The CNY Jazz Arts Foundation is warming away the midwinter blues with some jazz.
January Jazzfest is filling four levels of Mohegan Manor in Baldwinsville with a sampler of jazz artists Sunday, Jan. 25, including vocalist Nancy Kelly, saxophonist Ralph Lalama and trombonist Melissa Gardiner.
Larry Luttinger, executive director of CNY Jazz, said proceeds from the concert will go toward CNY Jazz’ educational and cultural programming.
“This is the fourth January Jazzfest and the third at Mohegan Manor,” Luttinger said. “My board of directors was searching for an annual fundraiser that was an exciting community outreach event instead of a boring banquet.”
Luttinger said CNY Jazz organizes about 150 events each year, reaching 59,000 people in 2014.
“This benefit festival is meant to support all of them,” he said.
Luttinger said part of CNY Jazz’ mission is to bring students out of the classroom to experience music in real life and “identify and nurture cultural talent.”
“We need to create new cultural consumers,” he said. “Young people will never learn how to appreciate … performing arts if they never experience it.”
Through CNY Jazz, many young people in the area are able to express their musical talents outside of schools, where some arts programs have been cut. Luttinger said CNY Jazz is a resource for young musicians “when the fire catches in the belly,” offering them opportunities to learn and perform through master classes and the City of Syracuse Parks and Recreation Department’s Stan Colella All-Star Band, a paid summer gig for 16 student musicians.
While she’s based in Rochester, Jazzfest headliner Nancy Kelly has had a long relationship with CNY Jazz, frequently performing at its Jazz Central venue on East Washington Street in Syracuse.
“Larry Luttinger is very active in keeping jazz alive in Central New York,” Kelly said. “He does a lot of things to educate young talent and educate listeners.”
Kelly said while jazz remains popular in the area, potential fans don’t always know about live, local events. She said CNY Jazz helps musicians gain exposure and a foothold in the music world.
“Artists have got to find a way to do their art, or they’ll die,” Kelly said.
She’s looking forward not only to performing but to catching the other acts as well. Kelly said she’s interested in hearing trombonist Melissa Gardiner’s performance.
“It’s nice to be able to hang out with my fellow musicians,” she said. “Jazz… is a participatory form of art. It’s about giving and receiving. It’s not just a one-way.”
As for what listeners can expect from Kelly’s swinging performance, she said, “With me, you never get to hear the same thing the same way twice.”
January Jazzfest takes place from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, at Mohegan Manor, 58 Oswego St., Baldwinsville. Advance tickets are available for $25 from cnyjazz.org or brownpapertickets.org. Admission at the door is $30 for the general public or $15 with a student ID.
