Bob Piorun Quartet

Mar 5 Edgar Pagan’s GPL

Mar 12 Julie Falatico & Rick Montalbano

Mar 19 Steve Brown Duo

Mar 26 Alex Becerra & Friends

New music series coming to Baldwinsville – Persimmons Restaurant in Timber Banks to host weekly events

PRESS RELEASE

Contact:

Larry Luttinger

315-479-5299

larry@cnyjazz.org

New music series coming to Baldwinsville

Persimmons Restaurant in Timber Banks to host weekly events

Syracuse NY – The growing Timber Banks community along the scenic Seneca River will soon offer more than fine residential, golf, and boating when the “Jazz at Timber Banks” music series begins in their brand-new Persimmons Restaurant. The 21-event lineup includes the finest that the area can offer in jazz, blues, funk, Rhythm and Blues, Americana, country swing, Latin crossover, contemporary pop, and Sinatra on a schedule that runs through early May.

The series is presented by CNY Jazz Central as their newest “CNY Jazz Club” offering. There is no cover charge, and CNY Jazz donor cardholders will receive 10% discounts on food and drink at all events scheduled on Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m.

“Now the northern suburbs will have nearby access to great music of all kinds on a regular basis in a cabaret setting,” said Larry Luttinger, CNY Jazz leader and series curator. “This venue is breathtaking, the staff is wonderful, and the food and drink first class, perfect surroundings for an enjoyable midweek evening. Not that it’s too far afield for anyone; it’s only 22 minutes from downtown Syracuse, well worth the drive from anywhere. You have to see this place, it’s awesome.”

A party to kick off the series will feature area favorite Edgar Pagán and his “Grupo Pagán Lite” trio, playing pop and Latin pop selections. Free finger foods will be available that evening. After that, an diverse group of artists cycles through, including Scott Dennis, Joanna Jewett, Ronnie Leigh, Alex Becerra and Friends, Baldwinsville native Vanessa Vacanti and the Jazz Mafia, Mike Houston and Sam Wynn, Cherie Giraud, JoeZoe, ESP with Kirsten Tegtmeyer, Just Joe, Mark Nanni, Nancy Kelly, Rick Montalbano and Julie Falatico, Swing This, and Chuck Schiele’s TRIO.  The entire schedule is available at www.cnyjazz.org/jazz-at-timber-banks/

If You Go

What: Jazz at Timber Banks

Where: Persimmons, 3536 Timber Banks Pkwy, Baldwinsville, NY 13027

When: Wednesdays  6-9pm

TNT unveils next “Syracuse as Canvas” mural at Jazz Central – Live music at reception October 28th

PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT:

Larry Luttinger

315-479-5299

larry@cnyjazz.org

TNT unveils next “Syracuse as Canvas” mural at Jazz Central

Live music at reception October 28th

Syracuse NY – The second of eight murals planned for urban Syracuse by Tomorrow’s Neighborhoods Today will be unveiled with a free happy hour reception on Friday October 28th from 4 to 6 p.m. at Jazz Central, 441 E. Washington Street.

Muralist Cecily Thomas will be on hand to talk about her inspiration for “THIS MUST BE THE PLACE” the 90-foot work that spans the entire length of the west wall of the building, which houses the CNY Jazz Offices, education hub, and Jazz Central theater. Live music will be provided by Mark Hoffmann’s” Swing This!” and finger foods and cash bar will be available.

According to Thomas, “I wanted to create something bold so that you can’t help but read it. My hope is that when people look at this mural, they immediately think of all the reasons why Syracuse is such a wonderful place. I think that whether you grew up here or are a transplant, it’s easy to take pride in the fact that this is your home. Syracuse must be the place!”

City officials will be in attendance at the event, including Common Councilor Jimmy Monto, tireless advocate and President of Tomorrow’s Neighborhoods Today (TNT), who continues to lead the citywide project. From his point of view, he sees that “Syracuse is experiencing an art Renaissance of sorts, and it’s beautiful to see. These projects scream civic pride; and the support from the community has been utterly astonishing. We have to keep investing our time and resources in artists, they do what they do out of pride and love for this city of ours.” 

CNY Jazz leader and founder Larry Luttinger added, “This mural is so visually arresting, it demands your attention, with a strong, positive declaration. Many thanks to Jimmy and the folks at TNT who voted for our building as one of the eight mural locations. As the first arts center collaborating with a TNT visual artist, this amplifies our place in the cultural firmament of downtown. Soon, we’ll be serving the city’s newest neighborhood, when I-81 comes down. When that happens, we’ll be ready to serve the new “Downtown East” with cultural services, in a beautiful setting.”

Mural number 3 is currently underway on the side of the Palace Theater in Eastwood at the corner of James Street and Stafford Avenue. 

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