by Nikki M. MascaliStaff Writer
Jazz certainly has deep roots, but they aren’t just relegated to dark and smoky New York City or Chicago bars and clubs. It’s a genre that is considered quintessential American music.
“You say jazz in Europe, and it’s a very significant identification with America and democracy,” explains Marko Marcinko, who founded the Scranton Jazz Festival.
The festival, which takes place this Friday-Sunday, Aug. 7-9 at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel, will celebrate its fifth anniversary this year — and celebrate Scranton’s own deep-rooted jazz past.
In the 1930s, legendary jazz musicians Tommy Dorsey and Jimmy Dorsey regularly performed with the Scranton Sirens Jazz Band. Now, some 70 years later, the closing of this year’s Jazz Festival will pay homage to that very epoch.
“It’s a tribute to the Big Band Era,” Marcinko says. “We’ll be celebrating 100 years of Benny Goodman. We’re going to pay tribute to Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller — any of those greats that were a part of the Big Band era.”
While those Big Band legends will be there in spirit on Sunday night, renowned festival headliner Chuck Mangione will be there in the flesh — with his trumpet.
“Having a headliner this year like Chuck Mangione on Friday night is very significant,” Marcinko says. “That’s a huge piece of what we’re trying to do to get the international attention that we’re getting.”
No generation gap
Five years ago, the Scranton Jazz Festival began with 300 people under a tent in Nay Aug Park. Last year’s Friday night headliner Spyro Gyra had a crowd of 1,200, and Marcinko estimates the rest of the weekend saw another 1,000.
“It varies from students to grandparents. We have three generations being represented because the music reflects that in our society,” he says. “The music is ageless. The music is historically a part of the fabric of American culture.”
And it’s music that will be carried on by the younger generations. An important part of the SJF is its educational component, in which students attend the week-long Jazz Institute at Keystone College to learn the skills necessary to perform jazz, blues and world beat music. The students perform on Sunday afternoon, and Marcinko says this year’s attendance is the institute’s largest yet.
“It’s also opened for amateur and semi-professional musicians, anyone who wants to gain better skills in the language of jazz,” he says. “We’re very opened to anyone who wants to attend — we have a real nice cross-section of Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Pike and Monroe County students who carry the ball into the future so they’re very significant.”
Not just all that jazz
Other notable jazz musicians that join Mangione at the SJF include The Ellington Legacy, which features Duke Ellington’s grandson Edward Kennedy Ellington II; The Absolute Trio, whose members have worked with Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra and more; Nilson Matta and Brazilian Voyage; and Marcinko’s own Latin Jazz Quintet.
But it won’t be just jazz: Festivalgoers will also hear blues, funk and world beat music and browse many food, jewelry and art vendors.
Despite the state of the economy, ticket sales for SJF have been brisk, says Marcinko.
“We felt that the economy was going to be hard on us this year,” Marcinko shares, “but we stayed focused on our fundraising, getting the information out to the public and programming that could appeal to a large cross-section of individuals that appreciate music.”
Adding to the festival atmosphere is the jazz walk, which takes place Friday and Saturday after the main stage performances at various downtown Scranton venues including Merts, Alfredo’s and Northern Light Espresso Bar.
“We’re talking about venues that might not have music all the time getting the exposure now because of what the festival is bringing,” Marcinko says. “(The Jazz Walk has) sort of developed itself into a sister component to the main stage.
“The streets were so busy last year with people walking from place to place, it looked like Philadelphia meets the East Village (in New York City).”
When asked what his favorite part of the Scranton Jazz Festival is, Marcinko pauses for a moment before answering.
“I like seeing it all come together. I like seeing the nuts and bolts really forming, and Friday night, when Chuck Mangione takes the stage and we have a packed house and the lighting is done wonderfully and the sound is killing and the food is delicious and everyone is smiling and happy, that’s my reward, that’s my favorite part.” w
Scranton Jazz Festival, Friday Aug. 7-Sunday Aug. 9, Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel (700 Lackawanna Ave., Scranton). Tickets: Friday, $30 for Chuck Mangione and Jazz Walk; Saturday, $25 for main stage and Jazz Walk; Sunday, $25 for main stage and Jazz Walk; Saturday and Sunday two-day pass $45 for main stage and Jazz Walk, available in advance at Gallery of Sound or at gate all weekend.
• Friday: The Marko Marcinko Latin Jazz Quintet, 7:30 p.m.; Chuck Mangione, 8:30 p.m.; Jazz Walk, 10 p.m.-1:30 a.m.
• Saturday: The Ellington Legacy, 5 p.m.; Organic Vibe Trio w/ Dave Samuels, 6 p.m.; Nilson Matta and Brazilian Voyage, 7 p.m.; The Funk Filharmonik, 8 p.m.; Jazz Walk, 10 p.m.-1:30 a.m.
• Sunday: The Jazz Mass w/ Rev. Bill Carter and Presbybop, 12:30 p.m.; The Keystone Jazz Institute Student Jazz Combos, 4 p.m.; The Phil Markowitz Trio w/ Jay Anderson and Adam Nussbaum, 5 p.m.; The Chris Tarry Band, 6 p.m.; The Absolute Trio w/ Bob Dorogh, 7 p.m.; The Festival Big Band, 8 p.m.; The Jazz Jam at Trax, 9:30 p.m.
For complete list of Jazz Walk venues and performers or more info, visit www.scrantonjazzfestival.org.
