Jazz Central

Due to the vision and commitment to the arts of CNY Jazz Arts Foundation Executive Director Larry Luttinger and New York State Senator John A. DeFrancisco, downtown Syracuse now benefits from the existence of a headquarters for the jazz art form. The Senator, a strong patron of the arts, and especially jazz, provided a $250,000 grant from the Strategic Investment Program for the purchase and renovation of 441 E. Washington St. that is now the 4,100 square feet of space that houses the organization’s offices, a box office, music library, and a 63-90 seat theater space.

Jazz Central hosts all forms of educational and cabaret events, as well as seminars, lectures, jam sessions and rehearsals, all in support of the jazz art form. The facility also provides a rehearsal environment for the CNY Jazz Orchestra and the organization’s unique youth orchestra, the Stan Colella Parks and Rec All-Star Big Band, a partnership with the City of Syracuse.

The mere creation of such a space is on the cutting edge of the arts scene in jazz. There is no city in the country that can boast a facility dedicated entirely to the pursuit of jazz performance and education aside from Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz At Lincoln Center. We are deeply indebted to Senator John DeFrancisco for his understanding of the value of the jazz art form and his belief in jazz, America’s art form.

See our Calendar of Events.

Using Our Facility

Jazz Central is available for use by individuals or organizations producing public or private events. All activities held in the facility must conform to the overall mission and goals of the CNY Jazz Arts Foundation, which may control their content. To request the facility on any date or range of dates, email info@cnyjazz.org with Jazz Central Use Request in the subject line. Describe your program content and schedule in a short, informal proposal in the body of the email, with contact information including a phone number.

Answers to FAQ's

The theater contains 63 permanent theater seats with optional fold-out lecture hall desk boards, is at grade and is 100% handicap accessible.

There is additional cabaret table seating for up to 15. If small presentations allow for ¾ round seating, there is room for an additional row of 12 chairs. Total legal capacity of the theater is 99, including the artists and tech members.

There is no direct charge for use of the theater. The public donates a $3.50/admission head charge upon entry. You set ticket prices. The CNYJAF also takes 20% of any merchandise sales. A non-refundable $105 per day deposit is necessary. For all private events, fundraisers, etc. usage charges are negotiated.

It is the artist's responsibility to promote their event. We will provide you with a complete regional media contact list so you can market your event and we will send your press release to our list of over 1300 e-mail addresses prior to your performance date. If you provide us information on your event two weeks prior to your event, we will post your event on our calendar.

At this time, we do not offer box-office services. You will need to provide us a contact number for ticket sales and reservations. Lobby bar services and light catering is available as appropriate upon request. The fee for bar service is $30 for full bar (wine, beer, soda, water) or $20 for juice bar. (For events with an intermission or a pre-event cocktail hour or meet and greet after the event).

You may use our grand piano and house audio free of charge. Piano tuning is your responsibility. We can provide contact information for local tuners. We have available a sound and light board (sound and/or lighting technicians need to be provided by the artist), microphones/stands, music stands, stools, folding tables, etc. upon request.

Jazz Central is in use almost every night. Please make all requests as far in advance as possible.

Although we strongly encourage both local and touring jazz musicians to use our facility, OUR FACILITY IS NOT A NIGHT CLUB and does not provide fees to touring artists.