Welcome to Jazz Fest
The 2006 Rochester International Jazz Festival is heavy on
greats who are carrying on legacies. McCoy Tyner emerged from John Coltrane’s
classic quartet. Wayne Shorter was part of Miles Davis’ greatest septet. And
Phil Woods, who, as a teenager, got to know Charlie Parker, will revive some of
the master’s music.
On the funk
side, James Brown is not called the Godfather of Soul for nothing; he is the legacy. And Etta James is the
First Lady of the Blues. Woody Allen carries on a tradition of Dixieland jazz
and reminds up of the music’s New
Orleans roots.
An equally
important part of any RIJF is the emergence of new talent, the chance to hear a rising star like Robert Glasper
before he’s a household name. It’s also about expanding your horizons as a
listener. Catch Billy Bang or the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and open your mind to
the diverse paths jazz can take.
Here are
previews of all of the acts to help you plot your festival schedule.
— Ron Netsky
Click here to check out City’s guide to the festival here!
The details
Eastman Theatre
Series: Headliner shows are held in the Eastman Theatre (60 Gibbs Street). These are ticketed
shows; a ClubPass doesn’t work here. All shows are at
8 p.m. Tickets, which range from $27.50 to $95, are available through Ticketmaster
(www.ticketmaster.com, 232-1900) or at the Auditorium Theater Box Office (885 East Main Street).
ClubSeriesPass: A ClubPass is your ticket to the Club Series:
You can go to as many concerts as you’d like (100-plus) at smaller clubs and
venues. A ClubPass is $95. If you don’t have a ClubPass
you can still buy tickets ($15-$25) to the Club Pass Series concerts at the
door, if space is available. But be advised that ClubPass
shows tend to sell out. Even if you have a Pass, you should get there early.
Admission is space-limited.
The best
thing about the pass is the sense of freedom and serendipity it affords. You
can walk from venue to venue, sampling everything until you find an act that
you like. Some of the best are bound to be acts you’ve never heard of. If
you’re going to more than four or five shows, get the pass.
The Club
Pass is available at www.rochesterjazz.com (service charges apply), at
Ticketmaster (232-1900, www.ticketmaster.com), or in person at the Ticket
Express Box office (885 East Main Street) or the Jazz Fest Info Center &
Store (10 Gibbs Street, weekdays through June 8, daily June 9-17).
Club Pass venues:
Kilbourn Hall, 26 Gibbs Street
RIJF Club Pass Big Tent, the corner of Main
and Gibbs Streets
Max of Eastman
Place, 387
East Main Street
Milestones, 170
East Avenue
Montage Grille, 50 Chestnut Plaza
Little Theatre, 240
East Avenue
Free shows: The
2006 RIJF features three free show series. The East Avenue Stage (corner of East Avenue and Chestnut Street)
hosts shows in the evenings on June 10, 16, and 17.
The
Rochester Area Community Foundation’s Museum & Gallery Family Series
features shows at 4 p.m. June 9-11 at Memorial Art Gallery (500 University
Avenue) and June 12-14 at George Eastman House (900 East Avenue), plus 3 p.m.
Dixieland cruises on the Mary Jemison Riverboat on the Genesee River June 15-17
(board at Corn Hill Landing).
The Jazz
Street Stage (corner of Gibbs
Street and East Avenue) goes daily this year, with
shows starting at 5p.m. There is food and drink to buy, the street is blocked
to traffic, and there’s music in the air.
Parking
Parking for all East End venues can be found in the East End parking garage at the corner of Scio Street and East Avenue.
More info
There are two websites for information on RIJF:
www.rochester-citynews.com and www.rochesterjazz.com. Or visit the JazzFestStore & InfoCenter, 10 Gibbs Street, 234-2002, Monday to
Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., through June 8; and daily, 10 a.m. to midnight, June
9-17.
This article appears in May 31 – Jun 6, 2006.
