Jazz Festival Guide 2016

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City Newspaper's guide to Rochester's biggest music festival. The 2016 Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival runs Friday, June 24, through Saturday, July 2. For more reviews, blogs, photos, and the latest news, check our website every day of the festival.

Want to get a taste of what the Jazz Festival will sound like this year? Check out the Spotify playlist below of our 15 essential XRIJF 2016 artists.

In This Guide...

Rochester International Jazz Festival

Jazz Fest 2016: City's Daily Jazz Blogs

The 2016 Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival runs Friday, June 24, through Saturday, July 2, and City Newspaper will be out every night of the festival, covering multiple shows.

Jun 21, 2016

XRIJF Jazz Festival 2016 Rochester Music Club Pass Series
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Festival Information

Tickets, Venues, Parking, and Additional Information

Jun 15, 2016
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Friday, June 24 - Musician Bios

More about the musicians performing Friday, June 24

Jun 15, 2016
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Friday, June 24 - Schedule

Full schedule for Friday, June 24

Jun 15, 2016
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Saturday, June 25 - Schedule

Full schedule for Saturday, June 25

Jun 15, 2016
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Davina and The Vagabonds

Proving that rock 'n' roll can still thoroughly thrive without the guitar, Davina and The Vagabonds lay it down with a vintage instrumentation — piano, horns, bass, and drums —and hi-tone retro ambition.

By Frank De Blase Jun 15, 2016

XRIJF 2016 Artist Feature Davina and The Vagabonds Davina Sowers Blues New Orleans Jazz
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Saturday, June 25 - Musician Bios

More about the musicians performing Saturday, June 25

Jun 15, 2016
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Junior Brown

Junior Brown's playing is a hybrid blur of chicken pickin' prestidigitation and salaciously slick slide. It's as if he was channeling Jimmy Bryant and Speedy West simultaneously and couldn't decide which one to pick.

By Frank De Blase Jun 15, 2016

XRIJF 2016 Artist Feature Junior Brown Guit-Steel Country Americana
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Sunday, June 26 - Schedule

Full schedule for Sunday, June 26

Jun 15, 2016
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Sunday, June 26 - Musician Bios

More about the musicians performing Sunday, June 26

Jun 15, 2016
Rochester International Jazz Festival

John Abercrombie

Fusion music didn't exist when guitarist John Abercrombie plied his craft at a Boston supper club in the late 1960's.

By Ron Netsky Jun 15, 2016

XRIJF 2016 Artist Feature John Abercrombie Gary Versace Adam Nussbaum Organ Trio Jazz
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Monday, June 27 - Schedule

Full schedule for Monday, June 27

Jun 15, 2016
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Monday, June 27 - Musician Bios

More on the musicians performing Monday, June 27

Jun 15, 2016
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Lizz Wright

When I caught up with vocalist and composer Lizz Wright by phone, she was in New York City getting ready to sing at a benefit for The Innocence Project. Wright, who synthesizes R&B, jazz, folk, blues, and gospel music, is still basking in the glow of her excellent new album, "Freedom & Surrender."

By Ron Netsky Jun 15, 2016

XRIJF 2016 Artist Feature Lizz Wright R&B Gospel Jazz Vocalist
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Tuesday, June 28 - Schedule

Full schedule for Tuesday, June 28

Jun 15, 2016
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Tuesday, June 28 - Musician Bios

More about the musicians performing Tuesday, June 28

Jun 15, 2016
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Bria Skonberg

It's hard to pin down what it is about Bria Skonberg. She's a double threat as a trumpet player and vocalist — good luck trying to pick which one you like more.

By Frank De Blase Jun 15, 2016

XRIJF 2016 Artist Feature Bria Skonberg Jazz Trumpeter Jazz Vocalist Hot Jazz
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Wednesday, June 29 - Schedule

Full schedule for Wednesday, June 29

Jun 15, 2016
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Wednesday, June 29 - Musician Bios

More about the musicians performing Wednesday, June 29

Jun 15, 2016
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Avishai Cohen

Soon after moving from Israel to New York in the 1990's, bassist Avishai Cohen began playing with top artists, including Danilo Pérez, Wynton Marsalis, and Joshua Redman. In 1997, Chick Corea signed him to his Stretch record label and asked Cohen to join his band.

By Ron Netsky Jun 15, 2016

XRIJF 2016 Artist Feature Avishai Cohen Bassist Jazz
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Thursday, June 30 - Schedule

Full schedule for Thursday, June 30

Jun 15, 2016
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Thursday, June 30 - Musician Bios

More on the musicians performing Thursday, June 30

Jun 15, 2016
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Emefe

Though usually pegged as entertainers, musicians don't necessarily owe their audience a damn thing. This is particularly the case when said band is focused on exorcising its own demons, and is pursuing its muse.

By Frank De Blase Jun 15, 2016

XRIJF 2016 Artist Feature Emefe Miles Arntzen Afrobeat Funk-Pop
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Friday, July 1 - Schedule

Full schedule for Friday, July 1

Jun 15, 2016
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Friday, July 1 - Musician Bios

More on the musicians performing Friday, July 1

Jun 15, 2016
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Red Baraat

Red Baraat's joyous energy is instantly infectious. Eight musicians piled onto a stage, devotedly kicking out Brooklyn bhangra — a mix of North Indian bhangra, D.C go-go, jazz, hip-hop, and New York City edge — will put a smile on your face, and then make you move.

By Jake Clapp Jun 15, 2016

XRIJF 2016 Artist Feature Red Baraat Sunny Jain Brooklyn Bhangra World Music Go-go
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Saturday, July 2 - Schedule

Full schedule for Saturday, July 2

Jun 15, 2016
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Saturday, July 2 - Musician Bios

More on the musicians performing Saturday, July 2

Jun 15, 2016
Rochester International Jazz Festival

Laura Dubin

Laura Dubin began taking piano lessons from her mom, a classical pianist, while she was growing up in Brighton. But there was another pianist in the family, her uncle, David, who visited from California.

By Ron Netsky Jun 15, 2016

XRIJF 2016 Artist Feature Laura Dubin Jazz Pianist Antonio H. Guerrero Kieran Hanlon