Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival

This year marks the 11th that the Central New York Jazz Arts Foundation has presented jazz programming in downtown Syracuse. With the return of the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival on Friday, July 27, and Saturday, July 28, visitors can enjoy a day’s worth of arts activities before heading toward Clinton Square where three stages will feature local and international musicians. Grab a glass of wine from Mondavi, Simply Naked and Ruffino, offering wine-tasting courses that will benefit the American Red Cross, sit back and enjoy the entertainment. Food available for purchase includes gourmet offerings as well as festival fare like hot dogs, pizza and salt potatoes.

“CNY Jazz Central is thrilled once again to be part of ArtsWeek, which gets stronger every year,” says Larry Luttinger, executive director of CNY Jazz Arts Association. “This year CNY Jazz helps to build this weekend of quality arts programming with the Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival and the Stage of Nations Blue Rain Ecofest, our new collaboration with the Syracuse New Times and the Onondaga Nation. ArtsWeek is family entertainment at its very best; a high-quality signature urban cultural celebration.”

Attendees are welcome to bring a lawn chair, sunscreen, an umbrella and sunglasses. Outside food and drink are not allowed, so leave the coolers and backpacks at home; also, please don’t bring in video or audio recording devices or use cellphones to record the performances. 

Friday, July 27

Mardi Gras Pavilion

John Piazza’s Best of Blue Note Quintet
(5, 7:30 and 9:15 p.m.)

Originally from Utica, trumpeter John Piazza has studied with some of the best in the business, including Yusef Lateef and Walter Chestnut. An active performer throughout Central New York, Piazza heads an eclectic array of repertoire ensembles, including his Best of Blue Note quintet.

World Beat Pavilion

Michael & Anjela Lynn

(5, 7:30 & 9:15 p.m.)

This duo is equally at home singing smooth jazz, rhythm’n’blues or funk. Versatile and creative, they received a 2009 Syracuse Area Music Award (Sammy), along with the J Project, for Best R&B. michaelandanjelalynn.com.

Main Stage

The Black Lites’ 40th Anniversary Party
(6:30 p.m.)

This performance celebrates this legendary Syracuse band’s 40th anniversary. The Black Lites started in 1972, merging musicians from Syracuse’s East and South Sides. In 1999, then-Common Council member Mike Atkins, brother of guitarist Emmanuel Atkins, convinced the group to reunite for the Juneteenth festival. “There were 15 of us on stage,” says Eddie “Wall Street” Brown, percussionist and vocalist. “Six of us decided to take it from there and still play.” theblacklitesband.net.

Wouter Kellerman
(8:15 p.m.)

Famed South African roots and world music flutist was a late addition to the festival, but also a major one. His current U.S. tour began at the Kennedy Center in New York City and will conclude at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, with the Syracuse stop included. Kellerman won the 2011 South African Music Award (SAMA), which is considered the South African equivalent of a Grammy, for Best Instrumental Album. He also performed at the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup closing ceremony for a global audience of 700 million people. Kellerman is known for his experimentation with musical styles from the world over and his ability to creatively blend flute and other instrumental sounds with vocals. The flutist has gained a reputation as one of the most adventurous world-music performers active today and perhaps South Africa’s most well-known. He will doubtless add even more international flavor to the fest.

Gerald Veasley
(10 p.m.)

Born in Philadelphia, this bassist possesses a varied and impressive resume that includes work with Joe Zawinul of Weather Report, longtime friend and mentor the late Grover Washington Jr., McCoy Tyner, the Dixie Hummingbirds, Odean Pope, Special EFX, Joe McBride, Teddy Pendergrass, Phil Perry, Chieli Minucci, Dianne Reeves, George Howard, Philip Bailey of Earth Wind & Fire, Kenny Blake, Pamela Williams, Eric Marienthal, Onaje Alan Gumbs, Omar Hakim, and many more. Veasley was named “Best Electric Bassist” in Jazziz magazine’s annual readers’ poll and Philadelphia magazine has named his band the “Best Jazz Band.” He is the founder of Gerald Veasley’s Bass Boot Camp, now in its 13th year, which offers the ultimate experience for bassists looking to grow and develop during a weekend getaway. geraldveasely.com.

Wise Guys Comedy Club

E.S.P. with Noah Kellman
(11 p.m.)

This combo will be the house band for the Late Night Jams at Wise Guys Comedy Club, 201 S. Salina St. Syracuse-based E.S.P. plays real jazz you don’t need a GPS to follow. A quartet with a contemporary sound, E.S.P.’s music has been described as “yesterday’s bebop meets today’s modern jazz.” Their 2010 release Time’s Up (Spider Records) won a Sammy for Best Jazz Album. Pianist and composer Noah Kellman, originally from DeWitt, recently completed a two-year fellowship at the prestigious Brubeck Institute. 

Saturday, July 28

Main Stage

Scholastic Festival/Battle of the Community Bands
(noon to 2 p.m.)

The annual Scholastic Festival takes place from noon to 2 p.m., before a friendly Battle of the Community Bands takes place until 6 p.m. The Scholastic Festival will feature the Stan Colella Parks & Recreation All-Stars at noon and then the Marcellus High School Jazz Ensemble at 1 p.m. After that, the battle features The Rhythm-Airs at 2 p.m., The Jazz Cats at 3 p.m., Bevel at 4 p.m., and finally Tradewind at 5 p.m.

During the epic battle, each band will play three songs. During the last of the three, guest artist/educator and jazz bassist Gerald Veasley will join the band, and then gather reaction from the Clinton Square audience. He’ll provide feedback for the bands, with the idea of allowing the audience to participate in the inner workings of jazz musicianship. This isn’t a competition, but rather what CNY Jazz executive director Larry Luttinger calls an “open classroom” setting, one he says will benefit the bands and the crowd alike.Steve Wilson

(6:30 p.m.)

Wilson has become ubiquitous in the studio and on the stage with the greatest names in jazz, as well as achieving critical acclaim as a bandleader in his own right. A native Virginian, Wilson has brought his distinctive sax sound to more than 100 recordings led by such celebrated artists as Chick Corea, George Duke, Michael Brecker, Dave Holland, Dianne Reeves, Bill Bruford, Gerald Wilson, Maria Schneider, Joe Henderson, Charlie Byrd, Billy Childs, Karrin Allyson, Don Byron, Bill Stewart, James Williams and Mulgrew Miller.
stevewilsonmusic.com

Urban Jazz Coalition
(8:15 p.m.)

One of the hottest contemporary jazz groups to come onto the scene in some time, the Urban Jazz Coalition has been creating major buzz on the national festival circuit. The Columbus, Ohio-based group features Phil Raney on bass, Rico Adams on drums, Hector Maldonado on percussion, Richard Randolph on saxophone, Brandon Howard on keyboards and guitarist Duane Tribune. The band has performed at many of the nation’s top smooth jazz festivals, including the Seabreeze Jazz Festival, the V98.7 Detroit Smooth Jazz Fest, Jazz Fest West, and the Las Vegas City of Lights Jazz Fest. The UJC sound has been described by Jazz Times magazine’s Brian Soergel as being “flush with rhythmic grooves, funky bass lines, and beautifully written melodies.”
urbanjazzcoalition.net.

Jessy J
(10 p.m.)

With her sizzling mix of hot beats, Latin and samba rhythms and instantly captivating melodies, Jessy J proved a sensation when Tequila Moon, her debut on Peak Records, was released in 2008. The album earned the Mexican-American saxophonist/singer/songwriter the Radio & Records’ Debut Artist of the Year Award, and the title track won Contemporary Jazz Song of the Year by Billboard. The track stayed at No. 1 for eight weeks. Adding to Jessy J’s rising star was a cover story in Jazziz magazine, as well as features in People en Español and Jazz Times. The hit “Tropical Rain,” from her 2009 release, True Love (Peak), reached the top spot on the Billboard jazz charts. Jessy J’s third album, Hot Sauce (Heads Up International, 2011), spotlights her collaborations with some of today’s most prominent contemporary jazz musicians, including guitarists Paul Brown and Ray Parker Jr., keyboardists Joe Sample and Gregg Karukas, and drummer Harvey Mason of Fourplay. jessyj.com.

World Beat Pavilion

CNY Jazz Alumni Reunion
(1 p.m.) 

The band, led by pianist Noah Kellman, features young musicians who have gone through the ranks of CNY Jazz Central’s many scholastic programs, including the SummerJazz camp, the Stan Colella Parks & Recreation All-Star Band, and the instrumental and vocal Jazz Jams. 

Brownskin
(5, 7:30 and 9:15 p.m.)

Syracuse Area Music Award nominees Brownskin inspired by Mint Condition, The Roots, and Tony! Toni! Toné!, was formed in August 2007 by drummer Nate Brown. The current lineup includes Gary Carter on vocals, Joe Cummings on keyboard and vocals, John Dale on bass, Danielle Mitchell on vocals, and Ekwan Brooks onkeyboard. brownskinband.com.

Mardi Gras Pavilion

Jeff Stockham’s Jazz Police
(5, 7:30 & 9:15 p.m.)

A graduate of Syracuse University and the Eastman School of Music, Stockham played trumpet and French horn in Thelonious Monk Jr.’s “Monk on Monk” big band, which has toured Europe, Israel and the United States many times. Stockham has also backed numerous national acts including Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra Jr., Rosemary Clooney, Aretha Franklin, Harry Connick Jr., Natalie Cole, Johnny Mathis and more. jeffstockham.com.

Wise Guys Comedy Club

E.S.P. with Noah Kellman
(11 p.m.)

See Friday.