I’ve been to my fair share of festivals, but the night Aretha Franklin took the stage at the 2015 Syracuse Jazz Fest stands in a league of its own. From the first moment she walked out with that unmistakable grace, the entire audience understood we were about to witness something far bigger than a concert. This was the Queen of Soul in full command of her power, giving us a living, breathing lesson in the art of performance.
The Atmosphere and Anticipation
By the time the house lights dimmed, the festival crowd was buzzing with the kind of electricity that only builds when a true legend is about to appear. The Syracuse Jazz Fest had already delivered a weekend of stellar music, but this was different. When Aretha’s band took their places and the opening chords rang out, the cheers rolled across the amphitheater like a wave. Then she appeared—draped in an elegant gown that shimmered under the stage lights—and the roar turned into a deafening celebration.
There was no long speech or dramatic delay. Aretha simply greeted us with a knowing smile, sat at the piano for a brief moment, and launched straight into a night of unforgettable music.
Setlist and Performance Highlights
1. (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher
Kicking things off with the Jackie Wilson classic was pure Aretha brilliance. The horns blasted a bright fanfare as her voice soared above the rhythm section. It wasn’t just a cover—it felt like a blessing, a joyful invocation that immediately lifted every soul in the park.
2. Baby I Love You
Sliding effortlessly into her own 1967 hit, Aretha delivered a vocal that was both playful and commanding. Her phrasing was impeccable, turning each chorus into a declaration of love and authority. The crowd responded with a sea of clapping hands.
3. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
Few songs carry the emotional weight of this Carole King masterpiece, and Aretha’s rendition was nothing short of breathtaking. The subtle build from the quiet first verse to the towering chorus showcased her control—she could whisper and roar in the same breath. Many in the audience were wiping tears by the final note.
4. Think
When the opening piano stabs of “Think” hit, the festival grounds erupted. Aretha attacked the song with playful ferocity, her band driving the rhythm while backup singers echoed each line. It was funky, fierce, and completely irresistible. I don’t think a single person stayed seated.
5. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man
Slowing things down, she sat at the piano and turned this ballad into a sermon of strength and tenderness. The delicate gospel chords wrapped around her voice as she delivered each lyric with quiet conviction. It was a reminder of her roots in church music and her unmatched ability to fuse the sacred and the secular.
6. Chain of Fools
The unmistakable guitar riff signaled another crowd favorite. Aretha’s voice danced across the groove, playful one moment and thunderous the next. The band’s tight rhythm and call-and-response vocals created an atmosphere that felt like a revival meeting disguised as a funk workout.
7. Another Star (Band Solo Instrumental)
Aretha briefly left the stage while her band stretched out on Stevie Wonder’s “Another Star.” It wasn’t just a placeholder; it was a showcase of world-class musicianship. The horns traded solos, the drummer laid down complex polyrhythms, and the audience cheered each flourish. When Aretha returned, the ovation was thunderous.
8. Rolling in the Deep / Ain’t No Mountain High Enough Snippet
Her interpretation of Adele’s modern hit was a masterclass in how to claim a song. Aretha slowed the intro just enough to let the lyrics sink in before unleashing her signature gospel fire. When she wove in a snippet of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” the crowd lost its collective mind. It was as if she was stitching together generations of soul music in real time.
9. I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)
This was pure Aretha: raw emotion, subtle blues piano, and that voice delivering heartache with regal dignity. She let the band stretch the outro while she improvised vocal runs that reminded everyone why she’s the definitive interpreter of American soul.
10. Bridge Over Troubled Water
Her take on Simon & Garfunkel’s ballad was one of the evening’s emotional peaks. She began alone at the piano, her gospel roots shining through as she transformed the folk tune into a full-on hymn. By the final chorus, the audience was swaying in unison, many singing along softly, creating a moment of shared reverence.
11. My Cup Runneth Over
Introducing this lesser-known Harvey Smith cover, Aretha spoke briefly about gratitude and blessings. The performance felt like a personal prayer, each note a quiet expression of thanks. It was intimate, almost like we’d been invited into her living room.
12. Happy Birthday to You
In a charming detour, Aretha led the crowd in a rousing birthday tribute to bandleader H.B. Barnum. Her playful delivery and the band’s jazzy accompaniment turned a simple gesture into a joyous celebration.
13. Freeway of Love
As the unmistakable groove kicked in, the crowd knew the main set was reaching its peak. “Freeway of Love” became a full-blown party, with Aretha grinning as the audience danced and sang along. The horns blared, the rhythm section locked in, and for a few minutes, it felt like the entire festival had turned into one giant Detroit dance floor.
Encore Magic
After a brief exit, the Queen returned for the only encore that could possibly top such a night.
Respect
The opening stabs of Otis Redding’s classic—transformed long ago into Aretha’s signature anthem—triggered the loudest roar of the evening. She delivered it with undiminished fire, spelling out R-E-S-P-E-C-T with a grin that told us she still owned every letter.
There’s No Business Like Show Business
Closing with this Irving Berlin standard was a sly, perfect touch. It was Aretha’s way of tipping her hat to the art of performance itself, reminding us that while the music is serious, the act of sharing it is pure joy.
The Band and Sound
Much credit goes to Aretha’s touring ensemble. Under the direction of H.B. Barnum, the group delivered arrangements that balanced precision with soul. The horn section added punch to uptempo numbers, while the rhythm section kept everything grounded in a deep pocket. Aretha herself moved between center-stage diva and piano-playing bandleader, conducting subtle shifts with a nod or a raised eyebrow. The sound mix was clear and warm, allowing every nuance of her voice to shine.
Aretha’s Presence
What struck me most wasn’t just the technical perfection but the sheer presence Aretha carried. Even at 73, her voice retained its unmistakable power—rich, elastic, and full of that gospel grit. But it was her spirit that filled the space: gracious, playful, and commanding all at once. She spoke sparingly, letting the music do the talking, but every glance and gesture radiated authority.
When she sat at the piano for the ballads, it felt as though time slowed. You could hear her church upbringing in every chord, the decades of experience in every phrasing choice. Then, with a simple cue to the band, she’d shift gears into a funk workout and remind everyone that soul music is as much about joy as it is about reflection.
A Night of Legacy
Seeing Aretha Franklin in 2015 was more than a concert—it was a living history lesson. Each song carried echoes of her six-decade career, from the civil-rights-era anthems to modern reinterpretations. The setlist wasn’t just a greatest-hits package; it was a carefully curated journey through American music, touching gospel, blues, pop, and funk with effortless fluidity.
For the younger fans in the crowd, it was a chance to witness an artist whose influence can be felt in virtually every vocalist of the last half-century. For longtime devotees, it was a reaffirmation of everything we already knew: that Aretha Franklin is the standard by which all soul singers are measured.
Final Reflections
As the final notes of “There’s No Business Like Show Business” faded into the night, I found myself thinking about the title of the album that first brought Aretha widespread acclaim—I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You. That sentiment applied perfectly to this experience. I’ve seen technically flawless concerts and high-energy festival sets, but none with the heart, history, and sheer human power of this one.
Leaving the festival grounds, people were buzzing—not just about the music, but about what it meant to share space with greatness. Aretha Franklin didn’t just perform songs; she embodied the very spirit of soul. At Syracuse Jazz Fest, she reminded us that music at its highest level isn’t just entertainment. It’s communion. It’s culture. It’s respect.
That night, in the summer of 2015, the Queen of Soul proved once again why her crown remains untouchable.