Dave Kaspar is approaching his ninth year of bringing jazz to locales in Central New York, but in talking to him, it sounds like he has been promoting shows for decades.
Kaspar, an independent jazz promoter with #JazzintheBurbs, stands in the company of giants, including Larry Luttinger at CNY Jazz Central and Frank Malfitano, founder of the Syracuse International Jazz Festival, but his start to promoting shows began much smaller and remains a unique twice-a-year series.
In 2015, Kaspar had done some booking at the Green Gate Inn in Camillus, just west of Syracuse, and received some calls to help fill gaps in their schedule. Eventually, a series of jazz shows came to light, and eventually became a series in Camillus for 32 weeks a year.
Kaspar is semi-retired, working at Trexx nightclub as a doorman in addition to small part-time gigs, but #JazzintheBurbs is not designed as a money-maker. “I don’t do it to make money,” Kaspar said to Eagle News . “That’s why I have so many day jobs, even though some of them are at night.”
With 10 to 11 weeks of shows each Thursday night in the fall, spanning September to November and a holiday show, (Jazz in the Burbs), followed by 20+ weeks from January to May (Jazz by the Lake), the two series differ in setting but are united in bringing the best live local jazz to audiences in Central New York.
Jazz by the Lake began thanks to Mark and Ellen Wahl from Oswego Music Hall, who came to Kaspar to pursue a jazz series in The Port City of Central New York, while Jazz in the Burbs has been Kaspar’s baby all along.
Kaspar recalled a highlight from Year 4 of Jazz by the Lake, where this past spring and summer Jeff Stockham performing a night of Chet Baker. In the audience was Anthony Joseph, one of the biggest jazz musicians from Oswego, who had not performed live in three years. By the end of the night, Joseph talked to Kaspar and asked him book a show with the rhythm section from that evening, along with his brother, Ron Joseph, a Buffalo clarinetist. That show is the ‘Clarinet Summit’, coming up on October 17 at Oswego Music Hall.
The other Jazz by the Lake show from Dave Kaspar at Oswego Music Hall this fall will feature Actual-Proof on November 21. These five amazing artists share a common vision and sensibility for contemporary jazz, as well as a history that spans decades, bringing energy and excitement to every stage they play upon.
This fall’s series of #JazzintheBurbs takes place at Green Gate Inn, located in the village of Camillus, and is considered by Kaspar to be one of the best jazz clubs in the region, thanks to the venue and patrons seeing the jazz performance as entertainment, not background noise.
Additionally this year, live local jazz will be paired with a specially curated menu from chef Natalia Meyer (wife of Green Gate owner Felipe Meyer), where the menu will meet the music, pairing notes with nourishment and adding a unique twist to Thursday nights this fall. Recently, Jill Minyé performed on October 2, and having been living in California performing for the last 20 years, the menu offered a pairing of West Coast flavors and seafood to the performance crowd.
Jazz in the Burbs is set at Green Gate Inn during the fall, with two hour performances, while Jazz by the Lake finds itself at coffee houses with two shorter sets with a break in between.
The Green Gate Inn performances are scheduled 7:30 to 9:30 pm on Thursdays, with free admission, but with a $15 food/drink minimum.
Two other Kaspar series – Jazz Al Fresco and Brew Pub Jazz – have taken take place in Manlius, east of Syracuse, but have been on hold while funding for the series is secured for Summer 2026.
“I love jazz because of the improvisation in live performances. A guy blows a beautiful solo, thinks he’s done, and a band member gives him the head bob meaning, ‘keep it going.’ Or guys who rarely play together, but can find a cohesive groove, that’s why I love jazz and am proud to promote the Great American Artform.”
Dave Kaspar, as told to Eagle News
Jazz in the Burbs Fall 2025 Schedule
Sept 18 – Dave Solazzo Trio
Sept 25 – Jacob Merrill Quartet
Oct 2 – Jill Minyé Quartet
Oct 9 – Taj
Oct 16 – Dave Hanlon Quartet
Oct 23 – Drew Serafini Trio
Oct 30 – Brian Scherer Quartet
Nov 6 – Carl Okada Trio
Nov 13 – Jimmy Johns Trio
Nov 20 – Latin Groove Collection
Dec 18 – #JazzintheBurbs Holiday Extravaganza, featuring The Hot Club de Syracuse
Read more on Kaspar in an interview with TableHopping.
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