Greetings from the prairie, where I'm visiting my father for a few days. Right now, I'm trying to finish this during a pretty mean severe thunderstorm (we had nickel size hail an hour ago), so pardon me as I occasionally glance at the red blobs on my Weatherbug app to see whether we need to be moving to the basement... Meanwhile, back in Rochester, the jazz goes on....

Thursday, May 31, 2012

• Jazz & Wine Happy Hour with The Swooners @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 5:00 pm
• Jon Seiger and the All-Stars @ Market Cafe at Wegmans, Calkins Road in Henrietta, 5:30 pm
• The John Palocy Trio @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• GB and Jim @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 6:00 pm
• Jon Greeno Jazz Trio @ Lemoncello, 6:00 pm
• Coffey-Wachala Duo @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm
• Thursday Night Jam Sessions @ Abbott's Downtown, 8:00 pm
• Russell Scarbrough Soul Jazz Big Band @ Tala Vera Cantina, 8:00 pm
• Soul Express @ Pane Vino, 8:30 pm
• The Sonny Brown Band @ Rabbit Room Restaurant, Honeoye Falls, call for time

Friday, June 1, 2012

• 7th Annual Vintage Jazz Dance Weekend @ Memorial Art Gallery, Various times & fees
• Michael Vadala Trio @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Bill Tiberio & the Eastman School Educators Band @ Fairport Canal Days (Fairport Junction Pavillion), 6:00 pm 
• Gap Mangione, The Solo Piano Series @ Pier 45 at the Port of Rochester, 6:00 pm
• ECMS Jazz Saxophone Studio Recital @ Eastman School of Music, Messinger Hall 1, 6:30 pm
• Norman Tibbils Jazz Trio @ Lemoncello, 7:00 pm
• The Westview Project @ Pomodoro (Monroe Ave.), 7:00 pm
• Joe Santora Trio with Emily Kirchoff @ Michael's Valley Grill, 7:00 pm
• Ted Nicolosi and Shared Genes @ Pultneyville Grill, 4135 Mill St Williamson, 7:00 pm (oops)
• Soul Express @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 7:30 pm
• Annie Wells & Friends @ Little Theatre Cafe, 8:30 pm

Saturday, June 2, 2012

• 7th Annual Vintage Jazz Dance Weekend @ Memorial Art Gallery, Various times & fees
• Sofrito Latin Jazz Quartet @ Fairport Canal Days (Kennelley Park Gazebo), 12:30 pm 
• Paradigm Shift @ Fairport Canal Days (Kennelley Park Gazebo), 2:00 pm 
• Hard Logic @ Fairport Canal Days (Kennelley Park Gazebo), 4:00 pm 
• An Evening of Art & Jazz with Tia Fuller, Wycliffe Gordon, Jimmie Highsmith Jr., Will Holton & Bobby Floyd (Benefit for the Advocacy Center) @ George Eastman House, 6:00 to 11:00 pm
• Gap Mangione, The Solo Piano Series @ Pier 45 at the Port of Rochester, 6:00 pm
6:00 PM
• Champagne Brown @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Ted Nicolosi and Shared Genes & Jasmine's Asian Fusion and Jazz Lounge, 6:30 pm
• Special Blend @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 7:30 pm
• Fred Stone @ Little Theatre Cafe, 8:30 pm
• East End Jazz Boys @ Havana Moes, 9:30 pm (call first)

Sunday, June 3, 2012

• Bill Slater Solo Piano (Brunch) @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, call for info
• 7th Annual Vintage Jazz Dance Weekend @ Memorial Art Gallery, Various times & fees
• The Bowties @ Fairport Canal Days (Kennelley Park Gazebo), 11:00 am 
• The Smugtown Stompers @ Fairport Canal Days (Kennelley Park Gazebo), 12:15 pm 
• Baby Soda (live, in-store to meet, greet, listen & dance to "street jazz") @ The Bop Shop, 12:30 to 2:00 pm 
• McLeod/Bishop Trio @ Fairport Canal Days (Kennelley Park Gazebo), 2:00 pm 
• Dave Mancini Quartet @ Fairport Canal Days (Kennelley Park Gazebo), 3:45 pm 

Monday, June 4, 2012

• Mark Bader @ Bistro 135, 5:30 pm
• The Westview Project @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 5:30 pm
• Anthony Gianovola @ Beale Street Cafe, 7:00 pm

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

• Tinted Image @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 5:30 pm
• Ted Nicolosi & Shared Genes @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Beau @ Lemoncello, 8:00 pm

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

• ECMS Spring Festival-Nights of Jazz @ Kilbourn Hall, 5:00 pm
• El Rojo Jazz @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Margaret Explosion @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm

Heads Up ... Look for these Jazz Gigs and Special Jazz Events in the Future

• Rochester Magazine gets Jazzed with XRIJF Music Director John Nugent and Friends @ Max at the Gallery (Memorial Art Gallery), 5:00 to 8:00 pm
• Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, June 22-30. Check out my plans for coverage and first 2012 XRIJF pick.

We've compiled these listings from information obtained from the performing artists themselves and other sources. The aim is to give you a one-stop place to find all your jazz in Rochester.The aim is to give you a one stop place to find all your jazz in Rochester. Only start times are listed, visit or call the venue for more details (the sites for many of the venues are in the right panel). Please forgive any discrepancies with reality and feel free to let me know what the problem is, and I'll get the corrections up on the site as soon as possible (click on the "Contact Us" button above). If you go out to hear a performance listed here, feel free to drop a comment to this post to let us know how it went. I want to hear from you!

June 24th, Kilbourn Hall @ 6:00 & 10:00 pm

Although I came to it like a lot of us through Ry Cooder's film and album The Buena Vista Social Club, the Afro-Cuban jazz coming from ninety miles off the coast of Florida has since been a growing part of my collection. This music really gets inside of me. Ninety Miles is a project of three young and critically-acclaimed U.S. jazz musicians—vibist Stefon Harris, saxophonist David Sánchez and trumpeter Christian Scott—who have collaborated in the Nintey Miles project to create a collection of music that evoke the spirit of Cuba while also retaining their own unique approach to jazz. Recorded in Havana with talented Cuban pianists Rember Duharte and Harold López-Nussa, each leading their own quartets, the 9-song set was an experiment examining the chemistry that can happen musicians from different cultures come together and talk in the only language they share, with a result that is a collaboration that disregards the political borders that for too long has kept us apart from this great music being played in the place it was born, and by or with those who have nurtured it. 

Check Ninety Miles out below, performing at the Heineken Jazz Festival in Puerto Rico last year:

Like the BVSC, there is a documentary. Here is the trailer for it:

This is one of my must sees, so you'll be seeing me in line at Kilbourn on the 24th. Early or late show to be determined....

Greetings from the prairie, where I'm visiting my father for a few days. Meanwhile, the jazz goes on in Rochester. I'm trying to find some here in Wichita...

Thursday, May 24, 2012

• Jazz & Wine Happy Hour with The Swooners @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 5:00 pm
• Jon Seiger and the All-Stars @ Market Cafe at Wegmans, Calkins Road in Henrietta, 5:30 pm
• The John Palocy Trio @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Serenity Jazz Trio @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 6:00 pm
• Seventh Annual "Art Loves Jazz 2012", a gala fundraising event to benefit Jazz90.1 @ Artisan Works, 6:30-9:30 pm
• Anthony Gianovola Solo Guitar @ Lemoncello, 7:00 pm
• Coffey-Wachala Duo @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm
• The Meta Accord @ Beale Street Cafe, 7:30 pm
• Thursday Night Jam Sessions @ Abbott's Downtown, 8:00 pm
• Russell Scarbrough Soul Jazz Big Band @ Tala Vera Cantina, 8:00 pm
• Todd East & Friends @ Pane Vino, 8:30 pm

Friday, May 25, 2012

• Bobby DiBaudo Trio @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Norman Tibbils Jazz Trio @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 6:30 pm
• Joe Santora Trio with Emily Kirchoff @ Michael's Valley Grill, 7:00 pm
• The Westview Project @ Pomodoro Monroe Ave., 7:00 pm
• Ted Nicolosi and Shared Genes @ Pultneyville Grill, 4135 Mill St Williamson, 7:00 pm
• Ryan T Carey @ Thali of India, 7:30 pm
• Tinted Image @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 7:30 pm
• Amanda Montone Jazz Trio @ Lemoncello, 8:00 pm
• Annie Wells & Friends @ Little Theatre Cafe, 8:30 pm
• The Moho Collective with Seth Horan @ Lovin Cup, 9:00 pm

Saturday, May 26, 2012

• Evan Dobbins ECMS Show @ Tala Vera Cantina, 5:00 pm
• Andy Calabrese Trio @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Stephane Wrembel @ Boulder Coffee Co., Alexander St., 6:00 & 9:00 pm
• Four on the Floor @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 6:30 pm
• The Meta Accord @ Beale Street Cafe (Webster), 7:30 pm
• Special Blend @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 7:30 pm
• Jimmie Highsmith Jr. celebrates Memorial Day Weekend @ Vibe Lounge in the Historic Village Gate Mall 274 Goodman Street, 8:00 pm
• Chris Wilson @ Lemoncello, 8:00 pm
• Fred Stone @ Little Theatre Cafe, 8:30 pm
• The Judah Sealy Band @ Tala Vera Cantina, 9:00 pm
• The Po' Boys Brass Band with The Mighty High & Dry @ Abilene, 9:00 pm
• East End Jazz Boys @ Havana Moes, 9:30 pm (call first)

Sunday, May 27, 2012

• Bill Slater Solo Piano (Brunch) @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, call for info
• Institute for Creative Music presents the “Blank Tape Series” featuring the Tomorrow Music Orchestra, encore provided by Quintopus @ Boulder Coffee, Brooks Ave., 5:00 pm
• Captain Marvel @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 6:00 pm

Monday, May 28, 2012

• Gap Mangione, The Solo Piano Series @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 5:30 pm
• Anthony Gianovola @ Beale Street Cafe, 7:00 pm

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

• Scott Krier @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 4:00 pm
• Tinted Image @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 5:30 pm
• Gabe Condon @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Mark Bader @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 6:00 pm
• Jeff Slutsky @ Lemoncello, 8:00 pm

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

• El Rojo Jazz @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Rochester Metropolitan Jazz Band @ Ontario Beach Park, 6:00 pm
• Serenity Trio Jazz @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 6:00 pm
• Margaret Explosion @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm

Heads Up ... Look for these Jazz Gigs and Special Jazz Events in the Future

• An Evening of Art & Jazz with Tia Fuller, Wycliffe Gordon, Jimmie Highsmith Jr., Will Holton & Bobby Floyd (Benefit for the Advocacy Center) @ George Eastman House, Saturday, June 2nd, 6:00 to 11:00 pm
• Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, June 22-30. Check out my plans for coverage and first 2012 XRIJF pick.

We've compiled these listings from information obtained from the performing artists themselves and other sources. The aim is to give you a one-stop place to find all your jazz in Rochester.The aim is to give you a one stop place to find all your jazz in Rochester. Only start times are listed, visit or call the venue for more details (the sites for many of the venues are in the right panel). Please forgive any discrepancies with reality and feel free to let me know what the problem is, and I'll get the corrections up on the site as soon as possible (click on the "Contact Us" button above). If you go out to hear a performance listed here, feel free to drop a comment to this post to let us know how it went. I want to hear from you!

June 22nd, Kilbourn Hall @ 6:00 & 10:00 pm

Not a big surprise after my experience with bassist Christian McBride on April 14th when he joined Ullyses S. Owens here for the Exodus to Jazz series, including a nice dinner at Henry B's with McBride and the members of the band and some cigars after the gig at Havana Moes. But anyone who was at the concert at Hochstein that night and heard the band close up the concert with Cherokee, with it's alternating steaming and screaming lines, sat in awe of his playing.

Christian McBride, who won Grammy this year for his Big Band recording The Good Feeling, is one of the most recorded jazz musicians reaching nearly 300 recordings as a sideman before the age of 40. McBride has performed and recorded with a huge number of jazz legends and ensembles, including Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Diana Krall, Roy Haynes, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Wynton Marsalis, Hank Jones, Joshua Redman, and Ray Brown's "Superbass" with John Clayton, as well as with hip-hop, pop, soul, and classical musicians like The Roots, opera singer Kathleen Battle, Carly Simon, Sting, Bruce Hornsby, and James Brown.

McBride will likely bring some of the guys from that ETJ gig back with him for his gig here as the usual cast of characters in Inside Straight includes pianist Christian Sands (who was a monster on the ETJ stage) and the incomparable Mr. Owens.

You don't believe me about Cherokee?  Here it is with his trio in a 2009 trio recording from the Bratislava Jazz Festival, including Peter Martin and USO:

I also thought you might like this full concert recorded by National Public Radio with Christian McBride and Inside Straight at the Village Vanguard.

Christian McBride is on Twitter at @mcbridesworld and can be found on Facebook as well.

For quite a few years my usual practice in the run up to the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival has been to do an "itinerary" post for each day of the festival, with a list of my "picks" for that day and links to some more information about the artists, including video and audio you can hear to that will not be found on the festival website. In this way, as I do without the year of live jazz in Rochester, I hope to augment what's being done elsewhere and provide you what you need to make your own decisions about who to hear. 

While the aim will be the same, I'm taking a new approach for 2012.  Over the remaining days before June 22nd, I'll be posting a post for each of Jazz@Rochester (i.e., my) picks for this year's XRIJF, including the artists who I might miss due to not being able to fit them in, but will be regretting it. I'll also be doing some other posts, such as one focusing on local favorites who will be playing the festival. 

It will mean there will be a lot more coming at you over the next few weeks, but I hope that it will make it easier for those looking up a particular artist to find it here. Plus I welcome your thought and input and hope that readers will leave comments on individual artists/group posts with additional links and with your own thoughts on the artist (or my pick). 

The Xerox Rochester International Jazz Fair has released an app for iPhone users. The XRIJF app is now available free from iTunes. XRIJF iPhoners will find news, information, the schedule, artist information, photos, maps, venue and travel info and links to buy tickets online. There are also options to select favorite artists, share information on Facebook and Twitter or email, and create a personal festival agenda (for which you may use my upcoming pre-festival posts as a guide if you wish). A search tool enables browsing through concerts or artist profiles. It also includes a reminder will alert fans when shows are about to start. Looks like a great improvement over past mobile apps, but I'm sure Android users are feeling left out (that's a screenshot from my iPhone, so I'm not too worried about that...). Perhaps that's still to come?

Thursday, May 17, 2012

• Spencerport HS Jazz Band @ Lilac Festival Lilac Stage, 10:30 am
• Greece Apollo MS Jazz Band @ Lilac Festival Lilac Stage, 11:30 am
• Jazz & Wine Happy Hour with The Swooners @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 5:00 pm
• Jon Seiger and the All-Stars @ Market Cafe at Wegmans, Calkins Road in Henrietta, 5:30 pm
• Frank's Rat Pack @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Tom and Alex Jazz @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 6:00 pm
• Anthony Gianovola Solo Guitar @ Lemoncello, 7:00 pm
• Coffey-Wachala Duo @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm
• The Meta Accord @ Beale Street Cafe, 7:30 pm
• Thursday Night Jam Sessions @ Abbott's Downtown, 8:00 pm
• Captain Marvel @ Tala Vera Cantina, 8:00 pm

Friday, May 18, 2012

• Arcadia Jazz Band @ Lilac Festival Lilac Stage, 12:30 am
• Greece Olympia Jazz Band @ Lilac Festival Lilac Stage, 11:30 am
• Bobby DiBaudo Trio @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 6:30 pm
• Joe Santora Trio with Emily Kirchoff @ Michael's Valley Grill, 7:00 pm
• Heritage Jazz Series, Jazz Explorations II: Africa, the Caribe, and South America with Dr. Carl Atkins and live jazz @ Baobab Cultural Center, 7:00 pm
• John Nugent & Dawn Thomson with the Bob Sneider Trio @ Jazz at Immanuel, Immanuel Baptist Church, Park Ave. Rochester, 7:00 pm
• Ryan T Carey @ Thali of India, 7:30 pm
• Soul Express @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 7:30 pm
• Nitefall @ Lemoncello, 8:00 pm
• Mike DiMartino with Dave Arenius, Gabe Condon & John Fatum @ Tala Vera Cantina, 8:00 pm
• Annie Wells & Friends @ Little Theatre Cafe, 8:30 pm

Saturday, May 19, 2012

• The Swooners @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Chris Wilson @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 6:00 pm
• Ted Nicolosi and Shared Genes @ Glengarry Inn at Eagle Vale, 6:30 pm
• The Westview Project @ The Brighton Restaurant, 7:30 pm
• The Meta Accord @ Beale Street Cafe (Webster), 7:30 pm
• Vince Ercolamento, John Nyerges “One Night Only” @ The Brighton Restaurant, 8:00 pm
• Fred Stone @ Little Theatre Cafe, 8:30 pm
• Jimmie Highsmith Experience @ Tala Vera Cantina, 9:00 pm
• East End Jazz Boys @ Havana Moes, 9:30 pm
• Smooth Groove @ 58 Main Street Bar & Smokin' BBQ (Brockport), 9:30 pm

Sunday, May 20, 2012

• Bill Slater Solo Piano (Brunch) @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, call for info
• CJ Groovin's Tap Dance Jam with live jazz @ Tango Cafe, 2:00 pm

Monday, May 21, 2012

• Bobby DiBaudo Band @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 5:30 pm
• Mark Bader @ Bistro 135, 5:30 pm
• Anthony Gianovola @ Beale Street Cafe, 7:00 pm
• Nick Laduc Duo @ Lemoncello, 8:00 pm

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

• Scott Krier @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 4:00 pm
• Tinted Image @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 5:30 pm
• Ted Nicolosi & Shared Genes @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Mark Bader @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 6:00 pm
• Andrew Marks @ Lemoncello, 8:00 pm

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

• Tinted Image @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Serenity Trio Jazz @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 6:00 pm
• Matthew Sieber-Ford @ jazz saxophone (ECMS Honors Recital) @ Kilbourn Hall, 7:00 pm
• KGB Jazz @ Johnny's Irish Pub, 7:30 pm
• Margaret Explosion @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm
• Jane Monheit with the Williamsville East Jazz Orchestra & Combos @ Williamsville High School, Williamsville, 7:30 pm
• Suzanne Marie Monroe @ Lemoncello, 8:00 pm

Heads Up ... Look for these Jazz Gigs and Special Jazz Events in the Future

• Seventh Annual "Art Loves Jazz 2012", a gala fundraising event to benefit Jazz90.1 @ Artisan Works, Thursday, May 24th, 6:30-9:30 pm
• An Evening of Art & Jazz with Tia Fuller, Wycliffe Gordon, Jimmie Highsmith Jr., Will Holton & Bobby Floyd (Benefit for the Advocacy Center) @ George Eastman House, Saturday, June 2nd, 6:00 to 11:00 pm
• Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, June 22-30. Our coverage will begin soon.

We've compiled these listings from information obtained from the performing artists themselves and other sources. The aim is to give you a one-stop place to find all your jazz in Rochester.The aim is to give you a one stop place to find all your jazz in Rochester. Only start times are listed, visit or call the venue for more details (the sites for many of the venues are in the right panel). Please forgive any discrepancies with reality and feel free to let me know what the problem is, and I'll get the corrections up on the site as soon as possible (click on the "Contact Us" button above). If you go out to hear a performance listed here, feel free to drop a comment to this post to let us know how it went. I want to hear from you!

10³²K on the Tala Vera recording stage.

What is 10³²K? It is the numerical representation of the "Planck temperature," which is the temperature at which matter ceases to exist and conventional physics breaks down. It may also be used describe the mix the cerebral flamboyance of Frank Lacy’s trombone with Andrew Drury’s kaleidoscopic percussion, and the big broad bass sound of Kevin Ray who make up the group 10³²K. I can confirm that by the CD that Ray sent for me to check out (thanks, Kevin....). 10³²K is being brought to Rochester by Bop Arts, the non-profit arts presenting face of local independent record store The Bop Shop, and will be doing a recording sessionon the stage of the Tala Vera Cantina tomorrow, May 14th beginning at 7:00 pm. Reservations are suggested.

After studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston and Rutgers University in New Jersey, trombonist Frank Lacy toured with greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Abdullah Ibrahim, Henry Threadgill, Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake, The Eurythmics, Carla Bley and Don Pullen. He was a member of the first Bobby Watson Horizon Band, and spent a year and a half as musical director of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. Lacy was an integral part of Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy as a singer, arranger and trombonist, and a member of the big bands of McCoy Tyner and David Murray. He is currently one of the longest serving members of the Mingus Big Band. He has two cds on the Enja label: Tonal Weights and Measures, and Settegast Strut.

Andrew Drury is a percussionist, composer, improviser, and educator. His formative years were devoted to jazz, centering on studies with Dave Coleman in Seattle and Ed Blackwell at Wesleyan University, and playing experiences with artists ranging from Wadada Leo Smith and Wayne Horvitz to the Basie-era trombonist Dickie Wells and a teenage Brad Mehldau. He has become one of very few drummers known for circular breathing (usually associated with saxophonists, such as David Murray) and bowing a metal dust pan. Drury plays with a wide range of musicians including Jason Kao Hwang, TOTEM, Iron Dog, Steve Swell, Jack Wright, and others. His four cds as a bandleader feature Myra Melford, Mark Dresser, Briggan Krauss, and Chris Speed among others. He has performed internationally and on more than 40 recordings with Christine Abdelnour, Michel Doneda, Peter Evans, Charles Gayle, Darius Jones, Mazen Kerbaj, Denman Maroney, Andrea Neumann, Angelica Sanchez, Jenny Scheinmann, and Nate Wooley to name a few.

Kevin Ray has performed or recorded with such artists as John Stubblefield, Oliver Lake, Greg Osby, Andrew Hill, Pheeroan Aklaff, Marty Ehrlich, Curtis Fowlkes, Elliott Sharp, Ray Anderson, Frank Lacy, John Hicks, The Kitchen Houseblend Band, and The Flux Quartet. He has premiered major works by a wide range of composers, including Lee Hyla, Joe McPhee and Leroy Jenkins.

Now that the Bop Shop's move is complete, it is good to see Tom Kohn and Bop Arts reaching out to various venues to continue to bring the independent and unique music that he is known for presenting over the past 25 years.  It is even better that he is finding several homes throughout the metropolitan Rochester area. Hat tip to Tala Vera for this unique opportunity to see some original music and participate as an audience in it being recorded. 

Here we go again... the official opening salvo of the hectic Rochester festival season, the Lilac Festival, is upon us at the end of the week (music schedule here).  While it's not brimming with jazz offerings, there are a few and there's plenty else to choose from throughout our fine metropolitan area.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

• Jazz & Wine Happy Hour with The Swooners @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 5:00 pm
• Jon Seiger and the All-Stars @ Market Cafe at Wegmans, Calkins Road in Henrietta, 5:30 pm
• The John Palocy Trio @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Anthony Gianovola Solo Guitar @ Lemoncello, 7:00 pm
• Coffey-Wachala Duo @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm
• The Meta Accord @ Beale Street Cafe, 7:30 pm
• Thursday Night Jam Sessions @ Abbott's Downtown, 8:00 pm
• Mark Cassara & Friends @ Pane Vino, 8:30 pm
• Dave Rivello Ensemble @ Village Rock Cafe (E. Rochester), 8:30 pm

Friday, May 11, 2012

• Leroy Jazz Band @ Lilac Festival Lilac Stage, 1:30 pm
• Michael Vadala Trio @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Uptown Groove @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 6:30 pm
• Joe Santora Trio with Emily Kirchoff @ Michael's Valley Grill, 7:00 pm
• Cool Club Jazz @ Lemoncello, 7:00 pm
• Ted Nicolosi and Shared Genes @ Pultneyville Grill, 4135 Mill St Williamson, 7:00 pm
• Groove Juice Swing presents NYC's Gordon Webster CD Release Party @ Memorial Art Gallery, 7:30 pm
• The Bill Dobbins Quartet @ The Iris Restaurant, 4224 Maple Rd., Amherst, 7:30 pm
• Bob Sneider Trio @ Tala Vera Cantina, 8:00 pm
• Annie Wells & Friends @ Little Theatre Cafe, 8:30 pm

Saturday, May 12, 2012

• Mark Cassara "Just for Dinner" @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Cool Club Jazz @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 6:00 pm
• Ted Nicolosi and Shared Genes @ Jasmine's Asian Fusion, 6:30 pm
• Artisan Jazz Trio @ Lemoncello, 7:00 pm
• Gap Mangione New Blues Band @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 7:30 pm
• The Meta Accord @ Beale Street Cafe (Webster), 7:30 pm
• Fred Stone @ Little Theatre Cafe, 8:30 pm
• Primetime Funk @ Lovin' Cup, 9:00 pm
• East End Jazz Boys @ Havana Moes, 9:30 pm\
• Roc City Stompers @ Sticky Lips BBQ Juke Joint, 10:00 pm

Sunday, May 13, 2012 

• Bill Slater Solo Piano (Brunch) @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, call for info
• Bobby DiBaudo @ Bistro 135, 4:00 to 7:00 pm
• The Bow Ties @ Lovin Cup, 5:00 pm
• Chet Catallo @ Lilac Festival Lilac Stage, 5:30 pm
• Red Baraat @ Lilac Festival Lilac Stage, 7:00 pm

Monday, May 14, 2012

• The Westview Project with Doug Stone @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 5:30 pm
• Mark Bader @ Bistro 135, 5:30 pm
• Mark Cassara @ Lilac Festival Lilac Stage, 5:30 pm
• Anthony Gianovola @ Beale Street Cafe, 7:00 pm
• Steve Tyrell @ Lilac Festival Lilac Stage, 7:00 pm
• Bop Arts presents 10³²K (Frank Lacy, trombone; Kevin Ray, bass; and Andrew Drury, drums) @ Tala Vera Cantina, 8:00 pm

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

• Gates Chili MS Jazz Band @ Lilac Festival Lilac Stage, 10:30 am
• Tinted Image @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 5:30 pm
• Ben Torres  @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Mark Bader @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 6:00 pm
• Andrew Marks @ Lemoncello, 8:00 pm

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

• Paradigm Shift (opening for Melissa Manchester) @ Lilac Festival Lilac Stage, 5:30 pm
• El Rojo Jazz @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Marco Amadio @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 6:00 pm
• Nate Rawls Band @ Ontario Beach Park, 6:00 pm
• ECMS Spring Festival with the New Horizons Vintage Jazz Ensemble and New Horizons Dance Band @ Kilbourn Hall, 7:00 pm
• Margaret Explosion @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm
• Rick Holland Evan Dobbins Little Big Band @ Tala Vera Cantina, 8:00 pm

Heads Up ... Look for these Jazz Gigs and Special Jazz Events in the Future

• Seventh Annual "Art Loves Jazz 2012", a gala fundraising event to benefit Jazz90.1 @ Artisan Works, Thursday, May 24th, 6:30-9:30 pm
• An Evening of Art & Jazz with Tia Fuller, Wycliffe Gordon, Jimmie Highsmith Jr., Will Holton & Bobby Floyd (Benefit for the Advocacy Center) @ George Eastman House, Saturday, June 2nd, 6:00 to 11:00 pm

We've compiled these listings from information obtained from the performing artists themselves and other sources. The aim is to give you a one-stop place to find all your jazz in Rochester.The aim is to give you a one stop place to find all your jazz in Rochester. Only start times are listed, visit or call the venue for more details (the sites for many of the venues are in the right panel). Please forgive any discrepancies with reality and feel free to let me know what the problem is, and I'll get the corrections up on the site as soon as possible (click on the "Contact Us" button above). If you go out to hear a performance listed here, feel free to drop a comment to this post to let us know how it went. I want to hear from you!

Saxophonist Eric Person with his band Metamorphosis closing out the Winter/Spring season for Exodus to Jazz At the Lutheran Church of the Reformation downtown ....

Now that it's May, watch for some posts as I build my itinerary for the 9 days of jazz coming in June. But for now, here are the live jazz gigs in and around Rochester for you to check out. Hope you can come out to the last concert of the Exodus to Jazz season on Saturday with Eric Person & Metamorphosis (Jazz@Rochester is a sponsor). And now the listings....

Thursday, May 3, 2012

• Jazz & Wine Happy Hour with The Swooners @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 5:00 pm
• Jon Seiger and the All-Stars @ Market Cafe at Wegmans, Calkins Road in Henrietta, 5:30 pm
• The John Palocy Trio @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Lacy on Harp @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 6:00 pm
• Anthony Gianovola Solo Guitar @ Lemoncello, 7:00 pm
• Thursday Night Jam Sessions @ Abbott's Downtown, 8:00 pm
• Coffey-Wachala Duo @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm
• The Meta Accord @ Beale Street Cafe, 7:30 pm
• The White Hots with Tina Albright @ The Brighton Restaurant, 8:00 pm
• Dave Rivello Ensemble @ Village Rock Cafe, E. Rochester, 9:00 pm

Friday, May 4, 2012

• Tinted Image @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Uptown Groove @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 6:30 pm
• Ted Nicolosi and Shared Genes @ Jasmine's Asian Fusion, 6:30 pm
• Joe Santora Trio with Emily Kirchoff @ Michael's Valley Grill, 7:00 pm
• Ryan T Carey @ Thali of India, 7:00 pm
• mooth Jazz Explosion featuring Jimmie Highsmith Jr. @ Ruby Hall, 7:00 pm
• The Westview Project @ Pomodoro's (Monroe Ave.), 7:30 pm
• Gap Mangione New Blues Band @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 7:30 pm
• Percussion Rochester Festival: Eastman Musica Nova and Eastman New Jazz Ensemble @ Kilbourn Hall, ESM, 8:00 pm
• Annie Wells & Friends @ Little Theatre Cafe, 8:30 pm

Saturday, May 5, 2012

• Kristen Shiner-McGuire with Henry Kearse @ The Brighton Restaurant, 3:30 pm
• El Rojo Jazz @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Cinco De Mayo with the Mambo Kings @ Lovin Cup, 6:00 pm
• Mike Vadala Jazz Trio @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 6:00 pm
• Jazz Duo with Alistair Duncan @ Chakra Bistro & Bar, 7328 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd., 6:00 pm
• Ted Nicolosi and Shared Genes @ Jasmine's Asian Fusion, 6:30 pm
• Artisan Jazz Trio @ Lemoncello, 7:00 pm
• Gap Mangione New Blues Band @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 7:30 pm
• Exodus to Jazz presents Eric Person & Metamorphosis @ Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 8:00 pm
• Paul Gaspar Latin Jazz Quartet @ Tala Vera Cantina, 8:00 pm
• Fred Stone @ Little Theatre Cafe, 8:30 pm
• East End Jazz Boys @ Havana Moes, 9:30 pm

Sunday, May 6, 2012

• Bill Slater Solo Piano (Brunch) @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, call for info

Monday, May 7, 2012

• Brad Batz Band @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 5:30 pm
• Mark Bader @ Bistro 135, 5:30 pm
• Anthony Gianovola @ Beale Street Cafe, 7:00 pm
• Musician Showcase @ Lemoncello, 7:30 pm

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

• Tinted Image @ Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, 5:30 pm
• Jim Nugent @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Mark Bader @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 6:00 pm
• Lacy Lee (on harp) @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm
• The Herb Heins & Friends Pro-Am Jam @ Abilene, 8:30 pm

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

• El Rojo Jazz @ Bistro 135, 6:00 pm
• Jon Greeno Jazz Trio @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Bar, 6:00 pm
• Margaret Explosion @ Little Theatre Cafe, 7:30 pm
• Monroe Community College Jazz Festival with Wycliffe Gordon @ MCC, 7:30 pm
• Rick Holland Evan Dobbins Little Big Band @ Tala Vera Cantina, 8:00 pm

Heads Up ... Look for these Jazz Gigs and Special Jazz Events in the Future

• Groove Juice Swing presents NYC's Gordon Webster CD Release Party @ Friday, May 11, Memorial Art Gallery, 7:30 pm
• Bop Arts presents 10³²K (Frank Lacy, trombone; Kevin Ray, bass; and Andrew Drury, drums) @ Tala Vera Cantina, Monday, May 14, 8:00 pm
• Seventh Annual "Art Loves Jazz 2012", a gala fundraising event to benefit Jazz90.1 @ Artisan Works, Thursday May 24th, 6:30-9:30 pm
• An Evening of Art & Jazz with Tia Fuller, Wycliffe Gordon, Jimmie Highsmith Jr., Will Holton & Bobby Floyd (Benefit for the Advocacy Center) @ George Eastman House, Saturday, June 2nd, 6:00 to 11:00 pm

We've compiled these listings from information obtained from the performing artists themselves and other sources. The aim is to give you a one-stop place to find all your jazz in Rochester.The aim is to give you a one stop place to find all your jazz in Rochester. Only start times are listed, visit or call the venue for more details (the sites for many of the venues are in the right panel). Please forgive any discrepancies with reality and feel free to let me know what the problem is, and I'll get the corrections up on the site as soon as possible (click on the "Contact Us" button above). If you go out to hear a performance listed here, feel free to drop a comment to this post to let us know how it went. I want to hear from you!