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
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