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Jazz Festival Guide 2013
CITY Newspaper’s guide to the biggest music festival in Rochester! For more coverage, check our website every day of the festival for reviews, blogs, photos and more!
![[UPDATED] Comptroller’s Office says Monroe County is fiscally stressed](https://i0.wp.com/www.roccitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/1371569511-money-1s-pile_sidebar.webp?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
[UPDATED] Comptroller’s Office says Monroe County is fiscally stressed
The state Comptroller’s Office says Monroe County is in significant fiscal stress and is perhaps the most stressed local government in the state.
Women’s Equality Act protects abortion rights, doesn’t expand them
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposed Women’s Equality Act has come under fire because of its language about abortion. Right now, abortion is regulated through the state’s penal law. Cuomo says his legislation would simply write into law the rights guaranteed under the Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade decision and remove regulation of abortions from the penal…
Rochester’s grad rate dips
Slightly more than 43 percent of city students who entered ninth grade in 2008 graduated with a Regents diploma in June 2012, according to a statement released yesterday by the New York State Education Department. Often referred to as the four-year cohort, the city schools’ graduation rate dropped about 1 percent from the prior year.…
GOP legislator backs fracking moratorium
A Republican legislator in Monroe County has concerns about the state’s review of high-volume hydraulic fracturing. Joe Carbone, who represents part of Irondequoit, has submitted a memorializing referral — essentially an official letter of support for state or federal legislation — supporting two state fracking moratorium bills, A5424A and S4236A. The matching bills would prohibit…
Concert Review: 2013 East End Festival
Updated on 6/21/13 to remove a potentially offensive phrase. The East End was buzzing Friday night as it took a step back to an earlier time when the East End Festival was about the music and not an outdoor meat market. It was the excellent music line-up that made the night. I started out with…
This Week: Brockport elections, Mounted Patrol vote, Supremes rulings, chat with Vargas
Brockport residents will hold elections to choose a mayor and two trustees. Mayor Maria Castañeda is seeking a second term, running against Margaret Blackman, a current village trustee and retired professor of anthropology at SUNY Brockport. Blackman is joined by newcomer Valerie Ciciotti, and incumbent trustee Carol Hannan on the Revitalize Brockport party. Castañeda’s running…
Some Council members want to keep mounted patrol unit
There’s a last minute effort to save at least part of the Rochester Police Department’s mounted patrol unit. City Council President Lovely Warren, and Councilmembers Adam McFadden and Carolee Conklin have submitted legislation that would amend the city’s proposed 2013-2014 budget. The legislation creates a smaller patrol unit consisting of four officers and five horses.…
Seneca settlement means no private casino for Rochester
If the Rochester area gets a casino, it’ll be operated by the Seneca Nation. Governor Andrew Cuomo has submitted a bill to the Legislature that would allow privately-run casinos in New York. His law would establish six districts across upstate with one casino allowed per district, though only three privately run casinos would be bid…
Concert Review: Party in the Park w/Southside Johnny
It’s not like they’re pickling their bodies in alcohol or making arrangements to join Walt Disney and Ted Williams in frozen limbo, but at this rate let me Jimmy the Greek it for ya: Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes are gonna be here forever. If the fork in the road gives you a choice…
New lake levels plan proposed
The International Joint Commission is advancing yet another proposal to change how it regulates Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River water levels. But the new proposal projects that shoreline property owners may face some additional costs from water damage, which is an issue that’s driven their successful opposition to past plans. The IJC has used…
Orwell and ‘1984’
It shouldn’t come as a surprise in the fallout of the recent NSA leaks that sales of George Orwell’s novel “1984” have reportedly spiked on Amazon.com during the last few days. But the rush to embrace Orwell’s dystopian vision might be a little misdirected. Some of what Orwell warned us about has materialized. But what…
Legislature puts off vote on Dems’ funding
Last night’s County Legislature meeting was dominated by debate over the county fair proposal. But something else significant happened. The Legislature — meaning the Legislature’s Republican majority — did not pass legislation that would cut the Democrats’ funding. When it came time to vote on the matter, Majority Leader Steve Tucciarello simply moved to table…
PHOTO: From East Broad Street at night
By the time I got out of last night’s County Legislature meeting it was pretty late, which means it was relatively quiet downtown. And quite beautiful. I had my camera with me so when I reached my car, which was parked on East Broad Street, I paused and took a few shots. Lacking a tripod…
Legislature passes fair legislation
As expected, last night the County Legislature approved a measure that establishes a county agricultural fair and fairgrounds at Northampton Park in Ogden. And, as expected, Republicans pushed the legislation through; Legislator John Lightfoot was the only Democrat to support it. The vote capped off an epic Legislature meeting, which lasted almost six hours —…
JAZZ | Bob Sneider
The Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival is still a week away, but you don’t have to wait that long to hear one of the festival’s highlights. Bob Sneider, who leads the festival’s late-night jam session at the Rochester Plaza, is a fantastic guitar player in the tradition of Jim Hall, Grant Green, and Barney Kessel.…
Sunday, June 23 – Schedule
1 p.m.: Student Jazz Workshops Eastman School of Music (Room 120) 3:45, 4:30 & 5:15 p.m.: High School Jazz Bands Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 5:30 p.m.: BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet Harro East Ballroom ($20-$25, or Club Pass) 5:45 p.m.: Paul Hofmann Hatch Hall ($20-$25, or Club Pass) 6 p.m.: ESM Jazz Honors Unit 1 Jazz…
Friday, June 28 – Artist Bios
Ben Taylor Imagine the expectation that comes with being the son of James Taylor and Carly Simon. Ben Taylor lives up to that expectation, but with a voice all his own. His singing is soft and relaxing, but delivers a powerful punch of emotion. The Little Theatre should be a perfect venue for his brand…
Big Brother at work
Maybe President Obama is able to reconcile his words and his actions, but my head is spinning. This was Barack Obama on May 23, speaking at the National Defense University: “For over two centuries, the United States has been bound together by founding documents that defined who we are as Americans, and served as our…
METAL | Lamb of God
Despite a moniker that invokes, among other images, a gentle spirit, Lamb of God is actually a wolf in sheep’s clothing. In fact, the metal quintet is so ferocious that it makes other metal bands look like “Sesame Street.” Lamb of God’s two-decades-long career has been marked with ups (a major label deal plus three…
INTERVIEW: Marti Brom
There’s a spot in certain female voices — a transitional spot, if you will — between sweet vibrato and growl. Texas rockabilly songstress Marti Brom traverses this vocal twilight beautifully, leaving a slew of broken hearts in her wake. Brom’s voice and overall persona is classic and way beyond your typical rootsy twang and tribute.…
Saturday, June 29 – Schedule
1 p.m.: Student Jazz Workshops Eastman School of Music (Room 120) 3:45, 4:30 & 5:15 p.m.: High School Jazz Bands Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 5:45 p.m.: Marianne Trudel Hatch Hall ($20-$25, or Club Pass) 6 p.m.: ESM Jazz Honors Unit 4 Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 6 p.m.: Greece Jazz Band Unity Health Care Big Tent…
HIP-HOP/RAP | Rick Ross
While Rick Ross might consider himself that caterpillar sushi, with all that Miami flavor he may more likely be swordfish sashimi. Touring to support his sophomore release, “Trilla,” he’s come back to prove that he hasn’t gone all soft getting his acting game on (appearing in such gems as “Days of Wrath” and the upcoming…
Sunday, June 23 – Artist Bios
BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet Brothers Michael and David Doucet began touring Louisiana in 1986. Since then their cajun dance music has earned them Grammy nominations and even a Super Bowl performance. Michael (fiddle) and David (guitar) are joined by percussionists Billy Ware and Tommy Alesi, Mitch Reed on fiddle and bass, and Don Vappie on…
Saturday, June 29 – Artist Bios
Al Chez & the Brothers of Funk No doubt you’ve seen his mug and heard his horn on the tube. For 15 years he honked his horn on “Late Night with David Letterman.” In 2008 Chez put together the 14-piece Brothers of Funk, a blistering wall of ballsy, horn-driven rock. (FD) alchez.com Amy Lynn &…
Feedback 6/12
Send comments to themail@rochester-citynews.com, or post them on our website, rochestercitynewspaper.com, our Facebook page, or our Twitter feed, @roccitynews. For our print edition, we select comments from all three sources; those of fewer than 350 words have a greater chance of being published, and we do edit those selections. Reforms aren’t ’rich addition’ to education On March…
VOCAL | Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus
It’s time for a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus at its upcoming concert, “The Rainbow Connection.” The concert doubles as a celebration of National LGBT Pride Month with songs of pride, empowerment, and celebration. RGMC includes more than 40 voices and is currently led by Artistic Director Dr. Robert…
Monday, June 24 – Schedule
Noon: Mike Kaupa Quartet Central Library (FREE) 4:30 & 5:15 p.m.: High School Jazz Bands Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 5:30 p.m.: Courtney Pine – House of Legends Harro East Ballroom ($20-$25, or Club Pass) 5:45 p.m.: Geoffrey Keezer Hatch Hall at Eastman School of Music ($20-$25, or Club Pass) 6 p.m.: Alfredo Rodriguez Trio Kilbourn…
Festival Information
The 2013 Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival Friday, June 21-Saturday, June 29 TICKETS & VENUES Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre Series Headliner shows are held in the Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre (60 Gibbs St). These are ticketed shows; a club pass doesn’t work here. Tickets, which range from $40 to $125 (plus service charges),…
“The Purge”
Like it or not, popular film, like other popular arts, often reflects important currents and significant truths appropriate to its time and place, providing a telling commentary on its cultural context. All those familiar summer blockbusters, for example, suggest some not entirely inspiring notions about the movie-going public’s demand for the constant bombardment of sound…
ART | “The Gender Show”; Art & Treasures Sale
While we fight amongst ourselves over which couples should be recognized by the church and state and which social roles and physical traits are appropriate for which sets of gonads, some intelligent people look outside of their current and local settings to explore how others have created space for diversity and defined themselves freely. This…
Monday, June 24 – Artist Bios
Alfredo Rodriguez When Alfredo Rodriguez plays a ballad, he leans so far into the piano that you might think he’s kissing the keys. In a way he is, with the exquisite touch of his fingers. It’s not surprising that Quincy Jones, who co-produced his first album, called him one of the best musicians in the…
“Before Midnight”
It’s been 19 years since movie audiences were first introduced to Jesse and Céline, the chatty, opinionated couple played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, who have been the focus of the now three movies in Richard Linklater’s “Before” series of films. In 1994’s “Before Sunrise,” we watched as the pair met by chance aboard…
FESTIVAL | Maplewood Rose Celebration
If lilacs and the unlikely magnolias herald the springtime in Rochester, then summer’s signal is the rose. The 23rd Annual Maplewood Rose Celebration will be held Saturday, June 15, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and Sunday, June 16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., in and around Maplewood Park and Rose Garden (at the corner of Lake and Driving Park…
Tuesday, June 25 – Schedule
Noon: Nick Finzer Central Library (FREE) 4:30 & 5:15 p.m.: High School Jazz Bands Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 5:30 p.m.: Yellowjackets Harro East Ballroom ($20-$25, or Club Pass) 5:45 p.m.: Alfredo Rodriguez Hatch Hall ($20-$25, or Club Pass) 6 p.m.: Shine On – The Universe of John Lennon Montage ($20-$25, or Club Pass) 6 p.m.:…
Urban Action 6/12
This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. (All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.) Greenway planning meetings The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation will hold a series of public meetings on creating a management plan for the Genesee Valley Greenway. The 90-mile…
SPECIAL EVENT | Father’s Day events
Celebrate your Pa Dukes the day before Father’s Day with these local events. For more events, visit our online calendar at rochestercitynewspaper.com. Take dad to the Father’s Day Weekend Celebration at the Genesee Brew House (25 Cataract St., High Falls district) on Saturday, June 15, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. The event is free to attend, restricted…
INTERVIEW: Anat Cohen
When Israeli clarinetist Anat Cohen steps out of her Brooklyn home, she finds herself between two worlds. Cohen resides in Williamsburg, a vital neighborhood in the New York jazz scene. But Williamsburg is also a center of Hasidic Judaism in the United States. “I live right on the border,” says Cohen. “I make a left…
Stratford Festival
Assume you can manage one night at this summer’s Stratford Festival. Even then, it will be costly — B&B’s, the good restaurants, and tickets have risen dramatically in recent years. But if you’re willing to set the alarm for an ungodly hour to make the four-plus-hour drive in time, you can complete a four-play marathon.…
SPECIAL EVENT | Rochester Real Beer Week 2013
Beer is proof that German monks loved us and wanted us to be happy, or something like that. Celebrate humanity’s ability to take raw materials and concoct delicious drinks of delirium with the 2nd Annual Rochester Real Beer Week. The celebration takes place Friday, June 14, through Sunday, June 23, and will feature a full…
Tuesday, June 25 – Artist Bios
Alfredo Rodriguez See listing for Monday, June 24. Anat Cohen See feature on page 22. anatcohen.com Black Lillies The Black Lillies’ music has a ton more honky-tonk and giddy-up than others that pick the grass blue. The band hails from Knoxville, Tennessee, and comes off deeply southern — in a good way — without a…
Running out of time
Significant cuts to All City High’s teaching and non-teaching staff have set off alarms about that school’s survival, but there’s much more to it. The cuts have also ignited a much larger concern about the future of the Rochester school district and the role that charter schools will play in that future. All City High’s…
SPECIAL EVENT | Cuisine Culture and WNY Pottery Fest
There are few things more important or worthy in life than breaking bread with others. Combine good, local cuisine with well-crafted tableware (and more) this weekend when you visit the Western New York Pottery Festival, which takes place Saturday, June 15, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (with a Pottery Party 5:30-10 p.m.) and Sunday, June 16, 10…
Wednesday, Jun 26 – Schedule
Noon: Ted Nicolosi and Shared Genes Central Library (FREE) 4:30 & 5:15 p.m.: High School Jazz Bands Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 5:30 p.m.: Lee Fields & The Expressions Harro East Ballroom ($20-$25, or Club Pass) 5:45 p.m.: Harold Danko Hatch Hall ($20-$25, or Club Pass) 6 p.m.: Goldings-Stewart-Bernstein Montage ($20-$25, or Club Pass) 6 p.m.:…
Fringe reveals 2013 headliners
On Monday the First Niagara Rochester Fringe Festival unveiled the headlining acts for the second year of the event, which will run September 19 to 28 in multiple venues in Downtown Rochester. Aerial dance troupe Bandaloop will return after its crowd-pleasing kickoff performances at the first Rochester Fringe, which reportedly drew more than 10,000 spectators.…
THEATER | “Big Pants & Botox”
As a 30-year-old woman, I’ve grown frustrated with much of the frivolousness and vapidity of the “girl culture” that’s been slung at us since birth, but with growing evidence of my aging (the stray grays, the laugh lines), I also feel sensitive to the weird pressures that the onset of maturity place on a lady.…
Wednesday, Jun 26 – Artist Bios
Aaron Goldberg Trio When Wynton Marsalis hired Aaron Goldberg to play piano for the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, he called him “a modern improviser of great clarity, finesse, and dexterity.” A sought-after sideman, Goldberg has lent his keyboard talents to Betty Carter, Joshua Redman, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and many others. (RN) aarongoldberg.com Curley Taylor& Zydeco Trouble…
Medley Centre’s long odds
The biggest and possibly only physical change happening at Irondequoit’s beleaguered Medley Centre mall seems to be the grass growing through the cracks in the parking lot. That shouldn’t be the case. By now, Medley developer Scott Congel is supposed to have invested $165 million toward his vision of turning the dead mall into a…
RESTAURANT REVIEW: Swan Market
Parsells Avenue is part of a residential neighborhood. Children and dogs play behind chain-link fences in shaggy grass, men and women gather to chat on porch stoops, and teenage men bicycle bare-chested down the street, their wheels gliding past a broken bottle or two. It’s not where you’d expect to get a taste and feel…
Thursday, June 27 – Schedule
Noon: Herb Smith Central Library (FREE) 1 p.m.: Student Jazz Workshops Eastman School of Music (Room 120) 4:30 & 5:15 p.m.: High School Jazz Bands Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 5:30 p.m.: Dirty Dozen Brass Band Harro East Ballroom ($20-$25, or Club Pass) 5:45 p.m.: Howard Levy Hatch Hall ($20-$25, or Club Pass) 6 p.m.: Brad…
Fair fury
Plans to move the Monroe County fair to 25 acres in Ogden’s Northampton Park are being met with fury, frustration, and possible litigation. The Monroe County Legislature was expected to vote on the proposal Tuesday night. It is possible, though unlikely, the proposal could be tabled. | The sale of the Dome Arena, the fair’s…
Friday June 21 – Schedule
3:45, 4:30 & 5 p.m.: High School Jazz Bands Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 5:30 p.m.: Quincy Jones Presents: Nikki Yanofsky Harro East Ballroom ($20-$25, or Club Pass) 5:45 p.m.: Bill Dobbins Hatch Hall ($20-$25, or Club Pass) 6 p.m.: ECMS Jazz Combos led by Mike Kaupa & Paul Hofmann Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 6 p.m.:…
INTERVIEW: Rudresh Mahanthappa
It’s not unusual for a jazz artist to lead several groups, but Rudresh Mahanthappa just might hold the record. He leads or co-leads 10 different ensembles. “I’m always hearing a different sound in my head,” says Mahanthappa. “My artistic vision is not necessarily about having one group and keeping it together for 10 to 20…
MUSIC FEATURE: Danielle Ponder
At the forefront of funk-soul-rock act Black August’s infectious groove was Danielle Ponder, a fireball of soul, of consciousness, of action. The Rochester band was at its best, playing great shows, drawing big crowds, when it surprisingly opted for a fade to black. Ponder was in law school at Northeastern University in Boston for three…
INTERVIEW: Pink Martini
With equal dashes Esquivel lounge and Martin Denny exotica, chilled on retro rocks and poured into a Camelot-era America glass, Pink Martini is the ultimate in sophisticated pop cool and classic, jazzy swing. Since 1994, this ensemble from Portland, Oregon, has traveled the world plugging into orchestras along the way. It’s breathtaking. It’s an elegant…
Thursday, June 27 – Artist Bios
Bob James and David Sanborn with Steve Gadd Saxophonist David Sanborn has played with famous artists from every genre imaginable — David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, the Grateful Dead, Billy Joel, and Eric Clapton are just a few. For this concert he will be joined by keyboardist Bob James, drummer Steve Gadd, and bassist James Genus.…
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL | Southside Johnny
Garden State legend Southside Johnny’s new album, “Men Without Women,” was recorded at another New Jersey legend, juke joint of renown The Stone Pony. Since the mid-70’s this grossly underrated band has been one of the top purveyors of blue-eyed soul. Remember how Springsteen sounded before he got more into introspection? Well multiply that by…
Friday, June 21 – Artist Bios
Bill Dobbins Bill Dobbins is director of the Eastman Jazz Ensemble and Eastman Studio Orchestra, but European jazz aficionados know him as the long-time conductor of the WDR Big Band (1994-2002) and occasional conductor of the Metropole Orchestra. Dobbins is also an excellent pianist who has played with Clark Terry, Phil Woods, and Peter Erskine.…
Friday, June 28 – Schedule
Noon: Karl Stabnau Central Library (FREE) 1 p.m.: Student Jazz Workshops Eastman School of Music (Room 120) 3:45, 4:30 & 5:15 p.m.: High School Jazz Bands Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 5:45 p.m.: Cyrus Chestnut Hatch Hall ($20-$25, or Club Pass) 6 p.m.: ESM Jazz Honors Unit 3 Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 6 p.m.: Rochester Metro…
FUNK/REGGAE | Vermont Reggae Festival
Don’t let the name fool you — this is happening right here in Greater Rochester. This new festival presents a solid spine-bending groove line-up. Starting with the Funkalicious Friday, you’ve got Neo Project, Gunpoets, Sophistafunk, and DJs True Risen and Solar Lion. Saturday in the Sun features Jah Cutta, Acuma Roots, Chyna Nicole, Black Mountain Groove…
Saturday, June 22 – Schedule
1 p.m.: Student Jazz Workshops Eastman School of Music (Room 120) 3:45, 4:30 & 5:15 p.m.: High School Jazz Bands Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 5:30 p.m.: New York Voices Harro East Ballroom ($20-$25, or Club Pass) 5:45 p.m.: Matt Herskowitz Bach to Brubeck! Hatch Hall ($20-$25, or Club Pass) 6 p.m.: 78 RPM Big Band…
INTERVIEW: Gas House Gorillas
So, five gorillas walk into a bar… But seriously folks, five guys from Brooklyn walk into a joint in Anytown, USA, and promptly take the stage. They look like a cross-section between The Bowery Boys and escapees from The Reformatory for Wayward Boys circa 1959. It’s still not clear if these cats are the band,…
ROCK | East End Festival
UPDATED 6/12/13 to correct spelling of Big Eyed Phish. I’m happy to say the East End Festival is back with its old musical fervor. Sure, there’s still a few cover bands for the timid, but for the most part it’s all homegrown rock ‘n’ roll on four stages, baby. Just dig this: The Driftwood Sailors,…
Saturday, June 22 – Artist Bios
78 RPM Big Band This group originated in the early 70’s as an Oktoberfest band in Western New York. Over the years it has traded the oom-pa-pa-oom for some sweet swing a la Glenn, Tommy, and Artie. (FD) 78rpmband.com Bruce Barth & Steve Wilson Two of the most sought-after musicians on the jazz scene today…
ARTS: High Falls Film Festival announces 2014 dates
The High Falls Film Festival announced that it will return in 2014, running April 24-27. The festival returned this spring after taking a year off to reformat and refocus itself after multiple name changes and shifts in mission in recent years. The full press release follows: Rochester, NY–June 14, 2013–The High Falls Film Festival today…
