Frank Malfitano (right) poses with legendary guitarist, Richie Havens and wife, Kathy Rowe.
Photo Courtesy of syracusejazzfest.com

Syracuse JazzFest Keeps Going During Rough Patch

Festival's Creator, Frank Malfitano Endures Throug Tough Economic Times.

by Mike James
smoothjazzandmore.com

June 1st, 2009

My first visit to the Syracuse JazzFest was in 1998, when it was at Clinton Square in downtown Syracuse.   That year, I was treated to viewing two of my favorite jazz artists, guitarist Lee Ritenour and saxophonist Boney James.   In later years, I watched the legendary pianist Dave Brubeck on a Friday night in 2000.   The next night, I watched the incomparable Ray Charles play to an estimated 10,000 fans.   

Now in its 27th year, the festival continues to thrive at its new home on the Onondaga Community College.  It’s a much larger and accessible venue than its previous home in downtown Syracuse.  I talked to the creator of the festival, Frank Malfitano, who was there for all 27 editions. 

This is a tough year for jazz festivals nationwide.  For the first time in 37 years, there will be no JVC Jazz Festival in New York.  The festival’s main sponsor, JVC pulled out due to the economic downturn in the country.  Other events that have cancelled this year were the Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals. 

Malfitano’s festival also had difficulties with funding this year.  In March, they had an $80,000 dollar shortfall, coming short of their $280,000 dollar goal.

In years past, private & corporate companies have contributed approximately 50% percent of the festivals donations.  This year, that number was down to about 20% percent.   The festival’s saving grace has been contributions on the county and state level.

“We got lucky.  We had a good friend in Albany, (State) Senator Dave Valesky…who managed to raise $50,000 dollars in state funding for this year’s festival, and the county (Onondaga) really came through in a big way with the bulk of the funding.”

With this year’s festival ready to go, Malfitano is looking cautiously optimistic about next year. 

“Right now it’s probably about 50/50 at this point, and that’s kind of scary and disappointing for us...it’s a festival that a lot of people enjoy going and look forward to…its become culturally and socially and maybe even politically and racially a very important festival to go to in terms of bringing people together.”

For a full schedule of events, go to SyracuseJazzFest.com

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