CNY JAZZ 14TH SEASON:
CNY Jazz Central has brewed up a potent concoction of the best in jazz and blues for Central New Yorkers. This season will satisfy the palate of anyone with a taste for America’s music — or just an appetite for something new. Three CNY Jazz Orchestra concerts are offered with a total of five guest artists, an annual Black History Month Cabaret, Scholastic Jams and a Vespers Series. A fundraiser for the organization’s downtown theater, Jazz Central, opens the season. Exclusive discounts and free offers are also available to subscribers. CNY Jazz is also programming the new “Everson Uncorked!” wine and jazz series. Individual subscriptions are now available as low as $74 by calling 479-5299 or visiting www.cnyjazz.org.
“We have pulled out all the stops this year to create a season as exciting as any we’ve offered, without raising prices a cent,” said Larry Luttinger, director of CNY Jazz. “We’re presenting shows ranging from the blues to modern mainstream, swing era nostalgia, intimate cabaret and spiritual themes. Jazz belongs to every American, and our mission is to widen the audience for this welcoming and diverse music. It’s more affordable than going to the movies and buying snacks. This year, we’ll also be inviting all of our concert patrons to The Mission Restaurant on Columbus Circle for after-concert parties to meet our guest artists and musicians. Exploring the world of jazz will never be so much fun and affordable.”
An exclusive ticket discount to the S.U. Pulse Series Chris Botti concert is also a benefit to season subscribers, as well as a “buy four, get the 5th and 6th subscription free” offer.
“We are issuing a challenge to our present subscribers to help us enlarge the jazz family,”Luttinger said. “Jazz audiences nationally are beginning to shrink, and there is simply no good reason for that to happen. We need our subscribers to consider themselves disciples of the art form to help us bring in new eyes and ears. We live to hear the news that first-time participants emerge from our concerts energized and entertained.”
For more information about any show, call CNY Jazz at 315-479-JAZZ (5299).
CONCERT SEASON EVENTS
Sunday Oct. 4
BROADWAY CABARET
To benefit the Fund for Jazz Central
Shows at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
We celebrate downtown’s busiest theater with a season opening cabaret benefit dedicated to supporting our unique facility. Rarely Done Productions will produce these intimate shows, each pairing veteran performers with our finest stars in the making. There’ll be plenty more fun and games to be had at the shows too. Help CNY Jazz kick off the season in style and catch the finest of the Great American Songbook, interpreted by the region’s finest triple threats. DONATIONS IN EXCESS OF TICKET PRICE ARE FULLY DEDUCTIBLE!
Sunday Oct. 25
CHRIS BOTTI
Goldstein Auditorium
2p.m.
Due to the generosity of our friends at Syracuse University, we are able to offer this incredible value to our season subscribers. Chris is the hottest ticket in the country these days, recently selling out the Stanley at prices up to $67. Garnering a Grammy for his duet recording with Sting, this gifted instrumentalist, talented composer and charismatic performer is the leading standard bearer for the art form.
What an opportunity! Take advantage of this EXCLUSIVE offer to our subscribers.
CNY JAZZ ORCHESTRA CONCERT SERIES
Friday Oct. 30
CNY Jazz Orchestra “Legends of Upstate New York I”
STEVE BROWN and JOE RIPOSO
8 p.m.
Carrier Theater
To residents of the Big Apple, Upstate starts in Westchester, right? We thought we’d correct this peculiar myopia by showing off the finest exponents of jazz who just happen to live across our region, home and birthplace of many of the finest practitioners of the art in the world — the ones tough enough to take a little snow and laugh it off. We’ve paired Syracuse’s own Dean of Jazz and Syracuse University prof Joe Riposo with Ithaca’s signature musician and educator Steve Brown in a powerhouse “twofer” that will feature them and their original writing, individually and together. Double the trouble for a single price! Such a deal.
Saturday March 20
“I Had The Craziest Dream”
Tribute to Harry Warren
DAVE BERGER, guest conductor
8 p.m.
Carrier Theater
The legendary Harry Warren is the second most published and recorded songwriter of the 20th century (after some guy named Irving Berlin). Equally legendary is composer and arranger Dave Berger, recipient of seven National Endowment for the Arts fellowships, transcriber of nearly 500 works by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, close compadre of Wynton Marsalis, founding conductor and arranger of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, adjudicator of the Essentially Ellington competition, and leader of the Birdland-based Sultans of Swing. His music is played by hundreds of bands every day all over the world, and we thought Syracuse should finally follow suit. A select CNYJO Octet will interpret Dave’s current recorded tribute to Warren. Let’s all get wild about Harry!
Saturday April 24
CNY Jazz Orchestra “Legends of Upstate New York II”
JOE MAGNARELLI AND BILL DOBBINS
8p.m.
Carrier Theater
Further proof that upstate grows the greatest talent in jazz is not necessary, but in keeping with our theme, we present bookend appearances by Syracuse’s finest jazz trumpet export, Joe Magnarelli, and Rochester’s international jazz commodity, Bill Dobbins. They floored our summer festival audience in Clinton Square, who clamored for a reprise by this dynamic duo, so we gladly complied. Complete bios would fill volumes, so just try to match the association with the guest artist: WDR Big Band, Ray Barretto, Metropole Orchestra, Lionel Hampton Orchestra, Eastman Jazz Ensemble and Studio Orchestra, Harry Connick Jr, the list goes on and on. Take that, Manhattan.
PASCALE BLACK HISTORY MONTH CABARET
Antoinette Montague
Persian Terrace, Hotel Syracuse
4 p.m. doors
5 p.m. music
6 p.m. SHOWTIME
Walk into Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, a Dr. Billy Taylor gig, the Blue Note, or maybe a Harlem Jazzmobile concert, and you’re liable to encounter the incomparable Antoinette Montague, pride of Newark EnJay. Once again, Brackens Financial Solutions Network will make it possible for us to bring a bona fide blues and jazz legend to the Persian Terrace for our annual celebration. Think Etta Jones — only sassier! For newcomers, note that an affordable food station menu and cash bar are available once inside. This year’s event happens to be right on Valentine’s Day as well. Think couples night out! CNY Jazz Arts Foundation creates the only cabaret lounge in Syracuse, just once a year, with the help of Pascale’s.
Everson Uncorked!
A new venue for downtown Syracuse, opening soon at a museum near you –our very own Everson! “Everson Uncorked” will follow the trend set this summer with the Jazz & Wine Fest, continuing along the same vine — er, vein.
Great wines and great jazz go together — so go together to check out this new scene. Admission is FREE! Put Oct. 16, Nov. 20, and Dec. 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. in your books right now and plan on sensory overload at its finest, feasts for the senses in the Sculpture Court of our very own I. M. Pei edifice. Don’t forget that these dates are during the “TURNER TO CEZANNE” Exhibition. $15 will gain you entrance to this show of masterpieces, $10 for Everson members. For more info just visit www.everson.org. [email protected] and requesting it.
The CNY Jazz Arts Foundation
Is the primary provider of jazz programming in concert, cabaret and scholastic settings for the extended Central New York region, presenting over 150 events in public, in schools, and at Jazz Central, the country’s second jazz arts and education center. For complete information on all events and activities, visit cnyjazz.org or call 479-5299
