By Russ Tarby
Contributing Writer
Saxophonist Chris Vadala, a veteran of the Chuck Mangione band, headlines the 19th annual Jumpin’ Jazz Jam at 7 p.m. Friday, June 3, at the Liverpool High School Auditorium, 4338 Wetzel Road, in the town of Clay. The event will feature the Soule Road Middle School Jazz Band, LHS Stage Band, LHS Jazz Ensemble, LHS Vocal Jazz Ensemble and the CNY Jazz Orchestra with Chris Vadala. Admission costs $10; 453-1500, ext. 6929.
“We definitely would like to sell out the house this year,” said LHS band director Steve Salem.
No matter how many tickets are sold, Chris Vadala serves as a wonderful role model for the student musicians. A native of Poughkeepsie, he graduated from the Eastman School of Music, earning the Performer’s Certificate in saxophone as well as a bachelor’s degree in music education, received a master’s in clarinet from Connecticut College and pursued postgraduate study in woodwinds at Eastman. He now directs the jazz studies program at the University of Maryland.
Last month, Vadala made several appearances with the White House Jazz Band, and his new quartet CD, “Eastern Standard Time” (Art of Life Records), is receiving rave reviews.
Jazz in Johnson Park
The 31st annual Liverpool Is The Place Summer Concert series kicks off at Johnson Park in Liverpool at 7 p.m. Monday, June 6, with performances by local scholastic jazz ensembles. Free concerts in the park continue every Monday and Wednesday evening through Aug. 24.
Second Line Syracuse, a new brass band led by trombonist Melissa Gardiner, takes the stage at 7 pm. June 27, and Djug Django will play Gypsy swing tunes on July 18; liverpoolistheplace.com; 457-3895.
JASS Jam June 8
The Jazz Appreciation Society of Syracuse and its president, trombonist Bobby Morris, who lives in Liverpool, present their next open Jam Session from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, at the Syracuse Suds Factory, at the corner of South Clinton and Walton streets. Admission is free, and all musicians and vocalists — and especially students — are invited to sit in. The next jam session is scheduled at Suds on Wednesday, Aug. 10; 471-2253; sudsfactory.com.
Hotel Gala headliner
Syracuse’s hottest trumpeter is taking a stroll down the sweet side of the street.
Brass Brahmin Jeff Stockham, a member of the Salt City Jazz Collective, the Jazz Police, the Bear Cat Jass Band and the CNY Jazz Orchestra, has formed a new Jazz Age-style dance band — The Stock Market Swing Orchestra, which makes its debut from 9 to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 25, at “Forever Hotel Syracuse: A Historic Gala.”
The gala hosted by the Onondaga Historical Association was originally scheduled for June 4, but was postponed when renovation work lagged at the 92-year-old hotel.
Stockham’s new 11-piece ensemble includes some of the best musicians in Central New York who will perform after the formal dinner in the 10th-floor Grand Ballroom, recreating the swinging sounds of the 1920s and 1930s at the Hotel Syracuse, soon to be renamed the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.
Meanwhile, the Soda Ash Six, featuring aforementioned trombonist Bobby Morris, will entertain in the hotel lobby.
For information about the gala, call 428-1864, ext. 314, or visit cnyhistory.org/events/hotelsyracusegala/.
Syracuse Jazz Fest
Staged on a natural grass amphitheater on the campus of Onondaga Community College, in Syracuse, this two-day event is considered the largest free jazz festival in the Northeast. The 34th annual fest presents an all-star tribute to the late jazz singer Mark Murphy at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 2, featuring New York Voices, Nancy Kelly, Randy Brecker, Ronnie Leigh and Jay and Marty Ashby. Also performing that day will be vocalist Michael McDonald, The Mavericks and Notefied featuring singer Julia Goodwin.
The lineup on Sunday, July 3, is topped by Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Groove Legacy, Larry Coryell & The Eleventh House and Second Line Syracuse brass band. Philadelphia trumpeter Randy Brecker will serve as the festival’s 2016 artist-in-residence, performing at the Murphy tribute Saturday and sitting in with Larry Coryell on Sunday.
Admission is free, and parking fees range from $5 to $10; syracusejazzfest.com; 437-5627.
The Syracuse Jazz Fest is presented by artistic director Frank Malfitano, who lives in Baldwinsville.
The columnist can be contacted at [email protected].
