Jazz@Rochester

April showers, bring May . . . jazz!

Although I'll have to miss it as I'm writing to you from the fields of Kansas, there's some jazz out there in Rochester over the next seven days.

Thursday, May 1st

• Matt Valerio @ The Grill at Strathallan, 6:00 pm
• Madeline Forster @ Pane Vino, 7:00 pm
• Lumiere @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm
• Dave Rivello Ensemble @ Village Rock Cafe (E. Rochester), 9:00 pm
• Dave Spinner @ The Rabbit Room (Honeoye Falls), no time given

Friday, May 2nd

• Bob Sneider and Paul Hofmann @ The Grill at Strathallan, 5:00 pm
• Kinetik-Flo @ Club Network (420 Central Ave., Rochester), 6:30 pm
• Gap Mangione New Blues Band @ The Lodge at Woodcliff, 7:30 pm
• Ted Piltzecker (vibes) with Bob Sneider Quartet @ The Grill at Strathallan, 8:30 pm
• Filthy Funk @ Bohdi's Cafe, 10:00 pm
• Noa Bursie @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 8:30 pm
• Joan Matthews w/ Jim Rhody @ Starry Nites Cafe, 8:00 pm

Saturday, May 3rd

• Chris Ziemba @ The Grill at Strathallan, 5:00 pm
• Ralph Scicchitano @ Flat Iron Cafe, 6:00 pm
• Westview Project @ Bohdi's Cafe, 6:30 pm
• Madeline Forster @ Horizons at the Lodge at Woodcliff, 7:30 pm
• Jim Nugent Trio @ Little Theatre Cafe, 8:30 pm
• Ted Piltzecker with Bob Sneider Quartet @ The Grill at Strathallan, 8:30 pm
• Tinted Image @ Flat Iron Cafe, 9:00 pm
• East End Boys @ Havana Moes (East Ave.), 9:30 pm
• After Hours Jam Session with the Quinn Lawrence Trio @ Flat Iron Cafe, 12:00 am

Sunday, May 4th

• Bill Slater @ The Lodge at Woodcliff, 11:30 am
• Musicale Sundays @ Artisan Works, 12:00 pm (call or check out their website for artists)
• Tom Pesciotta Quartet (with John Nyerges, Dave Arenius and Mike Montalbano) @ Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church (131 Main Street, Webster), 7:00 pm

Monday, May 5th

• The Rick Holland Evan Dobbins Little Big Band, Tasteology, 8:00 pm
• Big Apple Mondays Swing Dance Class and Live Jazz with Quinn Lawrence Trio @ Flat Iron Cafe, 8:30 pm

Tuesday, May 6th

• Joe Santora and Emily Kirchoff @ Virtu, 6:30 pm
• The White Hots @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm

Wednesday, May 7th

• Nate Rawls Big Band @ Roger Robach Community Center Ontario Beach Park, 7:15 pm
• Margaret Explosion @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm

We've compiled these listings from information obtained from the performing artists themselves and from other sources. Please forgive me for any discrepancies with reality; feel free to let me know what the problem is, and I'll get the corrections up on the site as soon as possible. Any list items that contain an Added image or struck-through text reflect corrections implemented after initial publication of this post. Email subscribers should check the listings post online for updates or revisions before making decisions based on the information in this post. For additional information regarding a particular performance (where I haven't previewed it in a separate post in advance), you may want to check the artist or venue web sites listed in the right panel of this weblog. If you go out to hear a performance listed here, feel free to drop a comment to this post about how it went.  I want to hear from you!

What's on the radio? In June, jazz.... and the JazzWeek Summit

I was at the Future of Music Coalition presentation this evening and was reminded of something that I've meant to do for a long time—find out more about a local jazz media institution that I've known about for awhile but have yet to connect to.  JazzWeek is a weekly report of the top fifty Jazz and Smooth Jazz recordings played on radio stations across the United States and Canada and is located right here in Rochester.  After some financial issues that resulted in missing 2007, they've recently regrouped and are retooling and again will be holding a JazzWeek Summit here in Rochester at the end of the Rochester International Jazz Festival from June 19-21st at the Clarion Riverside Hotel.

One of JazzWeek’s missions is to provide a conduit for radio, retail, and the rest of the industry to work together.  Part of that effort is the Summit, which is intended for radio station program and music directors, representatives of major and independent music labels, jazz artists, and journalists. They try to get all of these disparate groups together to discuss the issues facing them in promoting jazz and smooth jazz music. One of the things I learned at the FMC event tonight is how much people can learn from each other when they get together to explore something they're passionate about (heck, I learned about some things tonight that surprised me and, most importantly, learned something about what musicians—on whom the FMC event was focused—are seeking to learn).

Check out the JazzWeek website for the Summit and, if you're interested in promoting jazz or yourself as a jazz artist, think about attending the conference.

Did'ya know that . . . . (there is jazz in Roch-cha-cha and here are the listings)?

... on April 25th in 1960, Hammond B3 organist Jimmy Smith recorded two albums in one day? According to AllAboutJazz.com, at the Rudy Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Jimmy Smith—accompanied by Stanley Turrentine, Kenny Burrell and Donald Bailey—recorded two classic albums: Back at the Chicken Shack and Midnight Special. Now, if Mr. Smith could squeeze that much jazz into a single day, imagine how much you might be able to catch in this final week of Jazz Appreciation Month. Of course, to advance that cause, I gladly provide your Rochester area jazz listings for the next seven days—the last seven days of Jazz Appreciation Month. Enjoy!

Thursday, April 24th

• Nick Humphrey @ The Rabbit Room, 5:30 pm
• Matt Valerio @ The Grill at Strathallan, 6:00 pm
• Joe Santora and Emily Kirchoff @ Michael's Valley Grill, 7:00 pm
• Jim Nugent Trio @ Bistro 135, 7:00 pm
• Lumiere @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm
• Nazareth College Jazz Ensemble with Paul Smoker, director @ Nazareth College Wilmot Recital Hall, 7:30 pm
• Rick Holland-Evan Dobbins Little Big Band with Honeoye Falls-Lima High School and Middle School jazz ensembles (see article here) @ Honeoye Falls-Lima High School, 7:30 pm
• Russell Fielder Quintet @ Merchants Grill, 8:00 pm
• Fay Victor Ensemble @ Bop Shop Atrium at Village Gate, 8:00 pm [Sorry, Tom...]
• Swing Dance @ St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 8:30 pm
• Dave Rivello Ensemble @ Village Rock Cafe, 9:00 pm

Friday, April 25th

• Bob Sneider and Paul Hofmann @ The Grill at Strathallan, 5:00 pm
• John Nyerges/Vince Ercolamento Duo @ Wegmans Market Café (345 Eastern Blvd (Rt 5&20), Canandaigua), 5:00 pm
• Shared Genes @ Sanibel Restaurant, 5:30 pm
• Joe Santora and Emily Kirchoff @ Michael's Valley Grill, 7:00 pm
• Gap Mangione New Blues Band @ The Lodge at Woodcliff, 7:30 pm
• Hard Logic @ Smokin Joes, 7:30 pm
• Madeline Forster @ Tasteology, 7:30 pm [added]
• Bill Dobbins/Mike Kaupa Quartet @ The Grill at Strathallan, 8:30 pm 
• Cyrus Chestnut Trio (Exodus to Jazz) @ Clarion Riverside Hotel, 7:00 & 9:00 pm (free jam session with local musicians following second set, around 10:45 pm)
• Nazareth College Jazz Ensemble w/ The School of the Arts Band @ School of the Arts, 7:00 pm
• Geneseo Wind Ensemble with James Walker, conductor, and Geneseo Jazz Ensemble with J. David Gibson, director @ SUNY Geneseo Wadsworth Auditorium, 8:00 pm
• Fay Victor Ensemble @ Bop Shop Atrium at Village Gate, 8:00 pm
• Filthy Funk @ Dub Land Underground, 10:00 pm

Saturday, April 26th

• Chris Ziemba @ The Grill at Strathallan, 5:00 pm
• Ralph Scicchitano @ Flat Iron Cafe, 6:00 pm
• Joe Santora and Emily Kirchoff @ Michael's Valley Grill, 7:00 pm
• Shared Genes @ Triphammer Grill, 7:00 pm
• Madeline Forster @ Pane Vino, 7:00 pm [added]
• Bobby DiBaudo Quartet @ Horizons at the Lodge at Woodcliff, 7:30 pm
• Westview Project with Nick Brust @ Brio Mediterranean Bistro, 7:30 pm
• Bob Sneider Quartet @ The Grill at Strathallan, 8:30 pm
• Mike Cottone Trio @ Flat Iron Cafe, 9:00 pm
• East End Jazz Boys @ Havana Moe's, 9:30 pm
• Kinetik-Flo w/ Freddy Colons, Cinnamon & DJ Selecta Preece @ Club Pazzo (Main St. near State), no time given
• After Hours Jam Session with the Quinn Lawrence Trio @ Flat Iron Cafe, 12:00 am (OK, it's Sunday)

Sunday, April 27th

• Bill Slater @ The Lodge at Woodcliff, 11:30 am
• Musicale Sundays Third Sunday Dance featuring Moondance, Ernesto LaBella and others @ Artisan Works, 12:00 pm

Monday, April 28th

• The Rick Holland Evan Dobbins Little Big Band & The Rick Holland Quartet @ Tasteology, starting at 7:15 pm
• White Hots @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm
• Big Apple Mondays Swing Dance Class and Live Jazz with Quinn Lawrence Trio @ Flat Iron Cafe, 8:30 pm

Tuesday, April 29th

• Joe Santora and Emily Kirchoff @ Virtu, 6:30 pm

Wednesday, April 30th

• Jack Allen @ Roger Robach Community Center Ontario Beach Park, 7:15 pm
• Margaret Explosion @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm
• Dubblestuff @ Jazz 90.1 (Live Studio Concert Series), 8:00 pm (listen live on the radio or online) [added]

We've compiled these listings from information obtained from the performing artists themselves and from other sources. Please forgive me for any discrepancies with reality; feel free to let me know what the problem is, and I'll get the corrections up on the site as soon as possible. Any list items that contain the notation "[added]" or struck-through text reflect corrections implemented after initial publication of this post. Email subscribers should check the listings post online for updates or revisions before making decisions based on the information in this post. For additional information regarding a particular performance (where I haven't previewed it in a separate post in advance), you may want to check the artist or venue web sites listed in the right panel of this weblog.

If you go out to hear a performance listed here, feel free to drop a comment to this post about how it went. I want to hear from you!

Exodus to Jazz presents Cyrus Chestnut at the "Heartbreak Hotel" (OK, it's at the Clarion Riverside...he may be playing that Elvis tune)

To continue its contributions to Jazz Appreciation Month, the Exodus To Jazz series is presenting The Cyrus Chestnut Trio this Friday, April 25, 2008, at the Clarion Riverside Hotel. Chestnut is touring to promote his album Cyrus Plays Elvis of jazz renditions of Elvis Presley classic hits. Bassist Dezron Douglas and drummer Neal Smith will accompany Chestnut, comprising the same trio on that recent CD release. Check out this profile of Chestnut at AllAboutJazz.com

Shows are 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm in the Frontier Room elegant Riverview Ballroom at The Clarion Hotel Riverside, 120 East Main Street in Downtown Rochester. Call (585) 733-7685 for information. Tickets are $ 20.00 (student tickets are $ 10.00 with a current ID) and can be reserved and/or paid for at TicketWeb.com (search “Cyrus Chestnut” or “Exodus To Jazz”), through an email reservation request to ExodusToJazz@aol.com (confirmations will be returned), or at the door, the night of the show. All tickets are available for pick-up at the Will Call desk beginning at 6:00 PM on the night of the show.

According to my announcement, there There will be a jam session with local musicians following the second set beginning around 10:45 pm. [Updated Apr. 23rd]

Jazz@Rochester calling in . . .

A post and a cigar from earlier this evening at Havana Moes on East Ave. with the "East End Boys"...

Live Jazz@Rochester Updates from RIJF

New Energy Jazz Orchestra to anchor the 39th Annual MCC Jazz Festival

Check out the 39th Annual Monroe Community College Jazz Festival on April 23rd, featuring the New Energy Jazz Orchestra, directed by Dr. Carl Atkins and Dr. Jonathan Kruger. The festival features jazz artists along with the MCC Jazz Ensemble. This year's guest is New Energy, which is a large Rochester-based big band performing new compositions as well as more classic jazz repertory. The Orchestra will also be playing at the Rochester International Jazz Festival (RIJF) this summer.

The festival will commence at 7:30 pm at the MCC Theatre in Building 4 (Parking available in Lot F). Tickets are $8.00 with MCC ID and $10.00 for the General Public. Tickets available at monroecctickets.com, at the Campus Center Service Desk in the R. Thomas Flynn Campus Center, Building 3, or by calling the Campus Center Office at 585-292-2534.

Greg Pattillo brings his beatboxing flute and Project to town

The Rochester Flute Association is bringing in beatboxing flutist Greg Pattillo, whose YouTube video of Eddie Harris's Freedom Jazz Dance you saw on this site, with his group Project (including cellist, Eric Stephenson and Peter Seymour on bass) demonstrating their fusion of jazz, hip-hop, and world music-balanced out by a sincere allegiance to their classical roots. The concert will be held on Tuesday, April 22nd beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the School of the Arts, 45 Prince Street (at University Ave.) in Rochester. In addition to the concert, Project will be working with music students at SOTA sharing their unique approach to improvisation in a workshop from 8:20 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. RFA members are invited to attend this free class. Tickets are $8 for RFA student and senior members, $10 for RFA adult members, $10 for non-members students and seniors, and $12 for non-member adults, and may be purchased at the door, or in advance by calling (585) 234-4RFA (4732).

Jazz served with heat (well, it is getting warmer....). Get some!

Try to get out and hear some live jazz over the next seven days.  There is a boatload in town over the next seven days.   

Thursday, April 17th

• Dave Spinner @ The Rabbit Room, 5:30 pm
• Matt Valerio @ The Grill at Strathallan, 6:00 pm
• Shades of Grey @ Bistro 135, 7:00 pm
• Joe Santora and Emily Kirchoff @ Michael's Valley Grill, 7:00 pm
• Lumiere @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm
• Swing Dance @ St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 8:30 pm
• Dave Rivello Ensemble @ Village Rock Cafe, 9:00 pm
• Salsa Dance Class @ Flat Iron Cafe, 9:00 pm
• Salsa Dance Lessons @ Tapas 177, 9:30 pm

Friday, April 18th

• Bob Sneider and Paul Hofman @ The Grill at Strathallan, 5:00 pm
• John Nyerges/Vince Ercolamento Duo @ Wegmans Market Café (345 Eastern Blvd (Rt 5&20), Canandaigua), 5:00 pm
• Bobby DiBaudo Trio @ Bistro 135, 7:00 pm
• Madeline Forster @ Tasteology, 7:00 pm
• Kind of Blue + Two and Nazareth College Jazz Combo with Paul Smoker, Director @ Immanuel Baptist Church (Jazz at Immanuel Concert Series), 7:00 pm
• Joe Santora and Emily Kirchoff @ Michael's Valley Grill, 7:00 pm
• Tom Passamonte and Special Blend @ Horizons at the Lodge at Woodcliff, 7:30 pm
• Eastman Jazz Ensemble and New Jazz Ensemble with Dave Rivello and Bill Dobbins conducting @ Kilbourn Hall, 8:00 pm
• Geneseo Jazz Ensemble with David Gibson and Jonathan Kruger, directors @ SUNY Geneseo, Wadsworth Auditorium, 8:00 pm
• Dino Losito with Bob Sneider Quartet @ The Grill at Strathallan, 8:30 pm
• Varnish Cooks @ Little Theatre Cafe, 8:30 pm
• Black August with T-Dash @ Pazzo Cucina, 9:00 pm
• Mark Cassara @ Bistro 135, 9:00 pm

Saturday, April 19th

• Mambo Kings, Jimmie Highsmith Jr., Atomic Swindlers and others @ Record Archive (Grand Opening Celebration of their new location and Record Store Day), call or check the website for times (although I know Jimmie's playing from 6:00 to 8:00 pm)
• Chris Ziemba @ The Grill at Strathallan, 5:00 pm
• Ralph Scicchitano @ Flat Iron Cafe, 6:00 pm
• Joe Santora and Emily Kirchoff @ Michael's Valley Grill, 7:00 pm
• Rachelle Fleming Quartet @ Bistro 135, 7:00 pm
• Tom Passamonte and Special Blend @ Horizons at the Lodge at Woodcliff, 7:30 pm
• Jazz Dawgs @ Starry Nites Cafe, 8:00 pm
• Dino Losito with Bob Sneider Quartet @ The Grill at Strathallan, 8:30 pm
• Steve Greene Trio featuring Tina Albright @ Little Theatre Cafe, 8:30 pm
• Tribute to Thelonious Monk with Ben Britton, Aaron Stabell and Jeff McCloud @ Flat Iron Cafe, 9:00 pm
• East End Jazz Boys @ Havana Moe's, 9:30 pm
• After Hours Jam Session with the Quinn Lawrence Trio @ Flat Iron Cafe, 12:00 am (OK, it's actually Sunday, but you know you were looking for it here).

Sunday, April 20th

• Bill Slater @ The Lodge at Woodcliff, 11:30 am
• Musicale Sundays Third Sunday Dance featuring Moondance, Ernesto LaBella and others @ Artisan Works, 12:00 pm
• Taylor Ho Bynum Quartet @ Bop Shop Atrium at Village Gate, 8:00 pm

Monday, April 21st

• The Rick Holland Evan Dobbins Little Big Band & The Rick Holland Quartet @ Tasteology, starting at 7:15 pm
• White Hots @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm
• Big Apple Mondays Swing Dance Class and Live Jazz with Quinn Lawrence Trio @ Flat Iron Cafe, 8:30 pm

Tuesday, April 22nd

 
• Joe Santora and Emily Kirchoff @ Virtu, 6:30 pm
• Greg Pattillo and Project @ School of the Arts, 7:30 pm

Wednesday, April 23rd

• Steve Curry Trio with Todd East @ Bistro 135, 5:30 pm
• Big Band Dance featuring Rochester Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra @ Ontario Beach Park Robach Community Center, 6:00 pm
• Mambo Kings: An Evening of Latin Music @ Finger Lakes Community College, 7:00 pm
• Rochester Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra @ Ontario Beach Park Roger Robach Community Center, 7:15 pm
• Margaret Explosion @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm
• Monroe Community College Jazz Festival featuring the New Energy Jazz Orchestra with the MCC Jazz Ensemble @ the MCC Theatre, 7:30 pm

I've compiled these listings from information obtained from the performing artists themselves and from other sources. Please forgive me for any discrepancies with reality; feel free to let me know what the problem is, and I'll get the corrections up on the site as soon as possible. Any list items that contain the notation "[added]" or struck-through text reflect corrections implemented after initial publication of this post. Email subscribers should check the listings post online for updates or revisions before making decisions based on the information in this post. For additional information regarding a particular performance (where I haven't previewed it in a separate post in advance), you may want to check the artist or venue web sites listed in the right panel of this weblog.

If you go out to hear a performance listed here, feel free to drop a comment to this post about how it went. I want to hear from you!

There was a Doctor in the house . . . Ian Kloss joins the voices on Jazz@Rochester and reviews Dr. Lonnie Smith at Exodus to Jazz

Thanks to one of our previous voices, Jazz@Rochester was introduced to Ian Kloss, who is the latest occasional voice that will be read in these pages. Ian is just completing a Bachelors degree in jazz guitar at Eastman School of Music and is staying on for a extra year to focus on art criticism. He's performed at the Rochester International Jazz Festival with the Eastman group Hunter and Bear and will be doing so again this year. He's the regular guitarist in the Ben Britton Band (formerly known as Sonic Duality) and sits in occasionally with Dubblestuff. Ian took in the Henderson-Owens Trio featuring Dr. Lonnie Smith last night in another installment of the wonderful Exodus to Jazz series. Here's what Ian sent in:

Dr. Lonnie Smith . . . he could very easily be the funkiest person alive. Last night (Thursday, April 12) at the Riverside Clarion Hotel, the legendary organist returned to Rochester with a trio featuring Brooklyn-based ace drummer Ulysses Owens and local guitarist Mel Henderson, who is a core member of funk-fusion group Paradigm Shift. At 65, Smith is as vigorous and unpredictable as ever, cutting loose on his B-3 with an intensely physical approach. In the hour-plus first set, Smith led the band through a varied collection of tunes that favored simple harmonies and rolling grooves, allowing Smith’s unparalleled mastery of phrasing to shine. Highlights included “Willow Weep for Us,” Smith’s playful take on “Willow Weep for Me,” and “Nawlin’s,” the blues-funk standard that served as the group’s closer. Another interesting moment came when Smith indulged his love of guttural, expressive singing on a sped-up, much-funkified version of the Beatles’ “Come Together.” I could ramble for some time about Smith’s great qualities, including his impressive control of his instrument’s sound, summoning an astonishing range of tones and dynamics.

Smith’s strongest rapport was with Owens, a young drummer who’s already made a name playing with a long list of straight-ahead greats. Owens’ flexibility, and his comprehensive use of his drum set’s palette of sounds, make him a great match for the good Doctor. The group dealt gamely with the sonic demands of the space, an echo-prone banquet hall that sometimes made Smith’s more subtle playing difficult to hear. There was also a P.A. system which may or may not have been necessary (for one thing, it made the bass pretty overpowering). The sound was adjusted, for the better, after the first couple of tunes, and it was smooth sailing from there.

Smith deserves his reputation as a jazz ambassador. When he made the rounds after the set, cordially greeting everyone in the audience- strangers and old friends alike- it was like seeing a mysterious foreign dignitary in action. Smith cut a great figure in his instantly-recognizable concert attire. Although his clothes of choice (including his famous turban) resemble traditional Sikh garb, Smith once explained that he favors these duds for “no particular reason.” The audience was with him, and the group as a whole, all the way.

Exodus to Jazz founder Jose DaCosta gave a brief pre-concert address. It was good to catch this talk, as DaCosta laid out some of the upcoming Exodus lineup, including famed jazz saxophonist Seamus Blake, who recently sat in with Helen Sung at her ETJ performance when her sax player was ill) and an almost unheard-of straight ahead set by smooth jazz saxophonist Mindi Abair (here's the schedule for the rest of the Spring season of ETJ). For anybody who didn’t catch Smith this time out, the good news is that he’ll be back in town as part of this year’s exciting RIJF schedule.

Thanks, Ian!  We hope to hear some more from you in the coming months.  Please feel free to leave Ian a comment in by clicking on the comment link below. 

City Newspaper has its Jazz Fest guide up

Ron Netsky and Frank De Blase over at City Newspaper must have received advanced notice of the lineup for the 2008 Rochester International Jazz Festival as City published its 2008 Jazz Fest Guide on the same day the lineup was issued as they've prepared a boatload of special content to help guide you through the RIJF. Each day of the festival gets a special page with the schedule and short pieces about each of the artists written by Frank or Ron (here's the one for June 13th, the first day), with links to their website if available.  There is also a master list of the artist biographies in one place.  They're even helping out-of-towners find us and get information on where to stay and eat.  This is in addition to the fine work that the RIJF does in linking to information on their site.

Since Jazz@Rochester is not my job and only one of my blogs (although it's a lot more than a hobby now), I appreciate that the more mainstream media is providing such comprehensive content to help people organize their festival and know more about the artists. We out here in the blogosphere can concentrate on going into more depth or providing some additional perspective.  Thanks guys....

Jazz@Rochester gets Blogged (Blogged.com that is)

Since I don't play any horns, I thought I'd toot mine a bit. I recently received an email from an editor at the new blog directory and social networking site Blogged.com, letting me know that Jazz@Rochester had been selected and reviewed by the site's editors, who gave it an 8.2 score out of 10 in the Entertainment/Music category.  Checking out my companions in the jazz sub-category, I'm in good company, many of whom are represented in the links in my panels (and some who will be in the future).

Right now we're No. 16 out of 33 jazz blogs and No. 200 out of 2,366 blogs in the Music category.  Feel free to go out and add your own 2 cents....

Another voice from Rochester jazz . . . Drummer Mike Melito

As I've promised, I'm trying to add new voices to Jazz@Rochester. I've heard today's guest post writer, drummer Mike Melito, a lot over the past few years, playing with various groupings with Bob Sneider and Phil Flanagan and others at the Strathallan, and sitting in with a number of other artists such as James Moody and Benny Golson at the RIJF. I've heard him enough that I can recognize Mike's style even before I see his smiling face. He's just a great guy and I'm glad he's willing to write some stuff for my readers. I asked Mike to write a bit about being an jazz artist here in Rochester and he sent in the following:

I’ve been a professional jazz musician in Rochester for 25 years. The jazz scene here has changed quite a bit over the years. Some years there would be all kinds of gigs and other years not as many. I would do quite a bit of driving between playing gigs in Buffalo, Syracuse and Utica as well. I can say that today Rochester probably has the most venues for jazz out of all those cities. I’ve been asked many times by people why I never moved to NYC? There are a few reasons but the main reason is the players I get to play every week here are every bit as good as most guys in NYC. I think there is a misconception about New York. People think if you live in New York you must be great. That is totally not true!! I’ve played with many guys who live in NYC and make a good living in jazz that can’t touch the guys I play with here every week.

My regular Strathallan gig has been going great! We’ve had some great guests come in to play with us. Guests have included Vincent Herring, Grant Stewart, Ralph Lalama, John Nugent, John Swana, Peter Bernstein, Ken Peplowski, Harry Allen, Don Menza, Frank Strazzeri, Rachel Z, Todd Coolman, Gerry Niewood, Pat Labarbera and many more. Bob Sneider has done a TREMENDOUS job with booking all these guests. Look for many more guests to come as well. The next guests to come are three on the same weekend! Trumpeter Jim Rotondi, bassist Lee Hudson and my brother drummer Tom Melito all play the Strathallan the weekend of April 11th and 12th. That should be a GREAT weekend! Having Bob Sneider, Paul Hofmann or Bill Dobbins on piano will be equally exciting! We play every Friday and Saturday night from 8:30pm to 12:00 am. No Cover!

I recently recorded a new CD that should be out in the summer. It’s called In The Tradition and features Grant Stewart on tenor, John Swana on trumpet, Bob Sneider, Paul Hofmann and bassist Neal Miner. I’m very proud of this record. It came out well! There are some great tunes by Hank Mobley, Sonny Clark, Tadd Dameron, plus some originals too. Stay tuned . . . .

Watch for Mike's album on my Rochester Sounds page in the future and check out his albums now on CDBaby.com.  I'm sure we'll hear (and read) more from him in the future. By the way, feel free to leave a comment and let me know who you'd like to hear from and I'll see if I can get them to write something up.

Jonesing for some jazz? Get out to hear some in Rochester...

Has the Rochester International Jazz Festival lineup announcement got you jonesing for jazz, but you can't wait until June? Check out this week's Rochester area jazz listings, then go on out and get a dose.

Thursday, April 10th

• Eastman at Washington Square: Noontime Jazz (ESM Thursday Lunchtime Concert Series) @ First Universalist Church, 12:15 pm
• Matt Valerio @ The Grill at Strathallan, 6:00 pm
• Bobby DiBaudo Trio @ Bistro 135, 7:00 pm
• Joe Santora and Emily Kirchoff @ Michael's Valley Grill, 7:00 pm
• Lumiere @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm
• Roberts Wesleyan Jazz Ensemble @ Roberts Cultural Life Center, Roberts Wesleyan College, 7:30pm
• Ryan Shaw with Jimmie Highsmith Jr. @ Water Street Music Hall, 8:00 pm
• Russell Fielder Quintet @ Merchants Grill, 8:00 pm
• Swing Dance @ St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 8:30 pm
• Larry Ham Trio @ The Grill at Strathallan, 8:00 pm
• Salsa Dance Class @ Flat Iron Cafe, 9:00 pm
• Dave Rivello Ensemble @ Village Rock Cafe (East Rochester), 9:00 pm
• Salsa Dance Lessons @ Tapas 177, 9:30 pm

Friday, April 11th

• John Nyerges/Vince Ercolamento Duo @ Wegmans Market Café (345 Eastern Blvd (Rt 5&20), Canandaigua), 5:00 pm
• Mike Kaupa/Paul Hofmann Duo @ The Grill at Strathallan, 5:00 pm
• Madeline Forster @ Bodhi's Café & Lounge, 6:30 pm
• Kinetik-Flo, Pazzo Cucina, 7:00 pm
• Joe Santora and Emily Kirchoff @ Michael's Valley Grill, 7:00 pm
• Gap Mangione New Blues Band @ The Lodge at Woodcliff, 7:30 pm
• Dubble Stuff @ Tasteology, 8:00 pm
• The Varnish Cooks @ Little Theatre Cafe, 8:30 pm
• Jim Rotondi w/ Bob Sneider, Bill Dobbins, Lee Hudson & Tom Melito @ The Grill at Strathallan, 8:30 pm

Saturday, April 12th

• Jim Rotondi with ECMS jazz combo and Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra @ Eastman School of Music, Messinger One and A624, 9:00 am
• Jazz Trumpet and Improv Masterclass with Jim Rotondi @ Eastman School of Music (Messinger Hall, MSH 1), 1:30 pm 
• Larry Ham Trio with Rich Thompson @ Tasteology, 6:00 pm [changed]
• Ralph Scicchitano @ Flat Iron Cafe, 6:00 pm
• Madeline Forster @ Bistro 135, 7:00 pm
• Shared Genes @ Triphammer Grill, 7:00 pm
• Joe Santora and Emily Kirchoff @ Michael's Valley Grill, 7:00 pm
• Henderson/Owens Trio featuring Dr. Lonnie Smith (Exodus to Jazz) @ Clarion Riverside Hotel, 7:00 & 9:00 pm
• Westview Project @ Memorial Art Gallery "American Impressionism" Opening Party 8:00 pm
• Matt Millecchia and The Erie Saxophone Quartet @ The Mez (House of Hamez), 8:00 pm
• Jim Rotondi w/ Bob Sneider, Paul Hoffmann, Lee Hudson & Tom Melito @ The Grill at Strathallan, 8:30 pm [venue added, but you knew this already]
• Steve Greene Trio featuring Tina Albright @ Little Theatre Cafe, 8:30 pm   
• David Goebel (jazz percussion Student Degree Recital) @ Eastman School of Music (ESM 120), 9:00 pm
• The East End Jazz Boys @ Havana Moe's (125 East Ave., 325-1030), 9:30 pm

Sunday, April 13th

• After Hours Jam Session with the Quinn Lawrence Trio @ Flat Iron Cafe, 12:00 am
• Bill Slater @ The Lodge at Woodcliff, 11:30 am
• Jimmie Highsmith Jr. @ Clarissa's, 8:30 pm [changed]
• David Tedeschi (jazz percussion, Student Degree Recital) @ Eastman School of Music (ESM 120), 9:00 pm

Monday, April 14th

• The Rick Holland Evan Dobbins Little Big Band & The Rick Holland Quartet @ Tasteology, 7:15 pm-10:00 pm
• The White Hots @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm
• Big Apple Mondays Swing Dance Class and Live Jazz with Quinn Lawrence Trio @ Flat Iron Cafe, 8:30 pm

Tuesday, April 15th

• No jazz for you!!!?

Wednesday, April 16th

• Big Band Dance featuring Tedo D'Aurizio @ Robach Community Center at Ontario Beach Park, 6:00 pm
• The Margaret Explosion @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm

I've compiled these listings from information obtained from the performing artists themselves and from other sources. Please forgive me for any discrepancies with reality; feel free to let me know what the problem is, and I'll get the corrections up on the site as soon as possible. Any list items that contain the notation "[added]" or struck-through text reflect corrections implemented after initial publication of this post. Email subscribers should check the listings post online for updates or revisions before making decisions based on the information in this post. For additional information regarding a particular performance (where I haven't previewed it in a separate post in advance), you may want to check the artist or venue web sites in the right panel.

If you go out to hear something listed here, feel free to drop a comment to this post about how it went.  I want to hear from you!

Rochester International Jazz Festival Lineup Announced!

Here it comes again! About one hour ago, the lineup for the 2008 Rochester International Jazz Festival, the Seventh Edition, went live on the RIJF's site. Being the nutcase I am, I took my lunch early to check it out and get a link up on the site. As usual, the lineup includes a wide variety of music and musicians ranging from across the spectrum of jazz and other genres. Headliners this year include: Frank Sinatra Jr. & His Orchestra, Dee Dee Bridgewater with special guest Richard Bona Band, Boz Scaggs, and Al Green.

The RIJF staff does a good job getting information up there and providing links to the artists, etc., so I'm not going to go into much detail here now. Some of the broad themes I'm seeing are:

• A number of artists and groups are returning from previous edition(s) of the RIJF (for example, Joe Locke, Tierney Sutton, Yggdrasil, Sliding Hammers, The Bad Plus, Medeski Martin & Wood, Rachel Z, John Scofield, Eric Alexander, Dr. Lonnie Smith and Cedar Walton).
• It appears more local talent will be heard around Jazz Street (including Ben Britton Band, Bill Tiberio Band, Dave Rivello Ensemble, Henderson-Owens 3 Featuring Dr. Lonnie Smith (the Doctor is as good as local...), Herb Smith, John Viviani & Filthy Funk, Mike Cottone with the John Beck Quartet, and Trio East).
• The popular Nordic Jazz Now series returns at the Lutheran Church Of The Reformation.
• All the familiar venues return, with a new Club Pass venue at Christ Church on East Avenue being added.

I aim to have special coverage of the RIJF between now and June 13-21st and barring illness or threats of termination at the office, will be there all nine days live blogging when I can, moblogging, and pointing you to the community of blogs and other coverage of the festival. Just watch here for more as we develop Jazz@Rochester's plans for this year's RIJF.

Exodus to Jazz gets its groove on with the Henderson/Owens Trio featuring the Good Doctor Lonnie Smith on the B3

The Exodus to Jazz series of exciting jazz continues on Saturday, April 12th, with the Henderson/Owens Trio featuring Dr. Lonnie Smith on the Hammond B3 holding office hours at the Clarion Riverside Hotel. Guitarist Mel Henderson, founder of popular Rochester-based Paradigm Shift, will be leading the trio with the Good Doctor doing his thing on the B3 and drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. (who was just here with Helen Sung) holding down the beat. Henderson is returning the favor on the Good Doctor's frequent invitations to play with him at the RIJF and on previous ETJ gigs Smith, who last appeared on the ETJ stage in February 2007, to grace its's stage again (although at a new venue). If you want to get a taste, check out this video of them at ETJ that I posted in January.

Shows are at 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm in the Frontier Room at The Clarion Hotel Riverside, 120 East Main Street, Rochester, New York 14604. You can call (585) 733-7685 for more information or visit the Exodus to Jazz website. Parking is free for Exodus To Jazz patrons in the Clarion's parking garage. Tickets are $ 20.00 and are available at and TicketWeb.com (search “Dr. Lonnie Smith” or “Exodus To Jazz”), by an email order sent to ExodusToJazz@aol.com (confirmations will be sent within 24 hours), or at the door, the night of the show. Student tickets are $ 10.00 with a current student ID. All tickets are available for pick-up at the ETJ Ticket/Will Call desk (on the hotel’s mezzanine level, outside the Frontier Room) beginning at 6:00 pm on the night of the show.

April showers some jazz on Rochester, but you don't need an umbrella . . . just your ears

It's raining jazz in Rochester over the next seven days . . . Go check it out! Remember, next week on Wednesday, April 9th we'll finally be hearing about the lineup for the Rochester International Jazz Festival. There has been some "leakage," but overall they've kept the lineup pretty close to the vest. While the folks at RIJF do a pretty good job with the details, watch this site for some highlights and for some special material for the Seventh Annual RIJF.

Thursday, April 3rd

• Steve West @ The Rabbit Room, contact venue for time
• Matt Valerio @ The Grill at Strathallan, 6:00 pm
• Jazz Dawgs @ Bistro 135, 7:00 pm
• Joe Santora and Emily Kirchoff @ Michael's Valley Grill, 7:00 pm
• Dream Engine @ Finger Lakes Community College, 7:00 pm
• Lumiere @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm
• Madeline Forster @ Pane Vino (on Water Street), 8:00 pm
• Footnote (does Footnote Lite) @ Merchant's Grill, 8:00 pm
• Standard Jazz Quartet @ Starry Nites Cafe, 8:00 pm
• Swing Dance @ St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 8:30 pm
• Salsa Dance Class @ Flat Iron Cafe, 9:00 pm
• Salsa Dance Lessons @ Tapas 177, 9:30 pm
• Filthy Funk with Thought @ High Fidelity, 10:00 pm

Friday, April 4th

• Bob Sneider and Paul Hofmann @ The Grill at Strathallan, 5:00 pm
• John Nyerges/Vince Ercolamento Duo @ Wegmans Market Café (345 Eastern Blvd (Rt 5&20), Canandaigua)
• Bobby DiBaudo Trio @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• First Friday Rochester, the monthly citywide gallery night featuring art, music and discussion (see web site for participating galleries and featured artists each month), 6:00 pm
• Madeline Forster @ Bodhi's Café & Lounge, 6:30 pm
• Joe Santora and Emily Kirchoff @ Michael's Valley Grill, 7:00 pm
• Gap Mangione New Blues Band @ The Lodge at Woodcliff, 7:30 pm
• Rich Thompson Trio featuring Steve Brown @ Tasteology, 8:00 pm
• University of Rochester Jazz Ensemble with directors Matt Stuver and Mike Van Bebber @ University of Rochester Strong Auditorium, 8:00 pm
• Victor Wooten @ Roberts Wesleyan College, 8:00 pm
• Bill Dobbins/Mike Kaupa Quartet @ The Grill at Strathallan, 8:30 pm
• The Varnish Cooks @ Little Theatre Cafe, 8:30 pm
• Mark Cassara Band @ Bistro 135, 9:00 pm

Saturday, April 5th

• Costello Music Expo & Concert featuring Fred Costello & His All Star Band, Greg Townson & Cruelty Free @ H.O.G. (that's House of Guitars for the uninitiated), 12:00 pm
• Graham Keir (jazz guitar) and Quintet (Eastman School of Music Non-Degree Recital) @ Eastman Commons Ciminelli Lounge, 1:30 pm
• Chris Ziemba @ The Grill at Strathallan, 5:00 pm
• Fred Costello @ Red Fedele's Brook House Restaurant, 6:00 pm
• Ralph Scicchitano @ Flat Iron Cafe, 6:00 pm
• Squeaky Chair Jazz Trio @ Bistro 135, 7:00 pm
• Madeline Forster @ Brio Mediterranean Bistro, 7:30 pm
• The Westview Project @ Pomodoro Grill & Wine Bar, 8:00 pm
• David Pope (Saxophone) with Bob Sneider Quartet @ The Grill at Strathallan, 8:30 pm
• Steve Greene Trio featuring Tina Albright @ Little Theatre Cafe, 8:30 pm
• Ben Britton Quartet @ Flat Iron Cafe, 9:00 pm
• John Viviani & Filthy Funk @ Bodhi's Café & Lounge, 10:00 pm
• Ritmo Seis @ Salena's Mexican Restaurant, 10:00 pm
• After Hours Jam Session with the Quinn Lawrence Trio @ Flat Iron Cafe, 12:00 am  (yes, it's actually on Sunday, but you were looking for it first here, weren't you....)

Sunday, April 6th

• Bill Slater @ The Lodge at Woodcliff, 11:30 am
• Musicale Sundays hosted by Ernesto LaBella @ Artisan Works, 12:00 pm

Monday, April 7th

• The White Hots @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm
• Buddy Guy w/Joe Beard @ Water Street Music Hall, 8:00 pm (yes, it's blues but dammit, it's Buddy Guy!!!!)
• Open Mic/Jazz Jam Nite w/Reflecshunz @ Clarrisa's, 8:00 pm
• Big Apple Mondays Swing Dance Class and Live Jazz with Quinn Lawrence Trio @ Flat Iron Cafe, 8:30 pm

Tuesday, April 8th

• Joe Santora and Emily Kirchoff @ Michael's Valley Grill, 7:00 pm

Wednesday, April 9th

• Lineup for the Rochester International Jazz Festival is announced!
• Big Band Dance featuring The Music Makers and The Al Bruno Trio with Tom Monte @ Robach Community Center at Ontario Beach Park, 6:00 pm
• Todd East Trio @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• The Margaret Explosion @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm
• ESM Jazz Lab Band @ Kilbourn Hall, Eastman School of Music, 8:00 pm

I've compiled these listings from information obtained from the performing artists themselves and from other listings sources. Please forgive me for any discrepancies with reality; feel free to let me know what the problem is, and I'll get the corrections up on the site as soon as possible. Any list items that contain the notation "[added]" or struck-through text reflect corrections implemented after initial publication of this post. Email subscribers should check the listings post online for updates or revisions before making decisions based on the information in this post.

For additional information regarding a particular performance (where I haven't previewed it in a separate post in advance), check the artist or venue web sites in the right panel.

Another voice heard from about jazz around Rochester. . . on her own blog!

As I've taken to exposing you all to some other voices who are out there listening and writing about jazz, I thought I'd direct you over to my friend Tracy Kroft and her blog Rochester Music Scene (and Heard).  Last night she went out to see the Rick Holland-Evan Dobbins Little Big Band at Tasteology in Pittsford and wrote it up in her blog. While Tracy is not one to hold back when something is off, she obviously had a good experience:

While they are "little" in size as compared to a standard big band, they have a huge sound which comes at you in layers with rich textures and beautiful flow. Hmm. Sounds like a description of a dress, I know, but that's how I heard their music. Complex, crisp--each player right on the mark--I could have listened to them all night.

Tracy has firmed up my plans to go out and catch this group, perhaps next week (although there's a comment on her site that they'll be taping OnStage at WXXI on Monday so now I'm wondering....). Check them out on this YouTube video from their performance at High Fidelity during the 2007 RIJF that Tracy mentions in her post:

 

Special webcast to premiere "Legends of Jazz Presents the 2007 NEA Jazz Masters" TV Show

In honor of April, which is Jazz Appreciation Month , LRSmedia is debuting starting today the television show Legends of Jazz Presents the 2007 NEA Jazz Masters as a special webcast premiere in conjunction with the entire online jazz community. This one-hour television special, soon to come to your local PBS station hosted by 2007 NEA Jazz Master Ramsey Lewis on his Legends of Jazz program, will feature conversation and musical performances by bandleader and pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi, trombonist Curtis Fuller, vocalist Jimmy Scott, flutist Frank Wess, and saxophonist Phil Woods. Special guest and co-host Nancy Wilson will interview Ramsey Lewis about his music, 50-year career and his selection as an NEA Jazz Master. The special is co-produced by LRSmedia and Chicago's WTTW National Productions. It is filmed in state-of-the-art high definition.

The NEA Jazz Masters Awards are the highest honors that the U.S. government bestows upon jazz musicians and are given in recognition of the jazz—one of America's greatest gifts to the world. As Lewis says, "This special 2007 NEA Jazz Masters program, like the others in our Legends of Jazz series, provides not only exciting performances, but showcases that unique energy sparked when great artists respond to each other in conversation and through music."

In conjunction with Jazz Appreciation Month, LRSmedia is making the program available to websites around the world. More than 50 websites will participate in this amazing online event by embedding a video player on their website. Unfortunately, the embedded player requires too wide a berth to host on my site, so you'll have to travel to the Legends of Jazz site to watch the show by clicking on the image below.  Or you can wait until it's on television...its up to you.