The most comprehensive weekly guide to live jazz in and around Rochester, NY—covering every gig we know about from September 3rd through 9th, plus looking ahead for live jazz through the rest of September, October, and a few of special interest beyond that. Use the listings below to plan your week; click the arrow at the bottom for jazz later this month and beyond. We update this post throughout the week as new gigs come in, so check back.
Click on the links in the listings where available for more information on the gig or tickets, or check out many of the venue’s websites in the right panel. Contact the venue for more details or just to make sure the gig is happening before you go out. Check the site as I will update the post throughout the week as I hear about new live jazz gigs around town until the next post is published (or make corrections). Please let me know if you’ve heard about any jazz around town that I have missed or if I have anything wrong (see the Contact Us link above to send an email).
As you can see, I’m trying some new approaches on this post to see if it helps get more eyes on the site. You could help with that too. Please let your jazz-loving friends know about the site so they can join us here or on our other channels.
Thursday, September 3, 2026
- Stewie Evans Trio @ Lila’s (Rochester, Downtown), 5:00 pm
- Fred DiCesare @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant and Jazz Bar (Farmington), 6:00 pm
- John Troy Group @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway (Rochester, East End), 6:00 pm
- Margaret Explosion @ The Little Theatre Cafe (Rochester, East End), 7:00 pm
- The Elders: MOCUS Jazz Legends CD & DVD Release Concert @ Pausa Art House (Buffalo), 7:00 pm (more info & tickets)
Friday, September 4, 2026
- Jim Nugent @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant and Jazz Bar (Farmington), 6:00 pm
- Jazz on Tap: Dean Keller’s Soul Jazz Joint @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 6:00 pm (Oyster & Champagne pairing at 5:30 pm)
- Higher Ground Duo @ Bar 929 at Ravenwood Country Club (Victor), 6:00 pm
- Mel Henderson & Ryan Johnson @ Flight Wine Bar (Rochester, Downtown), 6:30 pm
- Einstein’s Dreams @ The Little Theatre Cafe (Rochester, East End), 7:00 pm
- Ben Miller Quartet @ The Trestle (Sodus Point), 7:00 pm
- Prime Time Brass @ Silver Lake Institute, Epworth Hall (Silver Lake), 7:00 pm
- Chris Palace @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway (Rochester, East End), 9:00 pm
Saturday, September 5, 2026
- Mel Henderson 3Tet @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway (Rochester, East End), 5:00 pm
- Connie Fredericks Malone @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant and Jazz Bar (Farmington), 6:00 pm
- Dan & Eric’s Jazz Duo @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown (Rochester, Downtown), 6:30 pm
- Mid-Century Modern Jazz Quartet @ The Little Theatre Cafe (Rochester, East End), 7:00 pm
- Jackson Cavalier @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway (Rochester, East End), 9:00 pm
Sunday, September 6, 2026
- Joey Stempien Big Band and others @ 9th Annual Olcott Beach Jazz Trail, 12:00-7:00 pm (more info)
- Ben Miller Quartet @ The Trestle (Sodus Point), 2:30 pm
- Steve Grills and the Roadmasters @ Twisted Rail Brewing (Canandaigua), 5:00 pm
Monday, September 7, 2026
- No jazz for you?
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
- Clay Jenkins @ Lila’s (Rochester, Downtown), 5:00 pm
- WGMC Jazz 90.1 and the Ontario Beach Park Program Committee present Jazz at the Beach with The Darryl Parker Quartet @ Tropix (Charlotte), 7:00 pm
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
- Ben Miller @ Spotted Octopus Brewing, 5:00 pm
- Prime Time Brass @ Let’s Take Charlotte Beach Back event, Tropix (Charlotte), 6:00 pm
Looking for some live jazz later this month and beyond that? Then click on the arrow to open it up here . . . .
Looking for Live Jazz later in September …?
- 10th: Stewie Evans Trio @ Lila’s (Rochester, Downtown), 5:00 pm
- 10th: John Nyerges @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant and Jazz Bar (Farmington), 6:00 pm
- 10th: Rick Holland Quartet @ The Little Theatre Cafe (Rochester, East End), 7:00 pm
- 11th: John Viviani @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway (Rochester, East End), 5:00 pm
- 11th: Mike Pallini @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant and Jazz Bar (Farmington), 6:00 pm
- 11th: Mike Kornrich @ Bar 929 at Ravenwood Country Club (Victor), 6:00 pm
- 11th: Cinque Jazz Quintet @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 6:00 pm
- 11th: Jim Nugent & Connor de Fehr @ Flight Wine Bar (Rochester, Downtown), 6:30 pm
- 11th: Marco Amadio @ Spritz 146 (East Rochester), 7:00 pm
- 11th: The Mack Collectives Jazz Band @ Legacy Wine Bar (Rochester, Downtown), 7:00 pm
- 11th: The Blue Barn Cats featuring Candice O’Connor @ The Biltmore Bar & Lounge (Rochester, Downtown), 8:00 pm
- 11th: CSE Music @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway (Rochester, East End), 9:00 pm
- 12th: Jason Stotz @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway (Rochester, East End), 5:00 pm
- 12th: Moondance Trio @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant and Jazz Bar (Farmington), 6:00 pm
- 12th: Annie Wells & Dave Arenius @ Flight Wine Bar (Rochester, Downtown), 6:30 pm
- 12th: Jim Nugent @ Spritz 146 (East Rochester), 6:30 pm
- 12th: Laura Dubin & Antonio Guerrero @ The Little Theatre Cafe (Rochester, East End), 7:00 pm
- 12th: Rich Thompson Trio @ The Trestle (Sodus Point), 7:00 pm
- 12th: Jim Nugent @ Spritz 146 (East Rochester), 7:00 pm
- 12th: Carter Bowman @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway (Rochester, East End), 9:00 pm
- 13th: Jazz Brunch with Jim Nugent @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 11:00 am
- 13th: Mike Kaupa Quartet @ The Little Theatre Cafe (Rochester, East End), 7:00 pm
- 15th: Dean Keller’s Soul Jazz Joint @ Lila’s (Rochester, Downtown), 5:00 pm
- 15th: Fringe Festival: Joe Fonda and Bass of Operation @ Bop Shop Records (Brighton), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 16th: Jon Randall Quartet @ The Little Theatre Cafe (Rochester, East End), 7:00 pm
- 17th: Stewie Evans Trio @ Lila’s (Rochester, Downtown), 5:00 pm
- 17th: Jim E Leggs Trio @ Brewery Ardennes (Geneva), 5:30 pm
- 17th: Marco Amadio @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant and Jazz Bar (Farmington), 6:00 pm
- 17th: Indigo Breeze Sextet @ Canal Park (Macedon), 6:00 pm
- 18th: Fringe Festival: Mid-Century Modern Jazz Quartet @ The Little Theatre, Theatre 1 (Rochester, East End), 5:00 pm (more info, free)
- 18th: Dino Losito Trio @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway (Rochester, East End), 5:00 pm
- 18th: Connie Fredericks Malone @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant and Jazz Bar (Farmington), 6:00 pm
- 18th: Bob Sneider & Jim Nugent @ Flight Wine Bar (Rochester, Downtown), 6:30 pm
- 18th: Fringe Festival: Steve Hahn – Music for Chapman Stick @ Biltmore Bar & Lounge (Rochester, Downtown), 6:30 pm (more info & tickets)
- 18th: Trio East @ The Little Theatre Cafe (Rochester, East End), 7:00 pm
- 18th: Mike Pallini @ Spritz 146 (East Rochester), 7:00 pm
- 18th: Fringe Festival: Brazilian Jazz Quartet @ St. Paul’s Episcopal Church: Front of Sanctuary (Rochester, East Avenue), 7:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 18th: Just Jazz Band @ Legacy Wine Bar (Rochester, Downtown), 7:00 pm
- 18th: Frank Torchio presents Bobby Darin-That’s All with 12-piece big band @ OFC Creations Theatre (Brighton), 7:30 pm (more info & tickets)
- 18th: Maxwell Robbins @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway (Rochester, East End), 9:00 pm
- 19th: Fringe Festival: Uncle Shoehorn’s Big Easy @ Biltmore Bar & Lounge (Rochester, Downtown), 12:00 am (more info & tickets)
- 19th: Fringe Festival: Funkyard Brass Band @ Memorial Art Gallery, M&T Bank Ballroom (Rochester, NOTA), 3:30 pm (more info & tickets)
- 19th: Caribe Quartet @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway (Rochester, East End), 5:00 pm
- 19th: Laura Dubin Trio @ Light the Night: A Musical Offering for Blood Cancer Awareness Month, Village Square at Brickstone, 5:30 pm
- 19th: Michael Sidoti @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant and Jazz Bar (Farmington), 6:00 pm
- 19th: Marvin Dolly & Ed Kroft @ Flight Wine Bar (Rochester, Downtown), 6:30 pm
- 19th: Fringe Festival: Steve Hahn – Music for Chapman Stick @ Biltmore Bar & Lounge (Rochester, Downtown), 6:30 pm (more info & tickets)
- 19th: Fringe Festival: Brazilian Jazz Quartet @ St. Paul’s Episcopal Church: Front of Sanctuary (Rochester, East Avenue), 7:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 19th: Dean Keller’s Soul Jazz Joint @ The Little Theatre Cafe (Rochester, East End), 7:00 pm
- 19th: Dan Dovideo @ Spritz 146 (East Rochester), 7:00 pm
- 19th: Fringe Festival: Uncle Shoehorn’s Big Easy @ Biltmore Bar & Lounge (Rochester, Downtown), 9:30 pm (more info & tickets)
- 19th: Fringe Festival: Miles Davis Animated @ The Hochstein School Performance Hall (Rochester, Downtown), 7:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 19th: Simon Fletcher Trio @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway (Rochester, East End), 9:00 pm
- 20th: Fringe Festival: Miles Davis Animated @ The Hochstein School Performance Hall (Rochester, Downtown), 7:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 20th: Darryl Parker @ The Little Theatre Cafe (Rochester, East End), 7:00 pm
- 20th: Fringe Festival: Sound Signal Contemporary Music Ensemble @ Bop Shop Records (Brighton), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 20th: Fringe Festival: Uncle Shoehorn’s Big Easy @ Biltmore Bar & Lounge (Rochester, Downtown), 11:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 21st: Fringe Festival: Cardio Charleston @ The Rose Room (Rochester, South Wedge), 6:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 21st: Fringe Festival: From Swing to Spain to Spotify with the Greece Jazz Band @ St. Paul’s Episcopal Church: Front of Sanctuary (Rochester, East Avenue), 7:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 22nd: Higher Ground @ Lila’s (Rochester, Downtown), 5:00 pm
- 22nd: Fringe Festival: Just the Two of Us with Connie Fredericks-Malone and Scott Bradley @ School of the Arts, Ensemble Theatre (Rochester, NOTA), 7:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 22nd: Fringe Festival: Jake Wark & Mike McNeill Duo @ Bop Shop Records (Brighton), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 24th: Stewie Evans Trio @ Lila’s (Rochester, East End), 5:00 pm
- 24th: Ann Mitchell Trio with Dylon Wahlbridge & Dave Arenius @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway (Rochester, East End), 6:00 pm
- 24th: Mike Pullano @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant and Jazz Bar (Farmington), 6:00 pm
- 25th: Fringe Festival: Steve Hahn – Music for Chapman Stick @ Biltmore Bar & Lounge (Rochester, Downtown), 5:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 25th: Resonance Freqs @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway (Rochester, East End), 5:00 pm
- 25th: Ann Mitchell Jazz Duo @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant and Jazz Bar (Farmington), 6:00 pm
- 25th: Jazz on Tap: Bob Sneider Trio @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 6:30 pm
- 25th: Jazz Generation @ Flight Wine Bar (Rochester, Downtown), 6:30 pm
- 25th: Sarah DeValliere @ Spritz 146 (East Rochester), 7:00 pm
- 25th: Fringe Festival: From Swing to Spain to Spotify with the Greece Jazz Band @ St. Paul’s Episcopal Church: Front of Sanctuary (Rochester, East Avenue), 7:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 25th: Fringe Festival: Ricky Ford Quartet @ Bop Shop Records (Brighton), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 25th: Raedwald and the State Street Stompers @ The Biltmore Bar & Lounge (Rochester, Downtown), 8:00 pm
- 25th: Bob Sneider @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway (Rochester, East End), 9:00 pm
- 26th: Live Jazz Jam Session and Wine Tastings @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 2:00-4:00 pm
- 26th: Beach Avenue Band @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway (Rochester, East End), 5:00 pm
- 26th: Special Blend Trio @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant and Jazz Bar (Farmington), 6:00 pm
- 26th: Son Henry @ Flight Wine Bar (Rochester, Downtown), 6:30 pm
- 26th: Pullano & Price @ Spritz 146 (East Rochester), 7:00 pm
- 26th: Craig Snyder Trio @ Lovin Cup Bistro & Brews (Henrietta/RIT), 7:00 pm
- 26th: Fringe Festival: The GateSwingers Big Band @ Hochstein School Performance Hall (Rochester, Downtown), 7:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 26th: Fringe Festival: Stew Cutler and Friends @ Bop Shop Records (Brighton), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 26th: Dan Atkinson @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway (Rochester, East End), 9:00 pm
- 29th: Ann Mitchell with John Gabriele & Dave Arenius @ Lila’s (Rochester, Downtown), 5:00 pm
- 29th: Laura Dubin Trio @ Irondequoit Public Library, 6:00 pm
- 29th: Benefit for the Rochester Fringe Festival: Taylor Ho Bynum @ Bop Shop Records (Brighton), 8:00 pm
- 30th: Jim E Leggs Trio @ Spotted Octopus Brewing (Rochester, Downtown), 6:00 pm
- 30th: Rick Holland Little Big Band with Lindsey Holland @ The Biltmore Bar & Lounge (Rochester, Downtown), 8:00 pm
Looking for Live Jazz in October …?
- 2nd: Trialogue with Special Guest(s) @ Little Theatre Cafe (Rochester, East End), 7:00 pm
- 3rd: Joel Kastner & Ariel Zylberberg @ Flight Wine Bar (Rochester, Downtown), 6:30 pm
- 3rd: Laura Dubin & Antonio Guerrero @ The Little Theatre Cafe (Rochester, East End), 7:00 pm
- 4th: Bop Arts presents Dimensionality @ Bop Shop Records (Brighton), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 7th: Margaret Explosion @ The Little Theatre Cafe (Rochester, East End), 7:00 pm
- 7th: Samara Joy with Septet @ Smith Center for the Arts (Geneva), 7:30 pm (tickets)
- 8th: WGMC Jazz 90.1 presents The Joey Stempien Big Band @ Greece Baptist Church, 1230 Long Pond Road (Greece), 7:00 pm
- 8th: Stéphane Wrembel: Terre des Hommes @ Lovin Cup Bistro & Brews (Henrietta/RIT), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 9th: Stéphane Wrembel: Origins @ Lovin Cup Bistro & Brews (Henrietta/RIT), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 10th: Bob Sneider Trio @ The Little Theatre Cafe (Rochester, East End), 7:00 pm
- 10th: Stéphane Wrembel: Dreamers of Dreams @ Lovin Cup Bistro & Brews (Henrietta/RIT), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 11th: Stéphane Wrembel: Django Brunch @ Lovin Cup Bistro & Brews (Henrietta/RIT), 12:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 11th: Dean Keller’s Soul Jazz Joint @ The Little Theatre Cafe (Rochester, East End), 7:00 pm
- 13th: WGMC Jazz 90.1 and the Ontario Beach Park Program Committee present Jazz at the Beach with Sofrito Latin Jazz Quintet @ Tropix (Charlotte), 7:00 pm
- 14th: Bop Arts presents New Origin Trio featuring Joe Fonda, Harvey Sorgen & Christophe Rocher @ Bop Shop Records (Brighton), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 15th: The Music of Weather Report with Curtis Kendrick, David Labman, Paul DeLoria, Ron Haywood & Hector Diaz @ Lovin Cup Bistro & Brews (Henrietta/RIT), 7:00 pm
- 16th: Mid-Century Modern Jazz Quartet @ The Little Theatre Cafe (Rochester, East End), 7:00 pm
- 17th: Jim E Leggs Trio @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway (Rochester, East End), 5:00 pm
- 17th: Stereo Field Recordings presents: Jacob Merrill & Cool New Wave @ Bop Shop Records (Brighton), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 21st: Bop Arts presents Transylvanian Dance: A Multimedia Concert featuring Lucian Ban & Mat Manieri @ Bop Shop Records (Brighton), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 22nd: John Troy Group @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway (Rochester, East End), 6:00 pm
- 23rd: Jazz on Tap: Mid-Century Modern Jazz Quartet @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 6:00 pm
- 23rd: Chucho Valdés 85th Birthday Celebration with special guests Joe Lovano & Etienne Charles @ Dallas Morse Coors Concert Series, Bailey Hall, Cornell University (Ithaca), 7:30 pm (more info & tickets)
- 24th: Live Jazz Jam Session and Wine Tastings @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 2:00-4:00 pm
- 24th: The Occasional Saints @ The Little Theatre Cafe (Rochester, East End), 7:00 pm
- 27th: Eastman Jazz Voice Ensemble @ ESM, Hatch Recital Hall (Rochester, East End), 7:30 pm
- 30th: Beach Avenue Band @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 6:30 pm
- 30th: Annie Wells Band @ The Little Theatre Cafe (Rochester, East End), 7:00 pm
- 30th: Halloween Bash with the Cool Club & the Lipker Sisters @ Lovin Cup Bistro & Brews (Henrietta/RIT), 7:00 pm
- 31st: Indigo Breeze @ The Little Theatre Cafe (Rochester, East End), 7:00 pm
Some special live jazz even later …
- November 2nd: Bop Arts presents Yoke: Songs of the Japanese Supernatural, Fumi Tomita Quartet @ Bop Shop Records (Brighton), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- November 5th: Dirty Dozen Brass Band @ Smith Center for the Arts (Geneva), 7:30 pm (tickets on sale 4/10, 4/9 for members)
- November 8th: Kleinhans Music Hall and JazzBuffalo present Nicole Zuraitis Quintet @ Kleinhans Music Hall, Mary Seaton Room, 3 Symphony Circle (Buffalo), 3:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- November 13th: Rick Braun Plays Chuck Mangione @ Kodak Center (Rochester, Downtown), 7:30 pm (more info & tickets)
- December 6th: Kleinhans Music Hall and JazzBuffalo present Swinging in the Holidays featuring Champian Fulton and Carmen Bradford @ Kleinhans Music Hall, Mary Seaton Room, 3 Symphony Circle (Buffalo), 3:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- December 12th: Squirrel Nut Zippers Christmas Caravan @ Smith Opera House (Geneva), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- December 12th: Jazz 90.1 presents Smooth Jazz Holiday Bash with Deepak Thettu & Judah Sealy @ Greece Olympia School Auditorium (Greece), 7:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- March 14, 2027: Alfredo Rodríguez Trio @ Kleinhans Music Hall, Mary Seaton Room, 3 Symphony Circle (Buffalo), 3:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- March 15, 2027: Pink Martini @ The Theater at Innovation Square (Rochester, Downtown), 7:30 pm (more info & tickets)
- April 22, 2027: Kleinhans Music Hall and JazzBuffalo present Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves Celebrate the Ballads of John Coltrane @ Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle (Buffalo), 7:00 pm (more info & tickets)
