By Rose Picón, staff writer

Jazz music is is truly America’s cure to help people all over the world kick back, relax, and chill.  And really, what could be cooler than the music that gave meaning to the expression “cool”? Here’s something else we can be proud of: Syracuse’s own Salt City Jazz Collective has been performing every month for 17 years right in Armory Square! The group is a successful 16 piece jazz orchestra that is helping Syracuse re-establish its cool, and become a come-back city with some urban hip.

Who’s the man behind the music? He is John Laverty, a trumpet musician and professor at the Setnor School of Music at Syracuse University. A Kentucky native, Laverty didn’t exactly see himself playing Kentucky bluegrass. Instead, Laverty and his good friend Rob Parton decided to start a jazz orchestra in Kentucky called JAZZTECH Big Band. Even though the band was successful, Laverty eventually decided to leave Kentucky and attend graduate school at Florida State University.

After getting his degree, Laverty was ready to get back into the swing of jazz. He moved to out of Florida in 1995 and, aware of upstate New York’s large jazz music scene, thought that Syracuse would be a great place to start a jazz orchestra similar to the one in Kentucky. With his prior experience, Laverty felt confident that the band would be a success. “When I moved to Syracuse, I knew the formula for the orchestra worked,” he comments. “I suggested it to a couple of the professors and they thought it sounded great.” Laverty called up some other musicians in Syracuse and, fortunately, they were interested in his orchestra. He busted out his book of jazz compositions and the group got started. “We started practicing in fall of 1995,” he remembers.  “Our first gig was that December, and we haven’t stopped since!” The group has been playing regular shows at Syracuse Suds Factory to delighted audiences and jazz fans.

And the fact that the band has kept going after 17 years is truly an accomplishment, because “making it” in the music world sure ain’t easy! “It’s a tough time for music right now, but we find that we are thriving,” Laverty comments. “More people come to see us play every month.” The crowds always seem to be large at Salt City Jazz shows. “Get there early because you won’t get a seat if you don’t!” he admits. Four or five times out of the year, the band ventures away from Syracuse Suds Factory and goes to other venues in the community. One of the other places the band has played is Liverpool High School, where they performed in the school’s Jazz Concert Series. The band received the opportunity to play with some pretty big names in jazz today including famous jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli and NY Voices, a Grammy-award winning jazz vocal group based out of NYC.

Perhaps another reason why the Salt City Jazz Collective has gathered such success is because more college students are starting to explore jazz. Salt City Jazz Collective not only includes Syracuse community members and faculty members as part of the orchestra, but the band often subs musicians for Syracuse University students and even some talented high school students! The mixes of members cause a more eclectic audience to head down to Syracuse Suds Factory and watch their friends and family jam! “Over 100 S.U. students have come and played with the band,” Laverty adds. “It’s fun to watch and it’s a great opportunity for students to play in a professional environment.” Laverty mentions that, for a lot of students, playing with the Salt City Jazz Collective is their first professional gig, and it’s the first time that some students experience what it’s like to perform in front of an interactive audience.

What do I mean by interactive audience? Let’s just say that jazz performances aren’t very conservative, and the audience doesn’t just passively listen to music playing in the background. In fact, being at a jazz concert is more like being at a rock concert! “Jazz audiences are not at all quiet,” Laverty explains. “Everyone is in tune with the music. People shout out, people get up and clap… they’re actively listening. We don’t do background music. Everything revolves around the songs.” The Salt City Jazz Collective plays very contemporary jazz, so the music is not as recognizable as classic jazz. “We don’t do society music or dance music, you know, the kind of music you hear at weddings. Jazz is spontaneous and our audiences are in the moment. Jazz is the only original American art form that allows musicians to play off the top of their head, which makes the music different and special every time we play.”

Salt City Jazz Collective definitely makes Syracuse a cool city to be in. If you want to hear some great jazz music, then head down to Syracuse Suds Factory, located in Armory Square at 320 S. Clinton Street. The band plays from 6 to 9 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month, so mark for calendars for Wednesday, March 7! Grab a drink, eat some food and feel Salt City Jazz Collective’s music fill the room.  To keep it cool, Syracuse Suds Factory doesn’t even have a cover charge. Not to mention that Syracuse Suds Factory is just steps off the Connective Corridor, a FREE bus service!