HC Support Resonates with CNY Jazz Orchestra

As the flagship program of the Syracuse-based CNY Jazz Arts Foundation, the CNY Jazz Orchestra aims to sustain the art form by presenting, performing, and teaching jazz in public and academic settings. The group recently celebrated the release of If a White Horse from Jerusalem, eight tracks on CD, also available digitally via Bandcamp.

"This project was a long time coming," says Larry Luttinger, Executive Director of CNY Jazz Central, referring to the eleven odd years that have passed since the composition first came to light. Works were originally commissioned with Syracuse Symposium funds awarded by the Syracuse University Humanities Center, relating to its annual theme at the time, “Conflict: Peace and War.” With additional support from S.U. Hillel and the Jewish Federation of Central New York, the suite, If a White Horse from Jerusalem -- featuring David Liebman and composed by Bret Zvacek -- enjoyed its world premiere on April 16th, 2011.

"After the concert, Mr. Liebman suggested we record it," Luttinger explains. "High praise coming from an NEA Jazz Master." At the time, funding for such a project was elusive, if available at all. Eventually, programming support materialized in the form of post-Covid relief funds (ARPA) awarded through the CNY Arts council. The regional Jewish Federation, Jewish Community Foundation, The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, Bousquet Holstein PLLC, and individual donors helped make the recording a reality. The suite was performed and recorded at Temple Adath Yeshurun in Syracuse, in November 2022.

Luttinger considers the piece as relevant today as the day it debuted. "We hope that in some way it increases understanding, promotes unity, and fosters peace – the peace of nations and of the soul."