The “Jazz in the City” public health concert series shifts emphasis to the West Side this Thursday, with a free concert by legendary funk and soul band Atlas at Leavenworth Park, near Middle Ages Brewery. Food vendors will be available, urban arts and craft vendors will show their creations, and a “healthcare village” of family service providers including a mobile unit from Syracuse Community Health will be present to give screenings and consultations to all, with NYS Lottery scratch-off prizes as incentives.
The current iteration of Atlas, the funky horn group nearing 50 years of existence as an in-demand all-star group, includes the new addition of Berklee grad Lisa Denise on vocals, a veteran of groups led by Roy Ayers, Lucy Pearl, and Dawn Robinson of En Vogue. Opening act 1Accord Line Dance will perform in front of the stage to open the show at 6 p.m. and all are invited to join in.
Syracuse Community Health will continue to reward those lining up to receive health screenings, seek primary physicians, and make appointments for adult boosters and child vaccinations. “Last time at Skiddy Park we ran out of scratch-offs in the first hour. This time we’ll be stocking up with more, hopefully enough to last through the entire event,” observed Larry Luttinger, series organizer. “Our goal is to convince everyone to bring a reluctant or just isolated family member, friend, or neighbor to these events to be counseled and screened. It’s that simple. We just have to hang together to beat the many negative effects of this public health gap in our city.”
The Prevention Network will continue to give out free NARCAN kits and the short training course needed to administer them. Healthcare Village members on hand to answer questions include Hope Connections Recovery, a program of Catholic Charities, Molina Healthcare, ACR Health, Excellus, the New York State Department of Mental Health, Fidelis Care, YMCA, and Humana.
All Jazz in the City concerts are free and open to the public.
IF You Go
What: Syracuse Community Health Jazz in the City public health concert
When: Thursday July 7th, 6 to 9 p.m.
Where: Leavenworth Park, 120 Wilkinson St. Syracuse N.Y. 13204
Who: Atlas with Lisa Denise
Cost: Free