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Appreciating the Good Things at Jazz Fest

Pondering the M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest on the Monday after ...

The 33rd edition once again brought big and diverse crowds to the rolling hills on the campus of Onondaga Community College to appreciate what we've got going on for us around here.

Yes, it sounded like a success. The deck was stacked artistically for this 33rd edition by founder and artistic director Frank Malfitano as he scheduled two superstars as his headliners.

Sure enough, trumpet player and jazz ambassador Wynton Marsalis, the intelligent and well-spoken man from a first family of music in New Orleans figuratively stood tall from his player's seat in the back row to introduce his many standout musicians in the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. And they all did what really great big bands can do: mix and match and merge their instruments on great charts, allowing everybody sprawled or jammed in front to free your mind  and soul to join the journey. Before that, Buckwheat Zydeco and his band had partied like they do 130 miles down the road in Lafayette, La., coaxing much dancing in the crowd.

Rain? What rain?

Add the opening scholastic mastery that Joe Carello drew from the City of Syracuse Parks & Rec Stan Colella All-Stars and second-set cool from Charlie Bertini and the Central New York professionals he stacked up for his AppleJazz collective, and it was a fabulous Friday indeed. The abundance of food trucks helped as well. My all-in Stromboli from Peppino's hit the spot. Sitting on the pavement up front as they set up the stage for the 17 musicians of the big band finale, I watched the Price Chopper Fireworks low in the sky to the left of the stage. A nit-pick, perhaps. But if people hadn't of belly-ached of long lines and too few choices last year, there may not have been double the amount of food trucks selling their specialties this year.

Saturday, the sun mostly shined despite lingering forecasts for showers that may hang around and thunderstorms that could pop up from the high-80s heat and humidity. And crowds filed in robustly to see a legend and new blood.

Aretha Franklin at 73 was everything music lovers could hope for, strong and vibrant and engaging and obviously loving her crown as the Queen of Soul. Her voice soared over the campus, and everybody was lucky to be there to witness what she still is after a half-century of leading-edge beauty. Before that, Boston band Lake Street Dive, led by front woman Rachael Price, demonstrated the chops to capture hearts and souls of a big chunk of generations to come. It was mightily pleasing to watch the younger people press up along the sides to sing along with their own stars. Opener Notefied had connected the dots of then and now well, too, playing well both classics like "Birdland" and new stuff like "What about Banky" from Snarky Puppy. And Danny D'Imperio, drummer of international clout from Cortland, connected world and local acclaim with his roster of talent.

Yes, unity. A pretty great theme for the two days on the hills at the edge of Syracuse. Peaceful and happy and side-by-side.

Which brings me to something Malfitano said over the microphone for all to hear as he introduced the superstar closing set by Franklin. The media wants us to think that we're disassociated from each other, the founder and executive director said --  and I'm paraphrasing because I was too surprised to write it down -- but this proves that we're all together. He pointed to the crowd. As for this member of the media, I don't think any of the local outlets want the citizens of Central New York to think that we're better off fragmented than whole, and I'm pretty sure most of the reporting I've seen about national gulfs between races and religions has subsequently  included reports about the cooperative methods of healing after the details of bad acting and resulting unrest  from upsetting and tragic news. Maybe I'm watching or reading different accounts than Malfitano.

We live in unsettling times, indeed. Regardless, I'm pretty sure there were 100 more harmonious possible introductions for the executive director  to illustrate the good his fest does than that one.

The momentary smoke coming from my ears did clear in time for me to thoroughly enjoy Franklin's set.

If you attended the festival, what are your opinions about the event?
 

Mark Bialczak has lived in Central New York for 30 years. He's well known for writing about music and entertainment. In 2013, he started his own blog, markbialczak.com, to comment about the many and various things that cross his mind daily.