Joyce DiCamillo comes back to Syracuse to jazz up her alma mater

Joyce DiCamillo won’t put Syracuse in her rear view mirror. The noted jazz musician and educator will mix both pursuits once again when she comes back to her alma mater to preside over a Master Class and then collaborate for a concert as part of Syracuse University’s Jazz Day this Saturday, April 1. DiCamillo was…

Listen and learn with Nancy Kelly

The folks at CNY Jazz are all worked up about this weekend. Nancy Kelly is taking over their cozy downtown Syracuse theater Saturday and Sunday. The popular vocalist will host the organization’s fall Vocal Jazz Jam and Stars of Tomorrow Cabaret. Not only can guests see and hear Kelly’s distinctive voice and style, but they’ll…

Lake Street Dive unveils its Princess

The catch a rising star moment wrapped the M&T Syracuse Jazz Fet in its happy arms early Saturday night. Lake Street Dive, good to know you now. I only hope those plaques proclaiming it your day all four of you brought home, the bouquets placed in the arms of lead singer Rachael Price and bassist…

Aretha Franklin still qualifies as the Queen of Soul

The Queen of Soul still holds courts on a stage. Aretha Franklin took the 10,000 and more folks who pressed onto the campus of Onondaga Community College for her finale set of the M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest and showed them a thing or two about proper soul singing Saturday night. And it was very, very…

A Big Band jump start to the M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest

Into every M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest a little rain must fall. So it seems sometimes in the history of this big party to celebrate good music and hopefully fine times in Central New York. On the first night of the 33rd edition of the summer event on the campus of Onondaga Community College, the precipitation…

Keeping the music alive in Syracuse

Talk about a tough job. Larry Luttinger is executive director of Central New York Jazz. That’s an arts foundation in Syracuse that’s tied to public and private money. Government spending on the arts has dropped because of the economy. Corporate spending on the arts had dropped because of the economy. Luttinger is convinced that the…