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Jazz Festival Guide 2015
City Newspaper’s guide to Rochester’s biggest music festival. For more reviews, blogs, photos, and the latest news, check our website every day of the festival.
Arts events: 2015 Finger Lakes Plein Air Competition & Festival
The fourth annual Finger Lakes Plein Air Competition & Festival kicks off Wednesday, June 10. More than 40 talented artists from across the United States and Canada will visit to paint the beauty of Canandaigua and the Finger Lakes. In addition to artists, the event draws art lovers and collectors from all over. Attendees can…
Kodak, Oak Ridge will partner on energy tech
Oak Ridge National Laboratory will partner with Kodak to explore ways that film can be used in next-generation battery and energy-storage devices. Kodak and Oak Ridge officials announced the collaboration this afternoon at Eastman Business Park. But some other news also came out of the event: Kodak is keeping Eastman Business Park, according to media…
City Council members question use of red-light cameras
Rochester City Council members had an intense debate this afternoon over the city’s red-light camera program. Council members questioned the efficacy of the program, whether the cameras unfairly target the city’s poorest neighborhoods, whether the city has become dependent on the revenue from the program, and if the benefits outweigh the ill will that the…
When fear takes charge: terrorism and our rights
Immigration, the economy, inequality, climate change, health care, terrorism: candidates for president will have plenty to talk about over the next year and a half. Something to add to that list: government surveillance. Tension between civil rights and the fear of enemy attack seems unavoidable. But too often, fear leads us to question authority too…
RPD says no Taser ban
Local clergy had called on the police department to temporarily stop using Tasers after the death of Richard Davis.
Week Ahead: Events for the week of Monday, June 8
Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks will deliver her final State of the County address at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The speech will take place at Irondequoit High School, 260 Cooper Road. If the address is like the speeches that Brooks has given in previous years, it’ll focus heavily on the county’s economic development efforts, its collaboration…
First Friday: June 5
Rochester is busting with artful activity tonight. The following highlights are just a few of the events offered Friday, June 5; check out more options listed at firstfridayrochester.org and in our calendar. All events run 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. tonight, and are free to attend unless otherwise stated. Cat Clay (Hungerford Building, 1115 East…
RCSD per pupil spending doesn’t tell the whole story
The Rochester City School District spends more than $20,000 per student, more than just about any other district in the country, according to recent US census data. That’s higher than neighboring Buffalo and Syracuse. Shocking? Breaking news? Hardly. This story comes around about once a year, and the city school district never comes out looking…
EPA issues study on fracking and water
The US Environmental Protection Agency has released a long-awaited draft assessment of high-volume hydraulic fracturing’s impact on water resources. And it’s been interesting to watch the response to the study. The EPA analyzed state and industry well and spill data, which resulted in 20 peer-reviewed scientific reports, according to a news release from the agency.…
Classical Review: RPO performs “Carmina Burana”
Choral groups have few blue-chip certainties in the 20th-century repertoire, but Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” is definitely one of them. With music that has been pilfered for movies, commercials, video games, rock albums, and sitcom episodes, Orff’s “scenic cantata” always draws a crowd — and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the Oratorio Society surely counted…
More design concepts for the Port of Rochester
Edgewater Resources has presented new design concepts for the Port of Rochester project. In a written update, Greg Weykamp, president of Edgewater, says that the design is still a work in progress and is only meant to study the form of the building. “It does not represent the final materials selection, but rather is meant…
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 7, Episode 14: Grand Finale
We’ve been through a lot to get to this point: the highs were high, the lows were low, and the shade was shady. Was there crying? So much. Were there men in unicorn pajamas? Of course. Was Miley Cyrus there? Girl, she was. Coming live from the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, RuPaul’s Drag Race…
Concerns over police OT, car booting at City Council budget reviews
Rochester City Council scrutinized the budgets of several city departments today, including the budgets for the city administration and the Rochester Police Department. Council’s second review session is next week. The sessions are part of the regular review process of Mayor Lovely Warren’s proposed overall budget for the city. Some quick takeaways from today’s session:…
Film Reviews: “Love & Mercy” and “Saint Laurent”
Biopics have long been a surefire ticket for filmmakers to earn awards, recognition, and acclaim (or at least get themselves mentioned in the award season conversation). It’s not hard to see why these types of films are so popular: they naturally provide a sense of history and drama, and with actors portraying an actual, real-life…
Summer movie preview 2015
It’s summer. Finally. And with warm weather comes the opportunity to see what cinematic delights the multiplex has to offer as the studios bust out their biggest entertainments. In the coming months, we’re going to get dinosaurs, superheroes, and a naked Channing Tatum. In other words, it’s a great time to be alive. Since deadlines…
A permanent parking spot
Anyone who is familiar with the food truck scene in Rochester knows Marty’s Meats: the popular sandwich truck is a fixture downtown and at office parks and food truck rodeos. A new brick and mortar location at 703 Park Avenue, Marty’s on Park, allows owners Marty O’Sullivan and Paul Koecheler an opportunity to expand their…
Ingrid Jensen
If instruments have personalities, trumpet has to be the most audacious and in your face. Maybe that’s why not many budding female musicians are handed one. But that’s not the way it was in Ingrid Jensen’s family. Her mom played piano and loved traditional jazz, so growing up in the late-1970’s, Jensen was given a…
Jane Bunnett
What is it about Afro-Cuban music that makes it the very embodiment of joy? Is it the dance of the exuberant polyrhythms as they weave in and out of one another? Is it the lilting melodies that remain non-perforated and unadulterated by the dominant beats? Just ask Canadian saxophonist and flautist Jane Bunnett, whose love-at-first-sight…
Park mentality
If you and your canine companion are anything like me and mine, your daily walk routine requires the occasional variety to combat boredom for both of you. Thankfully, summertime offers restless Rochester-area residents myriad options for letting their four-legged friends explore. There are limited spaces available where dogs can roam off-leash, however, so make certain…
ALBUM REVIEW: “Live In Toronto”
Gap Mangione “Live In Toronto” Josh Music gapmangione.com Pianist Gap Mangione is such a ubiquitous presence in the Rochester jazz world, he can sometimes be taken for granted. That’s why it was an inspired idea, when recording his new album, to get out of town. “Live In Toronto” features a great band, a new, appreciative…
Saturday, June 27 – Schedule
Saturday, June 27 3:00 p.m.: Bill Tiberio Band East Ave. & Chestnut St. Stage (FREE) 4:00 p.m.: Steep Canyon Rangers Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre ($30-$45) 4:30 p.m.: Webster Schroeder High School Jazz Band Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 5:00 p.m.: Ikebe Shakedown East Ave. & Chestnut St. Stage (FREE) 5:15 p.m.: School of the Arts…
Tuesday, June 23 – Schedule
Tuesday, June 23 12:00 p.m.: Jazz Starts at the Library with Danny Ziemann Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County (FREE) 1:00 p.m.: Jazz Workshop for Young Music Students Eastman School of Music (Room 120) (FREE) 4:00 p.m.: Kenny Werner Lyric Theatre ($20 or Club Pass) 4:30 p.m.: Athena High School Jazz Band Jazz Street…
Warm songs
For lovers of the American musical, this summer offers ample opportunity to break out in song and dance. It’s the spirit of sunlight after a long winter: Just needing to sing. This summer, revisit some cherished classics, or catch a new hit, or discover something lesser known and up-and-coming. Most productions kick off in July,…
Urban Action 6/3
This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. Green fair in Brighton ColorBrightonGreen.Org will hold the Brighton Eco-Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 14. The fair will feature green vendors, children’s activities, and a silent auction. Visitors…
Saturday, June 27 – Musician Bios
Saturday, June 27 – Musician Bios Alex Pangman Regarded as Canada’s “sweetheart of swing,” Alex Pangman has proven herself a talented and learned student of the classic jazz singers. After initial successes in the Canadian circuit and a subsequent health-necessitated break from touring, Pangman discovered Toronto’s bluegrass and string-band scene. The singer’s latest album was…
Tuesday, June 23 – Musician Bios
Tuesday, June 23 – Musician Bios Aaron Diehl Aaron Diehl turned more than a few heads with his gorgeous keyboard work when he played last year’s XRIJF with Cecile Mclorin Salvant. This year Diehl will have more opportunities to showcase his superb technique and lyrical style when he takes the spotlight in solo and trio…
ROOTS ROCK | Railroad Earth
Railroad Earth is unparalleled in how many balls it keeps in the air. A lot of bands who try to incorporate more than a couple of sounds or genre mash-ups wind up wrecking the train altogether. Railroad Earth keeps all kinds of music aloft from bluegrass to blue collar. It’s as if the Boss went…
Steep Canyon Rangers
To the untrained ear, bluegrass tunes tend to run into each other, the patterns and loops of notes both picked and plucked can be a confusing barrage. That’s not to say bands like this aren’t accessible, you’ve just gotta be on your toes. The Steep Canyon Rangers are a phenomenal bluegrass sextet from North Carolina…
Wednesday, June 24 – Schedule
Wednesday, June 24 12:00 p.m.: Jazz Starts at the Library with Mel Henderson Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County (FREE) 1:00 p.m.: Jazz Workshop for Young Music Students Eastman School of Music (Room 120) (FREE) 4:00 p.m.: Fred Hersch Solo Lyric Theatre ($20 or Club Pass) 4:30 p.m.: Canandaigua High School Jazz Band Jazz…
SINGER-SONGWRITER | Mary Gauthier
The track “Falling Out Of Love” on Mary Gauthier’s 2005 release, “Mercy Now,” is the most haunting un-love song I’ve ever heard. It arrests me every time — kind of like a countrified Nick Cave. The lady has done plenty since, but hasn’t lost any of her love-lost charm and tarnish. Gauthier sings of a…
Inside the bubble
Screams and laughter echo in Cobbs Hill Park on a humid 78-degree Wednesday night. “Aaah!” one woman shouts, running full-speed at another player. “Woah!” the other yelps, flipping over backwards as she falls to the ground, taking a graceful bounce before coming to rest on the grass. But the scene is anything but graceful. About…
Thursday, June 25 – Schedule
Thursday, June 25 12:00 p.m.: Jazz Starts at the Library with Doug Stone Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County (FREE) 1:00 p.m.: Jazz Workshop for Young Music Students Eastman School of Music (Room 120) (FREE) 4:00 p.m.: Bill Charlap Lyric Theatre ($20 or Club Pass) 4:30 p.m.: Brockport High School Jazz Band Jazz Street…
JAZZ | Louis Prima Jr. and The Witnesses
Like his famous father, Louis Prima Jr. is the consummate showman. Judging by his latest album, “Blow,” Prima and his wild group, The Witnesses, should have Fairport up and dancing in the aisles after Chet Catallo & The Cats have warmed them up. Fairport Canal Days has become the jazz festival before the jazz festival…
Drawing from experience
My first glimpse of Caitlin Yarsky’s talent was at the 2008 Artist’s Row at the Rochester Public Market, when I spied a tall, epic painting of a girl adventurer visible quite a distance from Yarsky’s booth. The subject was leaning out from her grasp on the mast of a ship and studying the horizon, oblivious…
Festival Information
Tickets, Venues, Parking and Additional Information
Fred Hersch
Growing up in Cincinnati, Fred Hersch noticed that there was a piano in his house, so, at the age of 4, he sat down and started to pick out tunes. That precocious beginning led Hersch to a career as a sideman with greats like Joe Henderson, Stan Getz, and Art Farmer; as a leader on…
ROCK | The War on Drugs
On its third album, 2014’s excellent “Lost in the Dream,” The War on Drugs toe the ever-blurring line between pleasingly retro and mawkishly nostalgic with particular aplomb, sounding as if the sextet has mainlined the American rock triumvirate of Dylan, Springsteen, and Petty, right down to the feeling of wanderlust. But unlike his heartland rock…
A classic road trip
If you are hoping to get out of the house while the weather is warm, the summer provides a multitude of classical music events that can all be reached by car in a day’s travel. Some are only an hour away or less, and others: with a little more motivation you can leave home in…
Friday, June 19 – Schedule
Friday, June 19 3:45 p.m.: Buckman Heights Elementary School Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 4:00 p.m.: Diana Krall Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre ($55-$120) 4:30 p.m.: Arcadia High School Jazz Band Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 5:15 p.m.: Hilton High School Jazz Band Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 5:30 p.m.: The New Mastersounds Harro East Ballroom ($20 or…
SPECIAL EVENT | “Miscast”
The Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus will perform “Miscast” at Blackfriars Theatre on Friday, June 5. The cabaret-style performance will allow members of the chorus to break from normal casting restrictions and perform a song by a character for which they would normally never be cast. This model of show has been performed in numerous performing-arts…
CLASSICAL | “Hochstein at High Falls”
Summer concert series are beginning to bloom all over the area. “Hochstein at High Falls” begins its seventh summer seaons this Thursday, June 4, at 12:10 p.m. with the African drumming and dance group Mounafanyi, and proceeds through all kinds of musical styles from world music and Latin jazz to rock, including such longtime local…
FESTIVAL | Fairport Canal Days
This year is the 39th year of the Fairport Canal Days festival, which will feature vendors; artists and entertainment; wine, cheese and chocolate tasting; and live music. Great jazz has been the hallmark of the festival’s musical headliners, and this year is no exception, with the Saturday night slot going to swing music legend Louis…
Friday, June 19 – Musician Bios
Friday, June 19 – Musician Bios Anthony Strong Fortified with an acclaimed live show, a tailored suit, and a grand piano, the Anthony Strong wears the “English Gentleman” role well. A longtime fan of the classic jazz crooners, it was Strong’s role as an understudy to Jerry Lee Lewis that would most influence the career…
ART | “Stompology X”
Celebrating its 10th year, Groove Juice Swing’s “Stompology” aims at showcasing the art of jazz through dance and musical performances. Exhibiting at the historic German House (315 Gregory Street) from Thursday, June 4, through Sunday, June 7, “Stompology” offers a variety of entertainment, instructional dance classes, and competitions. This year’s dance instructors include Mike Faltesek,…
Feedback 6/3
We welcome your comments. Send them to themail@rochester-citynews.com, or post them on our website, rochestercitynewspaper.com, our Facebook page, or our Twitter feed, @roccitynews. Comments of fewer than 350 words have a greater chance of being published, and we do edit selections for publication in print. We don’t publish comments sent to other media. Aldi not…
Saturday, June 20 – Schedule
Saturday, June 20 3:45 p.m.: Gates-Chili High School Jazz Band Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 4:30 p.m.: Brighton High School Jazz Band Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 5:15 p.m.: Newark High School Jazz Band Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 5:30 p.m.: Grace Kelly Harro East Ballroom ($20 or Club Pass) 5:45 p.m.: Joey Alexander Hatch Recital Hall ($20…
FILM | Best of the Fests
It’s no secret that Rochester is home to some terrific film festivals, and with so many great options it can be difficult for even the most diehard of film buffs to get to them all. To make things a little easier on those with a passion for cinema, three of Rochester largest film festivals will…
POP ROCK | Ed Sheeran
Grammy-nominated pop superstar Ed Sheeran will make his first visit to Western New York on Sunday, June 7. Sheeran rose to fame when “The A Team,” the first single off his studio debut album entitled “+,” became an international hit in 2011. He is known for his heartfelt and improvisational live performances. British pop band Rixton will open for Sheeran. Ed…
Saturday, June 20 – Musician Bios
Saturday, June 20 – Musician Bios 78 RPM Big Band A 16-piece band based out of Dansville, 78 RPM brings big band music all through Western New York. The band has been playing since the 1970’s, performing classic jazz orchestra music as well as original arrangements of contemporary tunes. (NP) 78rpmband.com Andrew McCormack Quartet Hailing…
Summer spirits
It’s all warm breezes and cold cocktails for the next few months. Whether you’re setting up the bar at home or venturing out on the town, we’ve got some summer cocktails ideas for you to try. We asked a few local bartenders about their favorite warm weather refreshment and have even included the recipes so…
ROCK | Nothing
For fans of ethereal, fuzzy, warm rock ‘n’ roll this new band to Relapse Records hits the spot. Not quite heavy, not entirely shoegaze, it embodies all those things while carving out something unique. Space between hits is the band’s vehicle for attack, as swirling, cavernous tones wash over your ears. Meanwhile the drums crash…
Raul Midon
When I reached Raul Midon by phone he had just returned from a tour of Europe. With a vocalist, lead guitarist, rhythm guitarist, bassist, percussionist, and trumpet player in tow, it could have been a complicated tour. Luckily, all of those musician are the one-man band that is Raul Midon. Midon plays bass, chords, and…
THEATER | “Vivien Leigh: The Last Press Conference”
Centering on stage and film actress Vivien Leigh — the English actor who won Academy Awards for her roles as Southern heroines in “Gone With the Wind” and the film adapation of Tennesee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire” — “Vivien Leigh: The Last Press Conference will be performed at Geva Theatre Center’s Nextstage starting Thursday,…
The cost of cars
When Norman Garrick looks at cities that declined during the latter half of the 20th century, he says that he’s seldom surprised to find that transportation issues are often an overlooked root cause. “I think a lot of what happened to the Rust Belt cities and some of the cities in the Northeast have been…
Wednesday, June 24 – Musician Bios
Wednesday, June 24 – Musician Bios Aaron Diehl Solo See listing for Tuesday, June 23. Antonio Sanchez & Migration Since moving to New York City in 1999, Mexican drummer Antonio Sanchez has been one of the top players on the national scene, enhancing the groups of Pat Metheny, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Joshua Redman, Christian McBride,…
Sunday, June 21 – Schedule
Sunday, June 21 3:45 p.m.: MCC Jazz Band Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 4:00 p.m.: Joey Alexander Lyric Theatre ($20 or Club Pass) 4:30 p.m.: Penfield High School Jazz Band Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 5:15 p.m.: Spencerport High School Jazz Band Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 5:30 p.m.: The Soul Rebels Harro East Ballroom ($20 or Club…
ART | “6x6x2015”
The stars are aligning for the 8th annual fundraising “6×6” art show and sale. Well, the numbers are, anyway. The opening reception and artwork sale falls on Saturday, June 6. The event features thousands of 6-inch by 6-inch works of art donated by celebrities and commoners alike, the names of which remain anonymous until after…
ALT-COUNTRY | Robbie Fulks
Robbie Fulks’ alternative brand of country is highly accessible even for those who aren’t country fans. The guy is a flatpicking master and can absolutely tear it up on an acoustic guitar, and his singing is pretty darn good, to boot. Couple that with his non-typical lyrical themes and you have an eccentric musical genius.…
Thursday, June 25 – Musician Bios
Thursday, June 25 – Musician Bios Ali Jackson Trio The son of bassist Ali Jackson Sr., drummer Ali Jackson had strong encouragement at an early age from stars like Max Roach, Milt Hinton, and Aretha Franklin. At the age of 12 his percussion skills stood out to Wynton Marsalis, who was visiting his high school.…
Sunday, June 21 – Musician Bios
Sunday, June 21 – Musician Bios Benny Green Solo See listing for Saturday, June 20. Brian Molley Quartet When Brian Molley picks up his tenor saxophone, he hits the ground running with a full-throttle, muscular sound. Based in Scotland, Molley is the go-to guy for jazz bands ranging from small groups to the Scottish National…
ENTERTAINMENT | GCVM Hunter Derby
The Genesee Country Village and Museum (GCVM) (1410 Flint Hill Road, Mumford) will host its annual United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Hunter Derby on Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A Hunter Derby is an equestrian race which differs from traditional derbies by attempting to mimic the…
Macedon’s dissolution decision
Villages are often portrayed as idyllic hubs of small-town charm and traditional values. Everybody knows everybody else. Downtowns brim with small businesses. And residents and merchants pitch in to make the communities attractive and welcoming. And that’s how Mayor Marie Cramer describes the 1,500-person Village of Macedon in Wayne County, located a 10-minute drive east…
Sharon Jones
Sharon Jones was scheduled to sing at the 2013 Rochester International Jazz Festival when her career was abruptly put on hold due to a bout with cancer. Consequently, the following feature article was also put on hold. After treatment, Jones is back fronting the Dap Kings and is now scheduled to play at this year’s festival, so we wanted…
Herb Alpert
It’s 9 a.m., Pacific Time when Herb Alpert gave us a jingle-jangle a few weeks ago. He’d been up for hours recording “Whatever pops into my head,” the 80-year-old jazz and pop trumpeter says. “The night before, I woke up and I’m hearing ‘Blue Skies,’ the song Irving Berlin wrote, and all of a sudden…
Treat me
It’s almost hard to believe that four years have flown by since Catelyn Augustine and Amber Odhner unleashed Eat Me Ice Cream on our city.
Busted Americana
Ask all the members of Dust & Bone whether they prefer the studio to the live stage, the answer comes back instant and unanimous: “live.” Dust & Bone is a leather and denim Americana band, straight up, and a good one, too. Elements of blues, country, and folk do the dance with rock ‘n’ roll.…
Friday, June 26 – Schedule
Friday, June 26 12:00 p.m.: Jazz Starts at the Library with Mike Melito Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County (FREE) 1:00 p.m.: Jazz Workshop for Young Music Students Eastman School of Music (Room 120) (FREE) 4:30 p.m.: Harley High School Jazz Band Jazz Street Stage (FREE) 5:15 p.m.: Greece Olympia High School Jazz Band…
Monday, June 22 – Schedule
Monday, June 22 – Musician Bios 12:00 p.m.: Jazz Starts at the Library with Mike Kaupa Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County (FREE) 1:00 p.m.: Jazz Workshop for Young Music Students Eastman School of Music (Room 120) (FREE) 4:00 p.m.: Raul Midon Lyric Theatre ($20 or Club Pass) 4:30 p.m.: W. Irondequoit High School…
Kid-friendly culture
It’s easy to imagine that the blessing of warmer weather arrives with the puzzle of how to fill up more than two months when the kiddos are sprung from school. And it’s understandable that adults might not want their time to be eaten up completely with events geared entirely toward children. Many of our local…
ALBUM REVIEW: “Ricky Richards and the Sound Organization”
Ricky Richards and the Sound Organization Self-titled Self-released facebook.com/rickyrichardsandthesoundorganization Ricky Richards and the Sound Organization have gone about this self-released, stompin’ R&B platter the right way instrumentally. There’s bright ‘n’ ballsy brass, a tight rhythm section, backing gal vocals, and Richards parked up front behind his keyboard and his shades as he runs the whole…
Friday, June 26 – Musician Bios
Friday, June 26 – Musician Bios Arstidir Iceland’s Arstidir has spent the last six years touring in more than 30 countries. During this time the band has honed its string-laden sound and developed a devoted and growing following. This year Arstidir is releasing its third studio album and headlining tours in the U.S., Europe, and…
Monday, June 22 – Musician Bios
Monday, June 22 – Musician Bios Blue Highway With more than 20 years together and 11 albums to show for it, Blue Highway is at the top of the bluegrass heap. The band has been besieged with an avalanche of awards, including two Grammy nominations for its gospel and Americana-tinged music. (FD) bluehighwayband.com Bob Albanese…
Film Review: “Aloha”
Well, it has finally dawned on me that I might be in an abusive relationship with filmmaker Cameron Crowe. Things were just so good at the beginning, with “Say Anything…,” “Singles,” “Jerry Maguire,” and “Almost Famous,” all perfect in their own unique way yet thrumming with beautifully universal truths. But at the turn of the…
Ethics, schmethics
A scandal here, a scandal there: the corruption stories just keep rolling in. And nothing changes. Are we fed up yet?
