The buzz among jazz fans is that this year's model of the Rochester International Jazz Festival could have used a jazz legend --- a Herbie Hancock, an Ahmad Jamal --- to give it that truly great jazz festival vibe.

Still, there's a lot to look forward to in the coming nine days. There's one bona fide soul legend, Al Green, and a singer I've always wanted to see, Dee Dee Bridgewater.

And kicking off the festival on Friday is one of the great jazz drummers, Al Foster. He's played with Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, and others; the standards have got to be high for the quartet he's bringing to Kilbourn Hall.

Last year's Scandinavian series was full of great discoveries. Judging by his recent album, Finland's Timo Lassy, a powerhouse saxophonist, should be among the best of this year's Nordic acts.

I'm also looking forward to hearing Amina Figarova, a sensitive pianist and composer who was born in Azerbaijan, but spent her musically formative years in the Netherlands and at Berklee College in Boston.

And, whenever possible, I'll be attending the after-hours jam session at the Rochester Plaza. The Bob Sneider Trio is always excellent; the jazz fest stars who sit in make every night an unpredictable delight.

You can find City's Jazz Blog right here at citynewspaper.com; expect reviews from the previous night's concerts by 6 a.m. the next day, plus photos, video, and more. And make sure to post your thoughts on the concerts, and what you're looking forward to see.