BALDWINSVILLE — Drew Serafini is following in his father’s fret-steps.
Yes, Drew, who teaches music in the town of Clay, is a professional guitarist just like his dad, Larry Serafini of Camillus.
The elder Serafini was inducted into the Syracuse Music Awards Hall of Fame in 2008 as a member of the 1970s rock band, Dove. The younger Serafini graduated from Ithaca College’s School of Music in 2010 before pursuing his professional jazz career.
Drew took up the six-string about 20 years ago, when he was 13 years old. He studied classical guitar in college but he also took private lessons from retired Ithaca College jazz guitarist Steve Brown.
An unusually versatile musician, Drew teaches guitar, bass, mandolin and ukulele at Music & Arts, 4106 Route 31 Suite 901, in Clay. He has taught students of various levels there since 2017.
“I believe that students of all backgrounds have the ability to make music,” Drew said.
This coming Sunday at the 10th Annual Seneca Savings January Jazzfest in Baldwinsville, Drew will front a jazz trio also featuring saxophonist Dunham Hall and bassist Brian Miller. The Drew Serafini Trio will perform at 2:15 and 3:30 p.m. in the first floor barroom at Mohegan Manor, 58 Oswego St. in B’ville.
Brooklyn belter Marianne Solivan will headline the day-long festival at 4:30 p.m. in the manor’s elegant Morris Ballroom on the third floor. Solivan, who’s now teaching at Syracuse University, will be accompanied by regional luminaries Rick Montalbano, Tom Brigandi, Jimmy Johns and Joe Carello.
Advance-sale tickets for the all-day event cost $25 at cnyjazz.org. Admission at the door costs $30. The mid-winter jazzfest is hosted by CNY Jazz Central (315-479-JAZZ).
Drew Serafini is pleased to returning to the festival after participating in its jam session in 2018.
As a teacher and a player Drew strongly encourages getting onstage experience whenever possible.
“Getting actual experience on a gig or at a jam session is better than any jazz class you could ever take,” he said.
And he also walks the talk.
“I’m so glad that the Sunday afternoon jam sessions are back at Funk ‘n Waffles downtown,” he said.
In recent years, Drew has led a trio at a wide variety of venues, including The Fitz in downtown Syracuse, Monk’s on the Commons in Ithaca and the Green Gate Inn in Camillus. He has also worked as a duo with Connecticut trumpeter Nick Di Maria.
In the trio format, Drew is more structured than when he’s jamming.
“I expect we’ll play mostly standards at the manor,” he said. “But I’ll write the sets to feature my fellow musicians, in this case Dunham Hall on the reeds and Brian Miller on bass, so we’ll choose tunes they like.”
Drew possesses a vast knowledge of the jazz repertoire, everything from Goodman’s “Stompin’ at the Savoy” to Charlie Parker’s “Ornithology,” from The Clovers’ “One Mint Julep” to Jobim’s “One-Note Samba.”
As varied as his taste in tunes, Drew enjoys having a choice of instruments. He excels on archtop and flat-top acoustic guitars, 12-string electric guitar, Gibson ES-335 and ES-125 and a he especially appreciates the sound he gets from Fender amp and baritone guitar unit.
