Jazz Fest founder Frank Malfitano

w/ the legendary Richie Havens  &

(equally legendary) Y94FM radio personality Kathy Rowe

 

Frank Malfitano Syracuse Jazz Fest Producer

Syracuse Jazz Fest Productions, Inc. was founded 26 years ago by Frank Malfitano in 1982 for the purpose of developing an audience for Jazz in Central NY, through the presentation of concerts, series, club events, and outdoor Jazz festivals.

Since that time, Syracuse Jazz Fest Productions has produced more than 2,000 events nationally, regionally and locally, including 37 festivals and special  events, 50 Jazz events in CNY, including 7 indoor mini-festivals, 2 concert subscription series, 15 Jazz concerts at the Landmark Theatre and Civic Center, and 26 outdoor summer Jazz festivals at the Onondaga Community College campus, Downtown Syracuse's Clinton Square Park, Longbranch Park and Song Mountain Ski Resort.

Along the way, Mr. Malfitano also created and hosted a popular weekly jazz radio program, "Just Jazz," and 2 critically-acclaimed cable TV series, "Jazz In The Park" and "Jazz Beat On Location."

In addition to his work in Central NY, Mr. Malfitano has also been actively involved with the national and international jazz scene for more then two decades and served as executive producer of the 1990 Jazz Times Magazine (International Jazz Industry) Convention in New Orleans and Associate Producer of the 1988 Jazz Times Convention in Los Angeles.

Mr. Malfitano today remains active as a featured lecturer, panel moderator, panelist, and workshop coordinator at annual industry conventions throughout the US and Canada. He is also co-founder of the Pittsburgh-based National Jazz Subscription Series Project and a past jazz advisory panelist and adjudicator for the Baltimore-based Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation.

From 1990 to 2006, Mr. Malfitano served as executive director of the Syracuse Area Landmark Theatre.

In 1997, Mr. Malfitano served as executive co-producer of the first-ever Jazz Awards at Lincoln Center.

From 2000 to 2006, Mr. Malfitano  headed the prestigious Detroit International Jazz Festival while serving as artistic director of the Detroit Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts.

He is currently the presenting manager of the Stanley Theatre in Utica NY, and serves as aan Artistic Advisor and consultant  to Arts Across Campus and Onondaga Community College President Debbie L. Sydow.

For their efforts promoting Jazz regionally, nationally and worldwide, Mr. Malfitano and Syracuse Jazz Fest Productions, Inc.  have received numerous awards, honors  and accolades, including:

  • 2008 NAACP Community Service Award
  • 2007 Syracuse Pess Club Award - "ABC's of Jazz Fest" Special produced by Tim Fox
  • 2007 OCC Trustees Exemplary Service Award
  • 2007 IAJE Special Recognition Award for 25 years of outstanding service to jazz education
  • 2006 OCC "Alumni Faces" Honoree
  • 2006 IAJE Outstanding Service to Jazz Education Award
  • 2004 Syracuse Convention & Vistors Bureau Community Service Award
  • 2001 New Orleans Mayoral Award - "Outstanding Contributions to New Orleans Music"
  • (2000,1999) "BEST FESTIVAL AWARD" Syracuse Area Music (SAMMY) Awards
  • (1999) "Chancellor's Award" - State University of New York Honor Roll
  • (1999) IAJE "Award of Excellence" - International Association of Jazz Educators
  • (1997) NYS Legislative Resolution recognizing 15 years as executive producer of a world class jazz festival
  • 1983, 1987 and 1989 public commendations from the Syracuse City Council and Onondaga County Legislature in 
  • (1992) The Cultural Resource Council's CRC Service To The Arts Award
  • (1992) Updowntowners Downtown Award of Excellence
  • (1992) The International Association Of Jazz Educators' (IAJE) Award Of Excellence
  • (1994) Syrcause Mayor's Special Recognition Award
  • (1995) Joseph Pietrefesa Foundation Memorial Award
  • (1996) Syracuse Post Standard Achievement Award
  • (1996) Syracuse Area Music Awards (SAMMYS) Hall Of Fame Award 

A partial list of the international and nationally-known Jazz artists Frank Malfitano and Syracuse Jazz Fest Productions have presented includes: Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Ray Charles, Sergio Mendes, Oscar Peterson, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, Chaka Khan, Dionne Warwick, Nancy Wilson, Lou Rawls, Ramsey Lewis Trio, The Funk Brothers, Wynton Marsalis, Weather Report, Joe Zawinul, John McLaughlin, Al Jarreau, Harry Connick,Jr., Chick Corea (Akoustic and Elektric Bands), Jean Luc Ponty, Oscar Peterson, David Sanborn, Tuck & Patti, Jimmy McGriff, Hank Crawford, Louis Bellson, Pearl Bailey, Mose Allison, Toots Thielemans, Chico Hamilton, Mark Murphy, Al DiMeola, Stanley Clarke, David Sanborn, Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, Pete Fountain, The Neville Brothers, Papa Lou Donaldson, Kevin Eubanks, The Heath Brothers, Dr. John, Michael Franks, Gato Barbieri, World Saxophone Quartet, Dave Brubeck,Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra Arkestra, Ahmad Jamal, Freddie Hubbard, Pat Metheny, Spyro Gyra, The Rippingtons, Chuck Mangione, Blood, Sweat & Tears, The Yellowjackets, Grover Washington, Jr., The Brecker Brothers, Mose Allison, Jimmy Heath, Roy Hargrove, Frank Morgan Houston Person & Etta Jones, Kenny Blake, Kenia, Laurel Masse, Treme Brass Band, Charles Earland, Jeannie & Jimmy Cheatham, Dan Brubeck & The Dolphins, Freddy Cole, Horace Silver, Courtney Pine, Kevin Mahogany, The Jazz Crusaders, Herbie Mann, Donald Harrison, Nick Brignola, Red Rodney, Little Jimmy Scott, Christian McBride, David "Fathead" Newman, Bobby McFerrin, James Carter, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, Dorothy Donegan, Rebirth Brass Band, Joey DeFrancesco, Maceo Parker, Paquito D'Rivera, Andy Narrell, Dave Samuels Caribbean Jazz Project, Dirty Dozen Brass Band , Joshua Redman, Charlie Haden, Jack DeJohnette, Tania Maria, Ivan Lins, Dave Valentine, Eddie Gomez, Stanley Jordan, Flora Purim & Airto, Kirk Whalum, David Sanchez, Leroy Jones, New York Voices, Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers, Jerry Gonzalez & The Fort Apache Band, Regal Brass Band of new Orleans, Donald Harrison, Terence Blanchard, Lizz Wright, Jose Feliciano, Jimmy Smith, Nicholas Payton, Najee, T S Monk, Hiram Bullock, Count Basie Orchestra,  Will Lee's Birdhouse, Randy Brecker / Bill Evans Soulbop Band, Jaco Pastorius Big Band, Boney James, Lee Ritenour, George Benson, Diane Schuur, Manhattan Transfer,  & Many More !