Salt City Summerfest starts Wednesday lunch series
PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Larry Luttinger
441 E. Washington St.
Syracuse NY 13202
315-479-5299
Salt City Summerfest starts Wednesday lunch series
Week two of outdoor pop-up festival begins jazz schedule
Syracuse NY – The Salt City Summerfest kicks into high gear this week, starting with a “Jazz Wednesday” that starts with a lunchtime concert by the Nick DiMaria Trio in Perseverance Park, the plaza at the intersection of South Salina and Fayette Street, and a 5:30 p.m. performance by the Joe Carello Trio at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown patio. The seven-week stretch of street entertainment will present a Wednesday, Friday and Saturday schedule of strolling and outdoor music and performing arts across downtown Syracuse through September 11th.
A map of all locations and weekly artist schedules are posted at www.saltcitysummerfest.org. There are several stationary locations and two strolling routes where artists will rove about serenading sidewalk dining areas one by one. The west route includes stops at Pastabilities, Kitty Hoynes, Funk n’ Waffles, Al’s Wine & Whiskey Lounge, and the Modern Malt/Sky Armory alley. The east route includes The Fish Friar, Otro Cinco, A Mano, and Luna Loca on Columbus Circle, the former Mission Restaurant.
This week we’re really entering full-time mode with a full schedule,” according to Larry Luttinger, director of CNY Jazz and architect of the festival. “Downtown workers, bring your lunches and catch Nick DiMaria on Wednesday. Nick is one of our prize grads who is now crushing the New York City scene. That evening, catch Joe Carello, who is without a doubt the area’s premier jazz soloist. Scott Dennis is at Salt City Market this week on Friday, with Sean Seals and SMX playing soul and RnB there on Saturday. This week there’s a dose of Latin music as well, with Gringa Grooves and Sebastian Escribano strolling, and there’s plenty of Americana to be had plus some Celtic music by Kyle and Dave Ossont. Toss in John Spillett’s group and Rick Balestra’s group in the Lemon Grass alley over the weekend, and it adds up to much more than its parts. Enjoy, citizens!”
Salt City Summerfest announces jazz schedule
PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Larry Luttinger
441 E. Washington St.
Syracuse NY 13202
315-479-5299
Salt City Summerfest announces jazz schedule
Marriott Syracuse downtown becomes jazz hub for citywide festival
Syracuse NY – The Salt City Summerfest launches this weekend all across downtown, including a festival-long hot spot for jazz lovers on the patio of the Marriott Syracuse Downtown, the historic Hotel Syracuse at 100 E. Onondaga Street. Performances are scheduled twice weekly, on Saturdays and Wednesdays throughout the festival. The jazz activities start this Saturday, July 24th and conclude on Saturday September 11th. All shows will take place during dining hours, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
The lineup of regional artists will play a diverse array of styles encompassing the Great American Songbook, RnB and Soul, Latin Pop, and straight ahead swing and bebop.
“How could we not build a mini-jazz festival into this extravaganza? Our name is CNY Jazz!”, commented Larry Luttinger, festival organizer. “We’ve put together a well-rounded and entertaining lineup of the region’s strongest artists, including veterans and newcomers, and a prize graduate of our education programs now working in New York City. The Marriott actually becomes an open air, pop-up jazz club for the rest of the summer, something never done before in Syracuse.”
Among the featured artists are Scott Dennis, the blind jazz baritone and protégé of Nancy Kelly; Nick DiMaria, Cicero-North Syracuse grad and alum of CNY Jazz education programs; two upstate all-star trios led by Joe Carello and Jimmy Johns, vocal jazz duos led by Mike Houston and Melody Rose, newcomer and Crane School of Music grad Andy Lawnizcak, Jazz Scraps, a trio led by Paul Merrill, jazz studies faculty at Cornell; and the debut of newcomer to the scene Cherie Giraud, singing from the Great American Songbook.
Salt City Summerfest was designed to support downtown residents, workers, visitors, businesses, artists, and restaurants through a summer without the major festivals that annually bring more than 100,000 to downtown. The full festival schedule will be announced weekly and be available at www.saltcitysummerfest.org, where a map of all locations may also be found.
Salt City Summerfest starts with a bang
PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Larry Luttinger
441 E. Washington St.
Syracuse NY 13202
315-479-5299
Salt City Summerfest starts with a bang
Outdoor pop-up festival will cover all of downtown Syracuse
Syracuse NY – Syracuse will get its first dose of big city excitement when the Salt City Summerfest kicks off on Friday July 23rd, the premier weekend of a seven-week stretch of street entertainment across downtown Syracuse that will last until September 11th.
The events will focus on support for the sidewalk dining areas of downtown during peak weekend times from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday lunch hour concerts at noon for downtown residents and workers in Perseverance Park at South Salina and Fayette streets, and in keeping with their 25-year history of providing America’s art form to the city, jazz and funk options at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown’s patio on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. There are two strolling routes where artists will rove about serenading sidewalk dining areas one by one. The west route includes stops at Pastabilities, Kitty Hoynes, Funk n’ Waffles, Al’s Wine & Whiskey Lounge, and the Modern Malt/Sky Armory alley. The east route includes The Fish Friar, Otro Cinco, A Mano, and Luna Loca on Columbus Circle, the former Mission Restaurant.
The performances of the first weekend will cover virtually every downtown sidewalk dining area with music of all kinds. “This weekend launch will be indicative of the amazing body of activity that will light up Syracuse’s downtown dining scene right into the fall,” according to Larry Luttinger, director of CNY Jazz and architect of the festival. “In one weekend, we have, are you ready for this? Mike Houston and Sam Wynn playing Soul and RnB, Edgar Pagan’s GPL Lite playing pop Latino hits, Scott Dennis crooning jazz standards, Stringdom recreating the great acoustic French jazz sound, Harmonessence emulating the New York Voices with a cappella sounds, one-man band Andy Lawniczak, Epic records recording artist Mark Hoffmann plucking and singing on traditional swing and country tunes, Greg Hoover and Tom Parker doubling down on Americana favorites, plus the John Spillett Duo and the Balestra/Colabello Duo swinging on jazz standards. Come on, man! Our area has so much talent, enough to ring downtown like a bell from end to end. And this is only week one.”
Schedules will be announced weekly and be available at www.saltcitysummerfest.org, where a map of all locations may also be found. Starting in week two of the festival, the Wednesday schedule of lunch concerts and jazz evenings on the Marriott patio will begin.
If You Go
Friday July 23rd 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Salt City Market Patio – Mike Houston & Sam Wynn
Pasta’s/York Alley – Stringdom
Strolling West – Andrew Lawniczak
Strolling East – Mark Hoffmann
Hanover Square – Greg Hoover & Tom Parker
Lemon Grass Alley – John Spillett Duo 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday July 24th 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Marriott Syracuse Downtown Patio – Scott Dennis & Friends
Salt City Market Patio – Edgar Pagan’s GPL Lite
Pasta’s/York Alley – Harmonessence
Strolling West – Greg Hoover & Tom Parker
Strolling East – Stringdom
Hanover Square – Mark Hoffmann
Lemon Grass Alley – Balestra/Colabello Duo 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Berkshire Bank Salt City Summerfest will blanket downtown with the arts
| Berkshire Bank Salt City Summerfestwill blanket downtown with the arts |
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| Pop up arts festival will enlivendowntown Syracuse through September |
| It’s going to be a long, hard summer in Syracuse. The remainder of the summer months will present an unprecedented challenge for the culture and economy of the city’s downtown business district. The benefits of the many free outdoor cultural celebrations that provide excitement and economic activity for residents, visitors, small business, restaurants, and local musicians and freelance artists of all kinds throughout the summer – festivals, concerts, special events, and fairs – are largely absent from the urban scene. The hundreds of thousands of festival goers whose spending generates significant sales tax income throughout the summer will be reduced to near zero. A second summer with no significant cultural activity is a major concern for all who depend on the vibrancy and vitality of our urban center to attract and retain employees, residents, and businesses. To meet this unique and unprecedented level of need, CNY Jazz has createda unique festival – a new, innovative, and comprehensive cultural model that changesthis paradigm completely. The “Berkshire Bank Salt City Summerfest” will deliver small, acoustic, mobile cultural content in multiple locations chosen for their proximity to key business clusters – a model with little or no need for infrastructure yet deliver the same excitement and attraction of the arts, safe, compliant, and without public health risk. “We are uniquely positioned to successfully deliver this model for Syracuse,”, said Larry Luttinger, founder and Executive Director of CNY Jazz. “Among other annual celebrations like Jazz in the Square, Jazz in the City, the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival, the 2009 Healthy Buildings International Conference, and others, we’ve presented the only festival of this kind in Syracuse’s history, the 2013 CRAVE festival and state conference, which provided downtown with a weekend with dozens of pop-up arts engagement activities. We’re really excited at being able to blanket downtown with performances for the rest of the summer and into the fall.” The event would not be possible without the strong support of a team of New York State legislators that believe in the value of the arts. Assembly members Al Stirpe, co-chair of the state’s economic recovery task force, Bill Magnarelli, and Pam Hunter have all provided support for the fest, as well as title sponsor Berkshire Bank and corporate supporters National Grid, Lockheed Martin Employees Federated Fund, C&S Companies, OneGroup, Fust Charles Chambers LLP, Bousquet Holstein, Bond Schoeneck & King, Washington Street Partners, and Critical Link. “The summer festivals, music events and cultural celebrations we have all grown to know and love were stifled by the COVID-19 pandemic. The residual effects still impact our local artists, businesses and economy even as we are in the midst of recovering,” said Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh. “The idea to offer pop-up performances to help sustain Syracuse’s entertainment industry is one that I fully support. I am grateful that the CNY Jazz Arts Foundation continues to advocate and innovate in this space, and I look forward to the Salt City Summerfest reviving our community in a much-needed way.” Al Stirpe commented, “I’m thrilled that Salt City Summerfest will fill the streets with music this summer. It’s critical that we support our local artists, restaurants and small businesses and make this a summer of revival for all. Salt City Summerfest is a cornerstone of that vision and will provide a wide variety of regular pop-up performances and activities to entertain residents and visitors alike. I want to thank CNY Jazz for organizing this innovative event series, as well as the corporate sponsors and my fellow CNY legislators, and also for helping reinvigorate our local arts community.” Bill Magnarelli echoed that sentiment, saying “Celebrating summer with the arts is a wonderful way of investing in the economic and cultural environment of Central New York. As we recover from the pandemic, Summerfest offers a unique opportunity to draw people to our parks and landmarks, while also exposing them to the vast array of the arts and artists in our community.” Pam Hunter added, “I welcome the innovative approach Salt City Summerfest is taking to bring events back to Syracuse for the summer of 2021. Their dedication to planning events in a responsible and safe manner will bring back summer activities for our community and will reengage our local businesses and artists who have had so many challenges throughout the last 15 months. I look forward to seeing which local artists will be participating.” Chris Papayanakos, regional president of Berkshire Bank, said “Berkshire Bank is excited to support this new initiative by CNY Jazz. As the title sponsor of the annual CNY Jazz Festival over the last several years this city-wide summer long event is a terrific way to celebrate the local arts as we all emerge from the pandemic.” The festival will present musicians, dancers, actors of all stripes on downtown sidewalks, in locations including Hanover Square, Armory Square, Perseverance Park, the Marriott Downtown, and Salt City Market, plus strolling musicians visiting sidewalk dining areas across the 13202 zip code. A weekly schedule will present talent on Wednesday lunch hours and Fridays and Saturdays during weekend dining times, starting Friday July 23rd during Syracuse Artsweek, and continuing through Saturday September 11th, taking the week leading up to Labor Day off. A region-wide call for talent has already been announced, and a full schedule of performances will be announced at a later date. “The element of surprise will always be in the air during these days, “explained Luttinger about the dozens of pop-up performances scheduled. “You could turn a corner or take a seat and be serenaded by a singing guitarist, a bluegrass trio, a barbershop quartet, a dance routine, a jazz group, a Shakespeare soliloquy, or a soul doowop group. Expect the spontaneous, as if you were walking New York City streets or traveling the subways. We’ll turn downtown into a street level mecca for the arts, while providing paid employment for our area’s struggling gig workers when they need it most.” All details and the ongoing festival schedule will be posted at www.saltcitysummerfest.org, and interested artists may still register at that web site. |
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Syracuse Community Health Center & 100 Black Men of Syracuse announce major vaccination effort for urban neighborhoods
PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT:
Larry Luttinger
441 E. Washington St.
Syracuse NY 13202
315.479.5299
Syracuse Community Health Center & 100 Black Men of Syracuse announce major vaccination effort for urban neighborhoods
Syracuse NY – Urban Syracuse is facing a critical public health challenge. Resistance to vaccination is persistent. Positive test rates for Central New York are nearly twice the state average, and in our city’s neighborhoods even higher, while restaurants and retail businesses are reopening rapidly. Fear of vaccination is deeply ingrained in America’s minority community. Communications with isolated residents lacking computers and transport is difficult. Something must be done.
Building on the success of last summer’s “COVID: Don’t Bring It Home” campaign, a broad community partnership led by the Syracuse Community Health Center and 100 Black Men of Syracuse has answered the call. They are mounting an innovative and ambitious public health effort called the “Syracuse Community Health Family Health Picnics”. These Sunday afternoon events will tour city parks throughout the summer months to pursue multiple goals: overcome fear, fight misinformation, provide equitable health care access, bring isolated urban residents together, lift spirits, provide family health service information, and most importantly, vaccinate urban residents.
The series will travel with a mobile vaccination and testing unit and feature exciting live music by national and regional acts, a health care village, inspirational speakers, and minority arts & crafts vendors. Major prizes, raffles, and other incentives will be offered to those being vaccinated, and every family in attendance will receive a goodie bag filled with public health information and incentives. Families will be able to bring blankets, lawn chairs, baskets, and coolers, and enjoy their afternoons in individually marked lawn spaces.
“The best way to give people the protection they need from COVID-19 is to bring information and services to where they are. The Syracuse Community Health Center Family Health Picnics are just the kind of partnership we need to increase vaccination rates and keep people in the city healthy,” said Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh. “I thank Syracuse Community Health, CNY Jazz, 100 Black Men of Syracuse and all the other sponsors for helping us beat back COVID-19. And I encourage all of Syracuse to enjoy these great events in our city parks this summer.”
A robust media campaign utilizing all traditional and social media, flyers in all Syracuse Housing Authority village and high-rise properties, geotargeted social media ads, and bulk mailings will cover Syracuse’s urban neighborhoods throughout the summer months. An informational campaign led by local media personality George Kilpatrick will blanket the airwaves and internet all summer.
Schedule:
All events are Sundays 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
June 13 Skiddy Park with Alex Torres y su Orquesta
June 27 Schiller Park with Jeff Kashiwa
July 11 Jubilee Park with U.A.D. Kings of the Fall with the Black Lites
Aug 1 Sankofa Park with the C-Jack Run Showcase and Brownskin
Aug 15 Leavenworth Park with Will Holton
Aug 22 Thornden Park Amphitheater with Eric Darius
All events are free and open to the public.
Nancy Kelly mentors aspiring vocalists at Jazz Central
PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT:
Larry Luttinger
441 E Washington St.
Syracuse NY 13202
315-479-5299
Nancy Kelly mentors aspiring vocalists at Jazz Central
Pandemic protocols in place
Syracuse NY – Nancy Kelly, Upstate New York’s jazz vocal treasure, continues to pay it forward for young and aspiring vocalists at her Vocal Jazz Jam and Stars of Tomorrow Cabaret events, scheduled for Saturday April 24th and Sunday April 25th at downtown’s Jazz Central theater. Her unique program has been providing singers with valuable coaching in a master class setting and an opportunity to perform in public with a professional trio since 2005.
On Saturday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. she will work with vocalists in a friendly, supportive master-class environment, accompanied by Rick Montalbano, former Music Director for Lou Rawls, on piano. Singers of all ages are encouraged to prepare any song from the Great American Songbook, the jazz and blues lexicon, or pop titles. They must bring sheet music.
Then at 7:00 pm the next evening, the singers from the Saturday workshop are invited back to perform their song with the CNY Jazz Trio at the “Stars of Tomorrow Cabaret”.
COVID protocols will be stringent. Each singer will be given a unique time slot and sing in a plexiglass booth which will be sanitized for each performer.
All performers will receive a video clip of their performance for self-study.
“These sessions are invaluable at a time when in-school instruction has been dramatically curtailed,” said Larry Luttinger, CNY Jazz founder. “They’re informal and fun. Professionals including Scott Dennis, Will Gorman, and Anna Vogel have come from the ranks of this program. We can’t wait to see who comes out of this program next.”
To sign up for coaching, singers must visit https://www.cnyjazz.org/nancy-kelly-vocal-jazz-jams-stars-of-tomorrow/ to register, and call 315-479-5299 to receive a coaching and performance time slot.
CNY Jazz brings LA to Syracuse for Black History Cabaret
PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Larry Luttinger
441 E. Washington St.
Syracuse, NY 13202
315-479-5299
CNY Jazz brings L.A. to Syracuse for Black History Cabaret
Dr. Sharon Brangman to receive Pioneer Public Service Award
Syracuse NY – What do you do when you can’t fly the best in entertainment to Syracuse to celebrate Black History Month? You go to them, to produce a unique and personal virtual show for the thousands who have flocked to the Marriott Syracuse Downtown for over 10 years to experience your sold-out live shows. CNY Jazz and Brackens Financial Solutions Network will bring west coast saxophone superstar Eric Darius back to Central New York via cyberspace to close Black History Month 2021 with a single show scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday February 28th. Tickets are available now for $15.00 at TIX.COM.
Eric Darius has become well known to the Syracuse smooth jazz community, having performed here multiple times under the auspices of CNY Jazz. He will produce a full-length intermission concert especially for local audiences, including sponsor, patron, and fan shoutouts. During intermission, this year’s Pioneer Public Service award will be presented to the groundbreaking medical gerontologist Dr. Sharon Brangman, Chair of Geriatrics at Upstate University Hospital, former president of the American Geriatrics Society, Director of the new Nappi Longevity Institute, and a subject of the book Triple Triumph, an account of her path to national distinction, published by the S.U. “Syracuse Unbound” imprint.
This year, patrons are encouraged to plan home viewing parties with takeout cuisine from a select group of standout local soul food, ethnic, and BBQ locations, to support restaurants hard hit by the pandemic and minority-owned businesses, including Winnie’ Soul Delicious, Creole Soul Café, Mi Casa Grande, and other select locations. These eateries will all be providing discounts on takeout orders the day of the event to ticketholders who call and order using a promo code given to them at tix.com. The list of select locations and their ordering information is available at cnyjazz.org.
This year’s musical guest artist is a giant in the jazz world. Of Haitian and Jamaican descent, Eric Darius started his stellar career as a child star, touring internationally with Sonny LaRosa’s “America’s Youngest Jazz Band.” After releasing his debut album as leader at the ripe old age of seventeen, he studied at the University of South Florida before fully launching a successful career as a leading figure in contemporary jazz. A former Smooth Jazz News Debut Artist of the Year with a No. 1 single on the Contemporary Jazz Charts, he will self-produce his upcoming virtual cabaret concert with his entire west coast band.
“Eric has graciously agreed to put in the time it takes to turn out what will be a production worthy of network TV, and it’s all for us, exclusively on our private channel,” said Larry Luttinger, director of CNY Jazz. “We weren’t about to let this pandemic slow us down when it comes to delivering America’s urban music to our loyal fans. We’re counting on their involvement to help us make this year’s event a strong bridge to better times. We’ve even got a section of our web site dedicated to how to hook up your laptops to your home TV to make this gig the centerpiece of the home watch party of the year, in celebration of Black America’s musical contribution to world culture. Like Dizzy Gillespie said, ‘No America, no Jazz.’ This is the perfect time in our history to enjoy this cultural heritage and look forward to a more unified America. This is the power of jazz in a nutshell.”
The event is underwritten by perennial title sponsor Brackens Financial Solutions Network, along with Wegmans, National Grid, Visions Federal Credit Union, and WAER FM-88.
IF YOU VIEW
What: CNY Jazz Black History Month Cabaret with Eric Darius
Where: home viewing
When: Sunday February 28th 5 p.m.
Cost: $15.00 at TIX.COM – links sent one hour before showtime
Discount Takeout Restaurants: https://www.cnyjazz.org/promotion/eric-darius-bhm-cabaret/
TV Hook Up Tips: https://www.cnyjazz.org/hook-up-hints/
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Young lions invade Jazz Central for virtual concert
PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Larry Luttinger
441 E. Washington St.
Syracuse NY 13202
315-479-5299
Young lions invade Jazz Central for virtual concert
Syracuse NY – CNY Jazz continues to supply music hungry Central New Yorkers with cutting edge jazz in their next Jazz Central Production of the season. Emerging national trumpet talent Tom Iandolo will bring his sextet into Jazz Central to record a concert for streaming on multiple nights in February spanning the Valentine’s Day weekend. Showtimes are scheduled for Friday February 12th at 7 p.m., Saturday February 13th at 7 p.m., and Sunday February 14th at 4 p.m. Tickets are available now at TIX.COM for $10.00. Links will be sent one hour before showtimes.
A native Syracusan, Iandolo is a graduate of Jamesville-Dewitt High School and Ithaca College. A protegee of jazz greats Scott Wendholt and Marvin Stamm, he had become active in the New York City club scene when the pandemic shut down music venues everywhere. For his upcoming show, he has assembled a top-flight sextet of young lions from across New York State including Dunham Hall on tenor sax, Oliver Scott on piano, Joey Arcuri on bass, Drew Serafini on guitar, and Ian Cummings on drums. Viewers can expect swinging renditions of Great American Songbook repertoire, jazz standards, and music for lovers as well, in keeping with the Valentine’s Day tradition.
“These young players will be the ones keeping the flame of America’s music alive for the future,” commented Larry Luttinger, CNY Jazz Executive Director. “It’s great to see them go from dropping in our jams and workshops to emerging as adult professionals. Your tickets to this show will amount to more than admissions. They are investments in the future of the art form, plain and simple.”
Tips on how to enjoy CNY Jazz shows by home viewing on flat screen televisions can be found at https://www.cnyjazz.org/hook-up-hints/
IF YOU VIEW
What: The Tom Iandolo Sextet: A Jazz Central Production
Where: home viewing
When: Friday February 12th 7 p.m., Saturday February 13th 7 p.m., Sunday February 14th 4 p.m.
Cost: $10.00 at TIX.COM – Links will be sent one hour before showtimes
10th Anniversary January Jazzfest now a weekend affair
PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT:
Larry Luttinger
441 E. Washington St.
Syracuse, NY 13202
315-479-5299
10th Anniversary January Jazzfest now a weekend affair
Virtual festival and VIP watch party options
Syracuse NY – Serious fans of America’s music will be relieved to know that the Seneca Savings January Jazzfest will be back for its 10th Anniversary at Mohegan Manor in Baldwinsville, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday January 30th and 31st. A double bill featuring nationally recognized acts will appear each day of the virtual event. Private VIP dinner watch parties will take place at Mohegan Manor through the weekend as well. Tickets are on sale now at tix.com for $15.00 per day or $25.00 for the entire event, and all details about the shows and watch parties may be found at www.cnyjazz.org.
Saturday’s show kicks off at 7 p.m. with the eclectic blues, funk, roots music and Americana of Mark Nanni & The Intention, followed by the horn-driven neo-soul and blues of Miller & The Other Sinners expanded band. Sunday’s double bill opens at 5 p.m. with pianist Chuck Lamb of Brubeck Brothers fame, topped off by KJ Denhert’s unique brand of funky “urban folk”.
Viewers will have the option of saving their ticket cost and viewing either or both days for free by attending VIP dinner watch parties at Mohegan Manor, the festival’s traditional host venue, where the shows will be cast to big screen TVs with enhanced audio. Table reservations for parties of up to four may be made by calling the Manor at 315-935-6866 or emailing moheganmanor@yahoo.com to reserve a table and choose menu selections for a fixed price of $45.
“We’re full speed ahead and presenting fine music for everyone at a time when we all need its communal, healing power the most,” said Larry Luttinger, Director of CNY Jazz. “We realize that everyone is in a unique situation, so we’ve built maximum flexibility into this year’s fest. Each day’s schedule is a little over two hours long, to fit a home watch party dinner or the private dinners at Mohegan. Whatever your comfort level or cuisine of choice, it’s here for you to mix and match. Go all virtual, all live to enjoy the Manor’s high-end cuisine, or choose a combination of the two. Add four nationally respected acts that we’ve presented on our major festival stages in the past, and you’ve got a party for sure. So buy local, support the arts, and have a ball watching this festival.”
Mohegan Manor has designed a special prix fixe festival menu including prime rib, pork osso bucco, wild mushroom ravioli, baked salmon, and chicken marsala for the private parties, which will be seated at large, well-distanced banquet tables with a maximum groups of four. A 100% mask requirement when not seated and dining will be in effect, and the facility will be disinfected daily.
Virtual tickets will only be available until 75 minutes before showtimes, with links sent one hour before show times.
IF YOU VIEW OR ATTEND
What: The Seneca Savings January Jazzfest
Where: home viewing or private watch parties at Mohegan Manor in Baldwinsville NY
When: 7 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. Saturday January 30th, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday January 31st
Tickets: $15 per day or $25 full festival at tix.com available until 75 minutes before showtimes, links sent one hour before showtimes
Dinners: Call 315-935-6866 or email moheganmanor@yahoo.com for reservations and menu selections in advance (no walk-ins), prix fixe $45 includes salad and breads
CNY Jazz gathers heavyweight talent for New Year’s Eve special
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Larry Luttinger
441 E. Washington St.
Syracuse, Ny 13202
315-479-5299
CNY Jazz gathers heavyweight talent for New Year’s Eve special
Syracuse NY – While nesting safely at home, area music fans who usually go out won’t be deprived of local music to ring in the New Year. To alleviate their isolation and provide a dose of family-friendly excitement, CNY Jazz will present a celebration by the region’s top jazz and cabaret talent in a virtual New Year’s Eve Special featuring a lineup of major artists known across upstate New York. The show is scheduled to go live at 7 p.m. December 31 and will stay accessible through the next day, for those on the front lines who may have to work the night before. Tickets are available now at tix.com for $19.95. Purchasers will receive a private link one hour before showtime.
Standout artists of all stripes, from career veterans to newcomers, will share their interpretations of holiday songs in performances recorded live at Jazz Central. Ronnie Leigh, Nancy Kelly, Scott Dennis, E.S.P. with Vanessa Vacanti, the heavyweight vibes trio of Joe Carello, Jimmy Johns, and Tom Brigandi, and pianist Dan Pugh will all contribute their unique takes on a wide range of holiday repertoire to the show.
“What’s the showbiz term for this kind of thing, a cavalcade of talent, perhaps?” commented Larry Luttinger, CNY Jazz Executive Director. “We’ve had so much fun putting this together. I can’t thank these artists enough for coming in to donate their talent. This show is all about how generous and resilient artists are, and how much they are moved to share the joy and inspiration of their songs with everyone, at a time when we need it most. I’m not mincing words when I say that artists are in the struggle of their lives right now. When the smoke clears and we can meet in person again, remember the heart that they put into this show and everything they do, and support our efforts, now and going forward.”
The presentation will also include retrospective video from the CNY Jazz Orchestra, recorded live at the Persian Terrace of the old Hotel Syracuse, and selections by the CNY Jazz Vespers Quartet. Of note is the professional debut of Vanessa Vacanti, daughter of E.S.P. founder and bassist Matt Vacanti, who will contribute a special tune for all those who can’t be together and for members of the armed forces everywhere.
IF YOU VIEW
What: A CNY Jazz New Year’s Eve Special
Where: home viewing
When: 7 p.m. Thursday December 31
Tickets: $19.95 at tix.com (link will be emailed one hour before showtime)
