“But if you’re gone during the summer, you’ll miss the Jazz Fest.”
Over the past four years that’s what I told many friends and fellow UR
students. One of the biggest, and musically best, events in Rochester happens
every summer, and as they all left for home or other internships, I always
reminded them of what they were missing. And I rubbed it in their faces a
little bit.
Oddly enough, my first time ever at the Rochester International Jazz
Festival was playing on the Jazz Street Stage with my high-school jazz band.
I’ve had fond memories of the festival ever since, be it the music, the food,
the community getting together, or moshing during Smash Mouth’s “All Star” a
few years back. This will be my second year actually covering the festival.
This year I’m covering a lot of names that are new to me, but the discovery
part of the festival has always been one of my favorite parts.
Musically, I tend to lean more toward the modern and contemporary sides of
jazz; loud, fast music that borders on rock is fine by me. Throw in some
bluegrass-leaning tendencies and I’m pretty happy as well. Oh, and anything
with a tuba in it wins automatically. Nothing beats tuba jazz.
For Friday night I’m set to check out a good mix of groups: the Lucio
Ferrara Trio, Goran Kajfes Subtropic Arkestra, and L’Orkestra des Pas Perdus
(which does have a tuba).
And I’m really hoping that Bayou Billy’s food cart is returning. I’ve got my
collectable mugs still kicking around, and homemade jambalaya and root beer
hits the spot every time.
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This article appears in Bye bye unions?.
