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, and many others. His all-star band Migration features Seamus Blake on saxophone, John Escreet on piano, and Matt Brewer, bass. (RN) antoniosanchez.net

Dana Fuchs Band Man, she looks beautiful and sounds just as dangerous. Big Apple by way of F-L-A, Dana Fuchs is soul with extra soul and grit churning out the blues on the side. Fuchs' voice is the soundtrack to a juke joint apocalypse with a ragged, sexy tone that'll singe your eyebrows. The devil digs this chick, I just know it. (FD) danafuchs.com

Fred Hersch Solo See feature on page XX.

Gypsophilia These Nova Scotia natives augment Gypsy-jazz jump and stripped-bare tradition with a contemporary addition of instruments like the trumpet and keyboards to create something that can best be described as a life-size music box. What a wonderful soundtrack for breathing out and in. (FD) gypsophilia.org

High Definition Quartet Poland may not be thought of as a hotbed of contemporary jazz, but don't tell that to the High Definition Quartet. After his first-hand experience, no less a jazz giant than Randy Brecker has called the group "one of the most incredible bands, if not the most incredible group, I have ever played with." (RN) highdefinitionquartet.com

Ignacio Berroa and Hilario Durán Ignacio Berroa was already a major star in Cuba when he rose to fame in America drumming for Dizzy Gillespie. The extraordinary Cuban pianist Hilario Durán is capable of astounding pyrotechnics or the most subtle, intimate sound; he takes the piano on a new journey every time he plays. Together, Berroa and Durán keep the island's Afro-Cuban jazz roots alive and flourishing. (RN) 5passion.com/Ignacio; hilarioduran.com

Jennifer Hudson She is too great a talent to be quickly summarized. Hudson is a Grammy Award-winning singer, an Academy Award-winning actress, and a best-selling author. From starting out singing in a Chicago church to performing at the Presidential Inauguration, Hudson's talent is clear and her dedication to soul and grooving R&B is evident. (NP) jenniferhudson.com

Julia Biel British singer Julia Biel has been described as "Billie Holiday meets Bjork" — it's classic vocal-led jazz dragged into the 21st century. Backed by a rhythm section and Biel herself on guitar or piano, her live show harkens back to a classic three-piece, capable of taking songs one way or another in the moment and maintaining a true jazz spirit. (NP) juliabiel.com

Mitch Frohman Latin Jazz Quartet Bronx native Mitch Frohman spent 25 years playing saxophone and flute with Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Celia Cruz, Machito, and many other stars of the Latin Music scene. Frohman, who has also recorded with Paul Simon, David Byrne, and Cyndi Lauper, now brings his saxophone (and flute) prowess and Latin sensibility to his own all-star quartet. (RN) mitchfrohman.com

Omer Avital Quintet After moving from his native Israel to New York in 1992, Omer Avital quickly established himself as a first-call bassist with Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Garrett, Joshua Redman, and others. Since then he has staked a claim as a formidable world-music composer and bandleader drawing on his Arabic heritage, Sephardic Jewish melodies, and ancient Andalusian music. (RN) omeravital.com

Roddy Ellias As a composer Roddy Allias can write beautiful and "technically taxing" music for guitar as well as several other instruments, but as a performer he has captivated stages around the world as much in a group as he has a duet or solo performance. Skilled and generous, Allias is a guitar player to be celebrated. (NP) roddyellias.com

Roses and Revolutions Here is a duo that is steeped in the florid and the epic; the gentle and the unwavering; the beautiful and the fierce. At the heart of the Roses & Revolutions is a mere duo bristling in the atmosphere and orchestration. The sound is sort of a young adult contemporary sound, smart with some sass and brass. And though it's anchored in a gentle simplicity, it's still big and beautiful. (FD) rosesandrevolutions.com

Seldom Scene A popular bluegrass act for more than four decades, Seldom Scene has managed to propel its career through its musicianship, signature sound, and as the members put it, "a sheer sense of fun." The band's new collection "Long Time ... Seldom Scene" is a set of fresh interpretations of the band's most requested tunes, and follows a Grammy-nominated 2007 album, "Scenechronized." (NP) seldomscene.com

Sonny Knight and the Lakers This show will unscrew your spine. Sonny Knight is the king of Twin City Soul. He recorded his first 45 in 1965. And floated in and out of music until he was approached by Secret Stash Records who revived this amazing soul man's career. This is the most authentic soul you will hear today. (FD) sonnyknight.com

Troyka London is the home of guitarist and loopist (there needs to be a new term for electronic pedal pushers) Chris Montague, organist Kit Downes, and drummer Joshua Blackmore, together known as Troyka. This British invasion band fuses jazz with rock and electronic dance music in an energetic style that's hard to resist. (RN) troyka.co.uk

XRIJF Nightly Jazz Session with The Bob Sneider Trio See listing for Friday, June 19.

In This Guide...

  • 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.

  • Festival Information

    Tickets, Venues, Parking and Additional Information

  • Friday, June 19 - Schedule

    Friday, June 19 3:45 p.m.: Buckman Heights Elementary School Jazz Street Stage (FREE)

  • 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.

  • Saturday, June 20 - Schedule

    Saturday, June 20 3:45 p.m.: Gates-Chili High School Jazz Band Jazz Street Stage (FREE)

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Sunday, June 21 - Schedule

    Sunday, June 21 3:45 p.m.: MCC Jazz Band Jazz Street Stage (FREE)

  • Sunday, June 21 - Musician Bios

    Sunday, June 21 - Musician Bios Benny Green Solo See listing for Saturday, June 20.

  • 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.

  • 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)

  • 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.

  • 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?

  • 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)

  • 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.

  • 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)

  • 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 more than 40 albums; and an innovator who has expanded jazz into multimedia and the classical realm.

  • 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)

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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)

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Saturday, June 27 - Schedule

    Saturday, June 27 3:00 p.m.: Bill Tiberio Band East Ave. & Chestnut St. Stage (FREE)

  • 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.

  • 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.

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