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Last Look at Some Sights, Sounds of 2016 Jazzfest

Trombone Shorty closed out the 2016 M-and-T Syracuse Jazzfest last night at Onondaga Community Colelge.  The New Orleans musician played with his up-tempo Orleans Avenue and had much of the crowd on its feet call and response singing and enjoying an elaborate light show to go along with the music.

Before Shorty, Guitarist Julian Coryell led the group Eleventh House.  He played this number honoring his father, Larry Coryell who had to cancel the jazzfest appearance after complications from a medical procedure.  

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Julian Coryell stepped in admirably with his father's group, showing his virtuosity.

The younger Coryell joined legendary Alphonse Mouson and the event’s musical leader Randy Brecker in a fusion jazz set.

The main stage also featured Syracuse native Paulie Cerra on sax with the group Groove Legacy.

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Groove Legacy came together a couple of years ago but, Cerra says, was making its first festival appearance at the Syracuse Jazzfest.

He says the musicians in the L-A area got together to write original music inspired by grousp such as the Crusaders and the J-B horns.

"We were very purposeful in our writing not to copy things but to be inspired by them and do our own take on this music.  You see all these tribute bands.  We didn't want to do anything like that, but we really wanted to honor the bands that we love."

He recalls getting a boost in his musician interest listening to Jazzfest founder frank malfitano on a radio show more than 20 years ago...and is playing Syracuse with his group for the first time.

"But to do it on the Jazzfest stage with Frank (Malfitano), I mean Frank is like my dad.  As a matter of fact on my solo record I thanked him as my musical father.  And to come back here with his love and admiration for us, and to really put out a great show for him, in my hometown, is awesome."

This was the 34th Syracuse Jazzfest.  Michael McDonald headlined the event Saturday, which also had a tribute to local music icon Mark Murphy.

Chris Bolt, Ed.D. has proudly been covering the Central New York community and mentoring students for more than 30 years. His career in public media started as a student volunteer, then as a reporter/producer. He has been the news director for WAER since 1995. Dedicated to keeping local news coverage alive, Chris also has a passion for education, having trained, mentored and provided a platform for growth to more than a thousand students. Career highlights include having work appear on NPR, CBS, ABC and other news networks, winning numerous local and state journalism awards.