Latest news with #RochesterInternationalJazzFestival
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rochester Jazz Festival 2025: What to know before you go
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Rochester's iconic jazz festival is coming back this month! More than 1,700 musicians will be performing at the Rochester International Jazz Festival from June 20 through June 28. Over 200,000 jazz fans are expected to head downtown to check out the hundreds of shows planned this year. With so many performances and venues, it may seem a bit overwhelming at first. So here is a guide on what to expect: There are 285 concerts at this year's Jazz Festival, including jazz workshops. Many of the shows are free, while others require you to purchase tickets beforehand. All of the ticketed headliners will be performing at Kodak Hall with others performing at a variety of venues listed below. Ticketed Headliners Smokey Robinson (Friday, June 20 at 8 p.m.) Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (Saturday, June 21 at 8 p.m.) The Wood Brothers (Tuesday, June 24 at 8 p.m.) Rickie Lee Jones (Wednesday, June 25 at 8 p.m.) Thundercat (Thursday, June 26 at 8 p.m.) Free Headliners Alyssa Trahan Band (East & Alexander Stage – Saturday, June 21 at 7 p.m.) Chris Lane (East & Alexander Stage – Saturday, June 21 at 9 p.m.) Sonidos Unidos (Parcel 5 – Wednesday, June 25 at 7 p.m.) Jesus Molina (Parcel 5 – Wednesday, June 25 at 9 p.m.) Bruce Katz Band (Parcel 5 – Thursday, June 26 at 7 p.m.) Los Lonely Boys (Parcel 5 – Thursday, June 26 at 9 p.m.) Lettuce (Parcel 5 – Friday, June 27 at 9 p.m.) Helium Bubble (Parcel 5 – Saturday, June 28 at 7 p.m.) Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue (Parcel 5 – Saturday, June 28 at 9 p.m.) You can look at the entire list of shows by clicking here. The hundreds of concerts planned for the festival will be performed at 18 venues across Downtown Rochester. Below is a list of each venue and where to find them: Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County – South Avenue Jazz Street Stage – Gibbs Street at East Ave. East & Alexander Stage Eastman School of Music – Gibbs Street Ray Wright Room 120 Hatch Recital Hall Kilbourn Hall Hyatt Regency Rochester – East Main Street Inn on Broadway – Broadway Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Gibbs Street Max of Eastman Place – Gibbs Street Montage Music Hall – Chestnut Plaza Rochester Regional Health Big Tent – East Main Street Temple Theater – Liberty Pole Way The Duke – East Main Street The Little Theatre – East Avenue Theater at Innovation Square – Chestnut Street Wegmans Pavilion – East Avenue and North Chestnut Street Wegmans Stage at Parcel 5 – East Main Street From Lilac to Jazz Fest: When are Rochester's biggest events in 2025? Keep in mind, there are still plenty of free shows to check out at the festival, but some require you to purchase tickets or Club Passes. Most of the tickets are still available for purchase for the headlining shows, with many of the prices costing upwards of $150+, depending on the concert. Festival-goers also have the option of purchasing a Club Pass, which can be purchased to visit 171 Club Pass shows at 10 Club Pass venues. You can also purchase a three-day or nine-day Club Pass. All tickets and Club Passes can be purchased by clicking here or at the 'RIJF Ticket Shop' at East Avenue. This will be open June 16-20 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. or June 20-28 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Here's where you can go strawberry picking in the Rochester area As with each year, there is not one specific designated parking area, instead there are a variety of options around the venues. While some side streets will be closed, there are still many parking meters near the festival, Meters are in service from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. You can park there for free after 6 p.m. or during the weekends. Multiple garages and surface lots will be available near the grounds, but drivers are urged to read the signs to make sure parking is allowed and pay their respective fees. The festival is not responsible for anyone parking illegally. Here are the nearest parking options: East End Garage on East Main Street Midtown Garage on South Clinton Avenue, Court Street, and East Broad Street Court Street Garage Washington Square Garage on Woodbury Boulevard South Avenue Garage on Stone Street Sister Cities Garage on North Fitzhugh Street Whether you are going to the festival, or just need to get around downtown, please note a few road closures. Gibbs St. from East Ave. to East Main St. (June 9 at 7 a.m. to July 2 at 12 a.m.) Gibbs St. from Grove St. to Main St. (June 20-28, 4 p.m. – 12 a.m.) East Ave. from Scio St. to Chestnut St. (June 20-28, 4 p.m. – 12 a.m.) Chestnut St. from Main St. to Broad St. (June 25-28, 8 a.m. at 4 p.m.) Elm St. from Clinton to Chestnut St. (June 25-28, 8 a.m. – midnight) Cortland St. from Elm St. to E. Main Street (June 25-28, 2 p.m. – midnight) Andrew Langston Way from Elm St. to E. Main St. (June 25-28, 2 p.m. – midnight) Euclid St. from Chestnut St. to Andrew Langston Way (June 25-28, 8 a.m. – midnight) Atlas St. from Euclid St. to Elm St. (June 25-28, 2 p.m. – midnight) East Ave. from Prince St. to Alexander St. (June 21 at 6 a.m. – June 22 at 2 a.m.) East Avenue from Alexander St. to Union St. (June 21, 5 p.m. to midnight) Alexander St. from University Ave. to Park Ave. (June 21, 5 p.m. to midnight) Lawrence St. from East Ave. to Charlotte St. (June 21, 5 p.m. to midnight) Anyone looking for more information about the Rochester International Jazz Festival can check out their website by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Remembering Rochester Jazz Photographer Jim Allen
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — James Jim Allen taught himself how to take photographs, and it became a second career. For decades, Allen could be found front and center at the concerts of some of the world's most recognizable jazz artists or up-and-coming musicians. 'I like this one he took right here of Al Jarreau. It was coming out of the darkness. It's my favorite,' said Johnny Allen, Jim's brother. 'I always looked up to him, ' he said. From a room in their home, affectionately called 'Jimmy's Room,' John and his wife Carmen say they remain in awe of Jimmy's talent, his work ethic, and good nature. The room is filled with more than a dozen black and white photos of artists like Diana Ross, George Benson, Aretha Franklin, Boney James, Trombone Shorty, India Arie, and Bobby McFerrin. Allen passed away Monday, May 26th, at the age of 93. The retired educator, jazz drummer, writer, and jazz photographer was a community compass, sharing his knowledge about Rochester, photography, and jazz with anyone looking to learn. 'He had an eye, he would always talk about looking at it from a different angle as if you're on the other side,' Carmen explained Jim's approach to photography. He rarely, if ever, used flash to capture his subject and preferred black and white over color photos. 'If you look at each one, there's not a standard pose. He really captures the essence at just the right point. He would always say, 'Get them at the pinnacle of their performance,'' she said. Allen's work has been featured on album covers, in music publications, local newspapers, museums, and exhibits. In 2003, his photos were displayed at the George Eastman Museum in a solo exhibition called Jazz: A New Millennium. 'We were in awe because he was the first African American to have his pictures hanging up in Eastman', John said. One of the founders of the Clarissa Street Reunion, Jim was the oldest of four children who grew up in the neighborhood that was destroyed by urban renewal by 1972. He sat in on jam sessions at the famed Pythodd Club alongside jazz greats, like George Benson. 'It was like a natural to him', said John, who explained it was their older sister Joan who introduced them to jazz as children. In recent years, Jim would share his knowledge of Rochester with teens looking to learn about the area's rich history. As the Rochester International Jazz Festival approaches, Carmen says it will be sad to know Jim will not be there, as he was at nearly every jazz performance in the Rochester area. 'Hanging out with him when he was at those concerts was the best!' Carmen explained. 'Whenever we would go to a jazz festival, all these photographers with thousands of cameras on their backs would run up to him and ask, 'How do you do this, or do that?'' said John. 'Or they would show him (Jim) their photo,' Carmen added. In addition to his brother and sister-in-law, James Allen is survived by his sister, two daughters, granddaughter, and former wife. 'In spite of all of his accomplishments, a noted teacher, principal, writer, photographer, and musician, the most important thing to Jimmy was his family,' said Carmen. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Smokey Robinson among new headliners announced for Rochester Jazz Festival
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Four new headliners have been announced for the Rochester International Jazz Festival — one of whom is a Grammy-winning singer. Acclaimed singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson has been announced as one of the new headliners. This will be the first time since 2009 that he's performing on opening night at the Jazz Festival, which is on Friday, June 20. Other ticketed headliners that were announced include award-winning singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones (Tuesday, June 24), American Roots band The Wood Brothers (Wednesday, June 25), and bassist/singer-songwriter Thundercat (Thursday, June 26). The first headliner announced for the Jazz Festival was Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. They will be performing at Kodak Hall on Saturday, June 21. Those interested in the Jazz Festival can keep up with all of the announcements on the festival's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
