DUMPSTAPHUNK

Dumpstaphunk Plays Sly - a tribute to the music of legendary Sly & the Family Stone

Appearing at Syracuse Jazz Fest on Friday, July 10th @ 7:45pm (Beak & Skiff)

Dumpstaphunk has firmly established itself as one of the most respected musical institutions to emerge from New Orleans. Led by Ivan Neville (keyboards/vocals) and Ian Neville (guitar)—sons of Aaron Neville and Art Neville—alongside original member Tony Hall (bass, guitar, vocals), the band carries forward a legendary New Orleans musical lineage. Since forming spontaneously during New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2003, Dumpstaphunk has grown into the city’s premier modern funk-fusion export. Known for electrifying live performances and deep musicianship, the band has shared the stage with artists such as Carlos Santana, Flea, Bob Weir, George Clinton, Chaka Khan, Dave Matthews, and Trombone Shorty, among many others.

Following the 2024 passing of beloved bassist, vocalist, and co-founder Nick Daniels III, the band continues to evolve with a new generation of musicians, including Deven Trusclair (drums), Alex Wasily (trombone), Ashlin Parker (trumpet), John Michael Bradford (trumpet), Ari Teitel (guitar), and special guest vocalist Rebekkah Todd. Across four studio albums and countless live performances, Dumpstaphunk has earned critical acclaim while carrying forward the groove-driven legacy of the Neville family and The Meters. Blending funk, rock, and R&B with rich four-part harmonies and unmistakable Big Easy soul, Dumpstaphunk continues to modernize and celebrate the sound of New Orleans for a new generation.

gunhild carling

Sweden’s Queen of Swing Gunhild Carling w/ the Carling Family Band’s Tribute to Louis Armstrong featuring the Syracuse Horns

Appearing at Syracuse Jazz Fest on Saturday, July 11th @ 7pm (Beak & Skiff)

Gunhild Carling is a Swedish jazz sensation known worldwide for her electrifying performances, extraordinary musicianship, and vibrant stage presence. Often called Sweden’s “Queen of Swing,” Carling is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and bandleader who can play more than a dozen instruments - including trumpet, trombone, harmonica, oboe, harp, and even jazz bagpipe - while also incorporating tap dancing, comedy, and theatrical showmanship into her performances. Her high-energy shows celebrate classic swing and jazz standards while transporting audiences back to the spirit of the Roaring Twenties.

Carling has appeared on major television programs including Let’s Dance in Sweden, Sweden's Got Talent, and America's Got Talent, and she performs internationally both with her own Carling Big Band and alongside projects like Postmodern Jukebox. She has also performed at prestigious events such as a celebration for Carl XVI Gustaf at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. With millions of social media views and a rapidly growing global audience, Carling continues to captivate fans around the world with her unique blend of vintage jazz, virtuosic talent, and unforgettable entertainment.

Hejira

50th anniversary celebration of the jazz of Joni Mitchell

Appearing at Syracuse Jazz Festival on Friday, July 10th @ 6pm (Beak & Skiff)

Hejira’ is an outstanding 7-piece band set up to celebrate and honour the masterpiece works of Joni Mitchell, mostly from the late 70’s. Having released the albums ‘The Hissing of Summer Lawns’, ‘Hejira’, ‘Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter’ and ‘Mingus’, Joni then toured briefly with a band formed from the creme de la creme of contemporaneous musicians (Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, Michael Brecker, Jaco Pastorius and Don Alias). The tour was recorded, producing the much-lauded live album, ‘Shadows And Light’; it is from this work that the band Hejira is drawing the spirit and body of its repertoire. Comprising highly experienced, world class musicians, Hejira is fronted by the brilliant Hattie Whitehead who not only has - in her own way - assimilated the poise, power and beauty of Joni’s vocals, but also plays guitar with Joni’s stylistic mannerisms. Expect an evening of the ‘great’ songs from Mitchell’s back catalogue!

NATHAN WILLIAMS SR. & THE ZYDECO CHA CHA’S

40th Anniversary Tour

Appearing at Syracuse Jazz Fest on Saturday, July 11th @ 5:30pm (Beak & Skiff)

Nathan Williams Sr. began his professional music career at age 21, recording singles for his brother Sid Williams’ El Sid label and performing regularly at the Lafayette venue El-Sid-O’s. His career gained momentum when Buckwheat Zydeco recommended him to Rounder Records, which led to a recording contract and the formation of Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas in 1985. The band made its festival debut at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 1988 and quickly built a reputation for energetic live performances. Their regular shows at Rock 'N' Bowl became a cornerstone of the city’s zydeco scene, later captured on the 1997 live album I'm a Zydeco Hog: Live at the Rock 'N' Bowl, New Orleans.

For more than three decades, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas have toured extensively, bringing their Louisiana roots to audiences across the United States and internationally throughout Europe and Asia. Williams’ music blends zydeco with jazz, blues, and R&B, drawing inspiration from pioneers like Clifton Chenier while developing his own distinctive sound. The band has remained deeply rooted in family, featuring several relatives alongside longtime collaborators. Notable projects such as the 1995 album Creole Crossroads—a collaboration with Michael Doucet of Beau Soleil—highlight Williams’ dedication to preserving and expanding Creole musical traditions.

ORANGE JUICE

Syracuse University Student Jazz Combo

Appearing at Syracuse Jazz Fest on Friday, July 10th @ 5pm (Beak & Skiff)

Syracuse University's Orange Juice is the Setnor School of Music’s premiere jazz combo. The ensemble performs regularly on campus and as featured performers at university and community events.

The group consists of vocalists Gianna Moore and Griffen Beebe, saxophonists Mason Manteau and Will Angus, pianist Kai Wong, guitarist Owen Wernow, bassist Rob Wilhelm, and drummer Vito Vetere.

TOWER OF POWER

Appearing at Syracuse Jazz Festival on Friday, July 10th @ 9:30pm (Beak & Skiff)

Tower of Power has spent nearly six decades delivering high-energy funk and soul, earning a reputation for their powerful horn section and signature “Oakland soul” sound. The band began in 1968 when vocalist Emilio Castillo formed a group called The Motowns with bassist Francis 'Rocco' Prestia and drummer Jack Castillo. After saxophonist Stephen 'Doc' Kupka joined, the group adopted the name Tower of Power and set out to create a distinct sound. Their debut album East Bay Grease helped secure a deal with Warner Bros. Records, and their 1972 release Bump City became a breakthrough success, producing hits like “You’re Still a Young Man” and “Down to the Nightclub.”

Throughout the 1970s, the band cemented its legacy with radio classics such as “So Very Hard to Go” and “What Is Hip?” while building a reputation as an electrifying live act. Over the years, Tower of Power has toured the world, recording their own hits while also performing alongside legendary artists including Otis Redding, Elton John, Santana, Grateful Dead, John Lee Hooker, Aerosmith, and Bonnie Raitt. In 2018 they celebrated their 50th anniversary in their hometown of Oakland with the live release 50 Years of Funk & Soul: Live at the Fox Theater, continuing a legacy that remains vibrant for fans around the world.

TROMBONE SHORTY & orleans avenue

Appearing at Syracuse Jazz Fest on Saturday, July 11th @ 9pm(Beak & Skiff)

Trombone Shorty (born Troy Andrews) is a New Orleans–born musician, bandleader, and showman known for his electrifying blend of funk, soul, R&B, and rock. A musical prodigy, he first performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at age four with Bo Diddley, led his own brass band by six, and as a teenager was recruited by Lenny Kravitz for his Electric Church World Tour. Since then, Shorty has become one of New Orleans’ most recognizable modern ambassadors, releasing multiple chart-topping albums, touring globally, and sharing stages with artists such as Jeff Beck, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pharrell Williams, Bruno Mars, and Foo Fighters. His magnetic stage presence and genre-blending sound have made him a festival favorite around the world.

His album Lifted, released on Blue Note Records and recorded at his Buckjump Studio in New Orleans, captures the raw energy of his live performances while showcasing his evolution as a songwriter and bandleader. Produced by Chris Seefried and featuring guests including Gary Clark Jr. and Lauren Daigle, the album balances explosive grooves with refined musicianship. Beyond the stage, Shorty supports the next generation through the Trombone Shorty Foundation, champions New Orleans traditions like second line parades, and continues to expand the reach of the city’s vibrant musical culture while inspiring audiences worldwide.

USAF AIRMEN OF NOTE

22-piece United States Air Force Big Band

USAF Airmen of Note is a premier jazz ensemble representing The United States Air Force Band and based at Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling. Formed in 1950 to continue the legacy of Glenn Miller’s Army Air Forces dance band, the group features 18 active-duty musicians, including a vocalist. Over the decades, the Airmen of Note have presented a dynamic mix of classic big band jazz and contemporary styles through national tours, international deployments, and performances throughout the Washington, D.C. area.

The ensemble has earned worldwide respect for its musical excellence, collaborating with jazz legends such as Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, and Doc Severinsen. In 1990, the band launched the Jazz Heritage Series, which features performances with renowned jazz artists and is broadcast to millions through National Public Radio and other media outlets. As part of the U.S. Air Force’s global mission, the Airmen of Note aim to honor those who serve, inspire patriotism, and connect with audiences around the world through the power of music.

Appearing at Syracuse Jazz Festival on Thursday, July 9th @ 7pm (Syracuse University Campus, National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building)