Opening night club lineup set for National Grid Syracuse International Jazz Fest

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — More than 25 Syracuse–area jazz groups will appear at 21 downtown clubs on June 26 for opening night of this year’s National Grid Syracuse International Jazz Fest.

The groups will be performing from 5-10 p.m. on opening night, per the announcement. The five-hour opening night timeframe is a two-hour reduction from the4-11 p.m. schedule of the last two years.

Frank Malfitano, Jazz Fest founder and executive producer, announced that a host of new artists have been invited to perform in 2024 to help provide exposure to younger artists, and artists that have not previously appeared at the festival.

As in years past, artists with Syracuse ties will be returning to their hometown for this year’s festival. They include trumpeter Wayne Tucker and saxophonist Miles Tucker;vocalist Marissa Mulder; trumpeter Joe Magnarelli; and vocalist, author, and educatorTish Oney, who will be bringing in her Centennial tribute to the late, great “Sassy” Sarah Vaughan.

In addition, a number of other Syracuse–area artists and groups will be making their Jazz Fest debut this year. They include Mark Nanni & The Intention; Ithaca’s 18-piece Ageless Jazz Band; the Michael Passarelli Jr. Trio; Colleen Prossner & Friends; Dave Solazzo & The Bridge; the Drew Serafini Trio; the Scott Rutledge Quintet; the Latin Groove Connection (featuring Syracuse jazz great Joe Carello); and the Brian Sherer Quartet.

As announced back in March, saxophonist Kenny G; Canadian singer-songwriter Gino Vanelli; R&B group The O’Jays; and The Mavericks will headline this June’s National Grid Syracuse International Jazz Fest.

For the third straight year, Price Chopper / Market 32 is sponsoring Jazz Fest Opening Night, with additional GRACE Grant support being provided through the CNY Arts Council, Malfitano said.

A complete schedule of performance times and locations is available at the Jazz Fest website (www.syracusejazzfest.com) or www.VisitSyracuse.com and the CNY Arts calendar, per the announcement.