by Carl Mrozek
Now that we’re all sweltering in the summer heat, we can take cool comfort from the realization that we’re also entering the hot season for live music again and there’s no better proof of that than the start of one of the largest music festivals in upstate NY, if not the entire Northeast. This Friday, 6/21, the 21st edition of the Rochester Intl. Jazz Festival launches with a characteristic bang, including cross-genre superstars like legendary blues-jazz innovator Taj Mahal at the Eastman Theater at 8 PM. Concurrently jazz guitar giant Stanley Jordan pays tribute to guitar legend Jimmi Hendrix, at the Temple Theater, near the festival’s hub at Gibbs St.( A k a, Jazz St) and East Main St. Also that evening, Bob Snider and Paul Hoffman pay tribute to guitar genius, Pat Metheny and his lifelong keyboard collaborator, Lyle Mays, at Hatch Recital Hall adjacent to Eastman Theater.
Right across the street, at the Rochester Regional Health Big Tent, young lion Benny Benacke III brings his smooth voice, hot trumpet, and large band to Rochester Friday night, plus two more shows at Innovation Square, Sat. night. Another rising star competing for the limelight Friday night is pianist/ Connie Hahn, who Downbeat Magazine proclaimed a “ jazz Warrior goddess” for the ferocity of her fingering, with 2 shows at Montage Hall Friday Friday night and 2 more at Hatch Recital Hall, Sat. 6/22. Hahn is one of a proliferation of female jazz artists debuting at Rochester‘s International Festival this year. Also, on Friday night, do not miss Downbeat’s 2023 ‘group of the year’, the six lionesses comprising Artemis, at Kilbourn Hall, Friday, 6/21, 6 & 9 PM.
The Rochester International Jazz Festival’s s (RIJF) second night, June 22, is also star-studded, with 3 headliners featuring composer-master collaborator Lee Ritenour sharing the Eastman Theater stage with jazz legend trumpeter Randy Brecker Jr/ and saxophonist Bill Evans, who began his career with the John Coltrane band. Listen for samples from Ritenour’s latest masterpiece’ Dreamcatcher ‘. Sat. June 22 also offers a free headliner doubleheader, led off by the Chris Beard Band on the City of Rochester stage at East Ave. & Chestnut St. starting at 7 PM. This is followed at 9 PM by blues guitarist extraordinaire Christone Kingfish Ingram.
But, if you managed to score either 3 or 8-day Club Passes for the festival, there are plenty of other stellar weekend concert options by groups like Electric Kif, Shuffle Demons, Brain Cloud, Art Trio, Groover Quartet, The Aquaducks, Andrea Brachfeld & Insight, Ryan Johnson & Escape Terrain, Cold Chocolate, Kaisa s Machine.….and that’s just a sampling of the opening weekend. Altogether, this year’s 8-day festival presents 1,750 artists performing 326 shows at 20 venues, which is not unusual for the festival but is in a league of its own festival Rochester Festival–wise.
RIJF always features great and future female jazz musicians, and this year is no exception, with superstars interwoven into the daily schedule. On Monday, 6/24, global super crooner Stacey Kent performs at Kilbourn Hall at 6 and 9 PM and also on Tuesday at Temple Hall at 7 and 9 PM.
Wed. June 26, may be the festival’s apex in terms of highlighting female artists at this year’s festival as Chinese-Icelandic singer-songwriter /pianist, Laufey performs her eclectic cross-cultural genre-bending compositions for a sold-out crowd at the Eastman Theater while former Prince partner, Sheila E and her ETrain headline the Rochester City Stage at 9 PM. Also, on the 26th Ekep NKWelle closes the night at Max of Eastman Place with her West African-rooted jazz vocals at 10 PM (& 6 15)
Nonetheless, Friday, 6/28, is another red-letter evening for female artists led by multi-grammy-winning jazz diva Samara Joy at Eastman. Although only 24, Joy is already being likened to legends like Billie, Sarah, Ella Anita. etc. The same night, Canadian sensation. Laila Biali blends jazz and pop singing and songwriting at Max’s on the heels of two Thursday shows at Montage Hall. On the festival’s final night, catch another breakout female Canadian artist, Begonia, who performs 2 shows at the Rochester regional Heath Big Tent.
It would be derelict of me to omit plugging the Saturday night concerts at Kilbourn Hall by The Brubeck Brothers, Dan and Chris, sons of recently deceased jazz legend Dave Brubeck, who themselves have been playing and recording jazz for nearly half a century.
As per tradition, RIJF ends with a big, raucous musical party at Parcel 5, a recently declared public green space indefinitely. This year’s grand finale features New Orleans big band, Rejuvenation 50, plus John Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen. Both headliners are free to the public.
Be sure to catch some of the daily jam sessions at the Hyatt Regency Astor on Main St. in Squeezer’s Lounge. Led by Mike Cottone, the sessions start at 10:30 and typically continue well past midnight. They often feature surprise appearances by many of the day’s star performers and headliners, lodging at the Hyatt.
Aspiring jazz musicians should avail themselves of the free jazz workshops at the Eastman School of Music Monday, 6/24 through Friday, 6/28, from 1- 2:30 PM in room 120 at 26 Gibbs St. For more info: https://rochesterjazz.com/downloads/Workshops%202024%20RIJF%20(Flyer).pdf
Venue locations, ticket and pass purchase information, full schedules, and artist lineups with bios plus, food , parking, and much more should all be available at https://rochesterjazz.com/ if you peruse all menu options thoroughly. Or try calling (585) 454-2060.
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