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a ‘do it again’ year, it’s a ‘do it even bigger and better’ year. Shoot for the stars in size, scope, and vision. We want to magnetize our community, bring everyone together, and bring everyone here to Syracuse to see what a great city we are.” By “everyone,” Malfitano isn’t reluctant to acknowledge that includes the sponsors, restaurants, civic leaders and businesses that benefit whenever an event as big and as popular as Jazz Fest occurs. “Let me draw by Nancy Roberts an analogy to one of Syracuse’s passions – basketball. Syracuse gets very excited about basketball season. And especially when we field a championship team. Jazz Fest is like getting to the Final Four – except it’s every year.” “In 2022,” Malfitano said, “we heard from people that they’d like to see the Fest come back downtown. And last year, Have you ever thought of a Jazz Festival as being a through Amazon, the county, and even sort of patriotic event? Malfitano has. “This is the music of the Federal government, we were able to America,” he explained. “Presenting the music of America to Harry Stojka do that. This year, we have even greater Americans – that’s Jazz Fest.” support, from of course National Grid, While also acknowledging that putting together such a huge Syracuse University, Amazon, Price Chopper, Visit Syracuse, the county, and highly anticipated event is sometimes “like giving birth the state – and so many more.” to a cactus,” Malfitano is clearly thrilled that the 37th Annual Malfitano sees an event like Jazz Fest as an opportunity to put a National Grid Jazz Fest is just a few weeks from its due date, community on the map. “Over our first 36 festivals, we pulled over one and promises to be bigger, better, and more exciting than million visitors from out of ever before. And for Jazz Fest, that’s saying a lot. town into our community. The event has always been one of the most exciting And that of course benefits “festival season” options in a city that loves its festivals. And the many restaurants and Malfitano isn’t shy about acknowledging that his aim is to be clubs and shops and hotels able to say “We’ve got it here.” in our area.” The “it” is an amazing lineup of big stage acts, smallBut in his soul, Malfitano setting groups that will rotate through the many and varied is a “presenter” as much Syracuse downtown clubs and restaurants, plus the food, as a businessman. In other drinks, friends words, a showman. His and families aim is not just to have a festival, not just to boost business, not just to provide gigs for that draw us out the many local and regional stars of jazz. It’s to wow you; to knock your socks off with of our homes entertainment. “To bring together everybody in the community with pure show-biz on a warm early entertainment of, by and for The People.” summer day to go “Imagine,” he adds, “An act like Gladys Knight is on the big stage. You’re there – in and enjoy ourselves. the audience. You look around and see your friends, neighbors, family, the larger As with so many community. Aren’t you going to feel proud and special?” things, Jazz Fest went Something must be going right, given that the Syracuse Jazz Fest is the 13th longest dark during Covid, and running jazz festival in the country, and the 24th in the world. as Malfitano explained, Part of Malfitano’s passion for the work comes directly from his own life experience. this year’s event is “Phase “I was there for so many of the stages of music from the 50s on forward – in the cities 2” of its return. Last year
Business of Interest 2023 National Grid
Jazz Fest
“This year, he explained, “isn’t just a ‘do it again’ year, it’s a ‘do it even bigger and better’ year.”
there was a
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Spyro Gyra great effort to bring the festival back after its hiatus, and it was stellar. This year, he explained, “isn’t just Tower of Power