Jazz Fest 2019: CITY's Daily Jazz Blogs

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The 2019 CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival runs from Friday, June 21, through Saturday, June 29, and CITY Newspaper will be out every night of the festival, covering multiple shows. Check back each day for reviews, photos and video of each nights festivities. For live updates follow us on Instagram @roccitynews and follow the hashtag #jazzcity.

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In This Guide...

Rochester International Jazz Festival

Jazz Fest Guide: Three thoughts for the 2019 CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival

The 2019 CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival is here, and with it, a whirlwind of concerts by national, international, and local musicians. It can be overwhelming for even the most seasoned jazz fest fan.

By Daniel J. Kushner Jun 19, 2019

Cover Story
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Festival Information

Everything you need to know about tickets, venues, parking, and how to connect with us to make the most of your Jazz Festival experience.

Jun 19, 2019
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Feature: Sasha Berliner Quintet

When 20-year-old vibraphonist Sasha Berliner received the call, letting her know that she'd won the 2019 LetterOne RISING STARS Jazz Award, she couldn't believe it. "It was a surreal moment," Berliner says.

By Ron Netsky Jun 19, 2019
Rochester International Jazz Festival

The Players: Friday, June 21

Teagan and the Tweeds | teaganandthetweeds.com 4:30 p.m.: M&T Pavilion - Squeezers Stage (Bluesy rock 'n' roll)

By City Newspaper staff Jun 19, 2019
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Profile: Dawn Thomson's Imagine That

When digging on an artist of two or more disciplines, you have to wonder which one dominates in that artist's heart and head. Dawn Thomson plays it slick and sweet on the guitar.

By Frank De Blase Jun 19, 2019
Rochester International Jazz Festival

The Players: Saturday, June 22

Ambassadors Jazztet | armyfieldband.com/about/ensembles/jazz-ambassadors 4:30 p.m.: M&T Pavilion – Squeezers Stage | (Straight-ahead jazz)

Jun 19, 2019
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Interview: The Honey Smugglers

Blame it on love. Rochester's The Honey Smugglers is here because it's frontman, Brian MacDonald, fell in love.

By Frank De Blase Jun 19, 2019
Rochester International Jazz Festival

The Players: Sunday, June 23

Zion Hill Mass Choir 4:30 p.m.: M&T Pavilion – Squeezers Stage | (Gospel)

Jun 19, 2019
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Interview: The Willows

The voices of Krista Deady, Andrea Gregario and Lauren Pedersen are spun gold, blended so well that they come across as one three-tiered voice. The trio known as The Willows makes other vocalists sound like Edith Bunker.

By Frank De Blase Jun 19, 2019
Rochester International Jazz Festival

The Players: Tuesday, June 25

Soul Passenger | soulpassenger.com 4:30 p.m.: M&T Pavilion – Squeezers Stage | (Rock)

Jun 19, 2019
Rochester International Jazz Festival

The Players: Monday, June 24

Fred Costello | fredcostello.com 4:30 p.m.| M&T Pavilion – Squeezers Stage | (B-3 organ jazz)

Jun 19, 2019
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Profile: Harold Mabern

When Harold Mabern was growing up in Memphis, he had no ambition to become a jazz pianist. "I didn't choose it; it chose me," says Mabern, a self-taught musician.

By Ron Netsky Jun 19, 2019
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Feature: Jeff Goldblum & the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra

When you're known for being chased by dinosaurs and being turning into a giant fly, it's inevitable that you'll have to do the rounds: going on press junkets, shaking babies, kissing hands, and hocking your latest wares -- in this case, a jazz recording. Jeff Goldblum, the actor and Hollywood bon vivant found himself on the Graham Norton Show about a year ago, doing the standard media song-and-dance for the movie "Thor Ragnarok."

By Frank De Blase Jun 19, 2019
Rochester International Jazz Festival

The Players: Wednesday, June 26

Herb Smith Freedom Trio | herbtrumpet.com 4:30 p.m.: M&T Pavilion – Squeezers Stage | (Straight-ahead jazz)

Jun 19, 2019
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Feature: George Coleman Quartet

In the early 1960's, after saxophonist George Coleman had earned his way to the top of the jazz world playing with Booker Little, Max Roach and Slide Hampton, he was tapped by Miles Davis to play in one of the greatest quintets in the history of jazz. Coleman recorded four seminal albums with Davis: "Seven Steps to Heaven," "My Funny Valentine, "Four," and "Miles Davis In Europe."

By Ron Netsky Jun 19, 2019
Rochester International Jazz Festival

The Players: Thursday, June 27

The Buddhahood | thebuddhahood.com 4:30 p.m.: M&T Pavilion – Squeezers Stage | (Jam-band, world music)

Jun 19, 2019
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Profile: Bill Charlap

You might say pianist Bill Charlap was born to play standards. His father, Moose Charlap, was a Broadway composer best known for his iconic musical "Peter Pan."

By Ron Netsky Jun 19, 2019
Rochester International Jazz Festival

The Players: Friday, June 28

Kansas Smitty's House Band | kansassmittys.com 5:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.: Geva Theatre Center – Wilson Stage | (Straight-ahead jazz)

Jun 19, 2019
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Interview: Cha Wa

The music of New Orleans band Cha Wa is a party in itself, a joyful collision of brass band music, funk, soul, and Mardi Gras Indian music and culture. The group is led by singer J'Wan Boudreaux and drummer Joe Gelini, both of whom learned from the preeminent musician Monk Boudreaux, Big Chief of the Mardi Gras Indian tribe Golden Eagles and J'Wan's grandfather.

By Daniel J. Kushner Jun 19, 2019
Rochester International Jazz Festival

The Players: Saturday, June 29

Acoustic Alchemy | acousticalchemy.co.uk 5:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.: Geva Theatre Center – Wilson Stage | (Smooth jazz)

Jun 19, 2019