![](http://www.syracusenewtimes.com/newyork/file-172-.jpg")
The Black Lites softly jammed in the background during the July 12 press conference for the 2012 edition of the Jazz in the City concert series. The announcement, held at the offices of the insurance company Pomco on Eastwood’s James Street (Pomco has been a series sponsor for six years), offered good news for the band, who will be playing at one of this summer’s shows.
“This is one of the best days of the year for me,” extolled Common Council president Van B. Robinson. “We are one of few cities in the country that sponsor an event like this. Instead of people coming to the event, the event comes to the people in their neighborhoods.”
Jazz in the City, now in its 11th year, will bring the free concerts to the east, west and south sides of the city. Previous editions have had four summertime shows, but one was dropped this year due to a lack in sponsorship dollars.
The lineup runs on three successive Thursdays in August, from 7 to 9 p.m. On Aug. 2, the aforementioned Black Lites will celebrate their 40th anniversary at the Dunk & Bright furniture store’s parking lot, 2648 S. Salina St. Aug. 9 features Curtis Haywood, the brilliant Brooklyn-based jazz fusion and rhythm’n’blues saxophonist, at the Pomco parking lot, 130 Grant Blvd. and James Street. And on Aug. 16, the 11-piece Alex Torres y su Orchestra (and his Latin Orchestra) will bring their Afro-Caribbean rhythms of salsa, meringue, bomba and more to Skiddy Park, 300 Oswego St. Attendees are invited to bring lawn chairs and umbrellas, but coolers and pets are not allowed.
Various sponsors spoke at the press conference, including Jim Bright, president and owner of Dunk & Bright, and Mark Cass, vice president for community engagement at ProLiteracy. Maarten Jacobs, director of the Near Westside Initiative, also works to put on the Near West Side Multicultural Block Party, an event that brings artists and vendors representing the different cultures of Syracuse together for a day of celebration. The block party runs from noon until 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 16, capped off by Jazz in the City’s Alex Torres y su Orchestra show at 7 p.m.
“This is our third year now,” a happy Jacobs said. “This event comes right where the community meets: the heart of the West Side. Not on the edges, not closer to downtown, but right in the heart. And it attracts more than 1,000 community members every year. There is no better way to end it {the block party} than with the selection of music that is very specific to the area {Alex Torres y su Orchestra}.”
In addition to the headliners, 17 inner city students will have the
chance to perform on stage with mentor musicians. The Imagine Syracuse
African Drum & Dance Troupe will also perform throughout the
series.
Central New York Jazz Arts Foundation executive director Larry Luttinger noted that more than 4,000 people will attend the free shows, 33 urban artists will be featured and 15 minority vendors will be able to sell their products at the events, free of charge. “There is so much value in terms of economic and social stimulus,” Luttinger explained. “These events help people overcome fear barriers and enjoy a healthy, positive event in family-centric places. It proves the power of cultural content.”
For more information about Jazz in the City, call 622-2249 or visit cnyjazz.org.
