Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival is set for Clinton Square in Syracuse in late July

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival returns to Syracuse’s Clinton Square July 28-29.

The two-day event provides the performing-arts anchor of Artsweek in downtown Syracuse, organizers said in a news release. The activity stretches from Clinton Square to the Everson Museum, with a “history of attracting over 66,000 festivalgoers to downtown Syracuse every summer.”

Organizers provided event details during a Tuesday morning news conference.

Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival will again present jazz and a “wide array of American music styles” on three stages in Clinton Square, as well as new wines provided by sponsor Palm Bay International. Besides international and regional acts plus local bands in twin party tents, the event will also serve as a showcase for the CNY Jazz Youth Orchestra, whose members hail from city and county school districts and area colleges.

“This is the 20th jazz festival we’ve presented downtown in 22 years, and we’re glad to be well into our third decade of service to downtown Syracuse,” Larry Luttinger, organizer and founder of CNY Jazz, said. “Syracuse doesn’t have to worry about losing any year-round jazz capacity while we’re on watch. We’re here for the long haul, to ensure year-round support for the jazz art form and to help Artsweek continue to grow as a regional cultural tourism magnet. Jazz, and the arts as a whole, are a huge, largely untapped economic driver for our region. We’ve worked hard to fulfill that promise by building an even bigger and better total experience for residents and visitors alike.”

This year’s acts include a quartet led by Ryan Peterson., New York City–based S.O.A.R., and Jeff Kashiwa, formerly of The Rippingtons and founder of the Sax Pack.

The festival’s talent lineup is made possible by title sponsor Berkshire Bank, returning sponsors, and public-sector support from New York State Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D–Cicero), Assemblymember Pam Hunter (D–Syracuse) and New York State Senator Rachel May (D–Syracuse).