Yesterday's announcement of the lineup for the 21st CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival gave me hope that we're soon going to be out in the streets with thousands of our neighbors from here and beyond, listening to great music and generally having a good time. The nine-day festival running from June 21 to 29 is, now one of the leading and largest jazz festivals in the world, with live jazz and other music being heard in 20 indoor and outdoor venues, all within walking distance of ROC's East End. There will be 1750 artists coming from sixteen countries, playing 326 concerts (100 plus of them free).  I'll go into more detail in a separate post, hit RIJF site to check out the lineup, details on the Club Pass, and other information. 

But for now, here are Rochester's most comprehensive listings for live jazz gigs in and around our fair city.  I've gathered them for the next seven days immediately below, plus more listings through the rest of March, April, and a start on May and beyond. Please continue to let me know when you hear about any gigs that I've may have missed or if I have anything wrong (see the Contact Us link above to send an email if you need).

Please share JazzRochester with the ROC area folks you know who love live jazz and if you go out to hear some live jazz at a venue, make sure they know about us, too! All they have to do is type "jazz" and "Rochester" in their favorite browser and there we are!

Thursday, March 21, 2024

• Marco Amadio @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
• Simon Fletcher Trio @ Studio Lounge, 6:00 pm
• Lucas Santana, Mel Henderson & Gerry Youngman @ Jazzboline (Buffalo), 6:00 pm
• Student Non-Degree Recital: Annie Orzen, jazz piano & Aidan Bartholet, jazz guitar @ ESM, Howard Hanson Hall, 6:30 pm
• Mid-Century Modern Jazz Quartet @ Music at St. Marks, 1 East Main Street, LeRoy, 7:00 pm 
• Swordfish Trio @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
• WGMC Jazz 90.1 presents Rich Thompson Trio Generations @ Greece Baptist Church, 1230 Long Pond Road (Greece), 7:00 pm (more info)

Friday, March 22, 2024

• Ann Mitchell @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
• Zach Walgren & Rob Varon @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm

Saturday, March 23, 2024

• 70 Years of Nina Simone: A Gala Celebration of Jazz with Herbert Smith narrating and playing with the Freedom Trio, Brockport Symphony Orchestra, the Bach Children's Chorus and others @ Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, 141. Adams Street, 3:00 pm
• Marvin Dolly & Mel Henderson @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington),  5:30 pm
• Oliver Gomez and Sarah Navratil @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
• Misha Studenkov Quartet Laura Dubin Trio @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm

Sunday, March 24, 2024 

• Bob Sneider Trio @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm

Monday, March 25, 2024

• Dean Keller's Soul Jazz Joint @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
• Loose Change Jazz Combo @ Wilmot Hall, Nazareth University (Pittsford), 7:30 pm
• Monday Night Jazz Jam hosted by Jordan Lerner @ The Charleston House, 8:00 pm

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

• Arts for All Music Festival presents High Falls Quartet @ Iron Smoke Distillery (Fairport), 6:00 pm
• Saxology @ ESM, Hatch Recital Hall, 7:30 pm

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

• Sofrito Latin Jazz Quintet @ The Backroom Lounge at the Record Archive, 6:00 pm
• Ken Foster's Game Night Quartet @ Faircraft Brauhaus (Fairport), 6:30 pm

Looking for live jazz during the last few days of March? 

• 28th: Eric Heveron-Smith @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
• 28th: Chris Ott Trio @ Rohrbach Railroad Street Beer Hall , 6:00 pm
• 28th: Sound Logic @ Studio Lounge, 6:00 pm
• 28th: Bob Vosteen & Mel Henderson @ Zambistro's (Medina), 6:00 pm
• 28th: Einstein's Dreams @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
• 28th: The Bop Shop presents Stew Cutler Trio @ Abilene Bar & Lounge, 7:30 pm (more info & tickets)
• 29th:  Vince Ercolamento & Joe Chiappone @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
• 29th: Brass Garden @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
• 30th: Chris Ott Trio @ Rohrbach Brewing Railroad St. Beer Hall (Brunch), 11:00 am
• 30th: Special Blend Trio @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
• 30th:  Mel Henderson & Joe Chiappone @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
• 30th: Laura Dubin Trio @ Faircraft Brauhaus (Fairport), 6:30 pm
• 30th: Fallopian Grooves @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
• 31st: Rich Thompson Trio "Generations" @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm

Looking for live jazz in April? 

• 3rd: Rich Thompson Trio "Generations" @ Faircraft Brauhaus (Fairport), 6:30 pm
• 4th-7th:  2nd Annual Rocco Scott LaFaro Geneva Jazz Festival @ 20 Concerts at 9 Venues in Geneva (more info & tickets)
• 4th: Ralph DeBergalis @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
• 4th: Simon Fletcher Trio @ Studio Lounge, 6:00 pm
• 5th: Jim Nugent @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
• 5th: Jazz 90.1 Spring Listeners' Party with the Nyerges, Smith & Lake Trio @ WGMC studios at Greece Olympia School, 1139 Maiden Lane (Greece), 5:30 pm
• 5th: Vince Ercolamento and Joe Chiappone @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
• 6th: Special Blend Trio @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
• 6th: Simon Fletcher Duo @ 20 Deep Winery, 187 Mendon Ionia Road (Mendon), 6:00 pm
• 6th: Bob Sneider Duo @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
• 6th: Eastman Presents: säje @ ESM, Kilbourn Hall, 7:30 pm (more info & tickets)
• 6th: Spyro Gyra 50th Anniversary Tour @ Theater at Innovation Square, 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
• 6th: Christian McBride @ Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St. (Homer), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
• 9th: Jazz 90.1 presents Jazz at The Beach featuring The Greece Jazz Band @ Tropix Nightclub, 4775 Lake Ave. (Charlotte), 7:00 pm
• 1oth: Dan & Eric's Dynamic Duo @ Faircraft Brauhaus (Fairport), 6:00 pm
• 11th: Ryan Johnson @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
• 11th: Swordfish Trio @ Studio Lounge, 6:00 pm
• 11th: Jazz 90.1 University: RIJF 2024 Preview  @ Jazz90.1 Studios (Greece Olympia School), 1139 Maiden Lane, 6:30 pm 
• 12th: Art of Jazz: Rodney Whitaker—"Oasis: The Music of Gregg Hill" @ Buffalo AKG Art Museum, 3:00 pm (more info & tickets)
• 12th: Chris Ott @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
• 12th: Sofrito Latin Jazz Quintet @ Lovin Cup Bistro & Brews, 7:00 pm
• 13th: Moondance Trio @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
• 13th: Oliver Gomez & Rob Varon @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
• 14th: Cyrus Chestnut Trio Concert to Benefit the Pearls of Grace Charitable Foundation of Rochester @ Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, 141 Adams Street, Jazz Ministry 3:30-4:30 pm, Gospel Ministry 4:50 to 5:50 pm (more info & tickets)
• 17th: Mid-Century Modern Jazz Quartet @ Faircraft Brauhaus (Fairport), 6:30 pm
• 18th: Marco Amado @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
• 18th: Sound Logic @ Studio Lounge, 6:00 pm
• 18th: WGMC Jazz 90.1 presents Vince Ercolamento Quartet @ Greece Baptist Church, 1230 Long Pond Road (Greece), 7:00 pm (more info)
• 19th: Ralph DeBergalis @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
• 19th: Andrew Martelle Duo @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
• 20th: Mike Sidoti @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
• 20th: George Miller @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
• 21st: JazzBuffalo presents “El arte Del Bolero” featuring Miquel Zenón and Luis Podermo @ Canterbury Wood Performing Arts Center (Williamsville), 7:30 pm (more info & tickets)
• 21st: The Bop Shop presents Mike Baggetta (solo guitar) @ Bop Shop Records, 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
• 25th: Mike Pullano @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
• 25th: Simon Fletcher Trio @ Studio Lounge, 6:00 pm
• 26th: Ann Mitchell @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
• 26th: Mel Henderson & Oliver Gomez @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
• 26th: Craig Snyder Trio @ Lovin Cup Bistro & Brews, 7:30 pm
• 26th-27th: 53rd Annual Penfield Jazz Fundraiser Concerts with Ingrid Jensen @ Penfield High School, 7:30 pm (tickets available April 1 here and at the door)
• 27th: Mel Henderson @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
• 27th: Ryan Johnson & Glen Cummings @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm

Looking for some live jazz after April? 

• May 3rd-4th: Bop Arts presents Celebrating Paul Smoker with special guests @ Lovin Cup Bistro & Brews, 7:30 pm 
• May 3rd: The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra @ Theater at Innovation Square, 7:00 pm (more info & tickets)
• May 11th: Howard Levy 4 @ Fanatics Pub, 7281 W Main St. (Lima), 7:00 pm (more info & tickets)
• May 11th: Butcher Brown @ The Lilac Festival, 7:00 pm (full Music Lineup)
• May 12th: Ghost-Note @ The Lilac Festival, 7:00 pm (full Music Lineup)
• May 14th: Horacio & La Fama Salsa Band @ The Lilac Festival, 5:30 pm (full Music Lineup)
• May 14th: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy @ The Lilac Festival, 7:00 pm (full Music Lineup)
• May 17th: Hypnotic Brass Ensemble @ The Lilac Festival, 7:00 pm (full Music Lineup)
• May 19th: Dopapod @ The Lilac Festival, 7:00 pm (full Music Lineup)
• May 21st: Bop Arts presents Charlie Ballantine Quartet @ Bop Shop Records, 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
• June 21st-29th: Rochester International Jazz Festival

We compile these gig and event listings from information obtained from our own knowledge of the jazz scene in and around Rochester, the performing musicians and bands themselves and other sources. The aim is to give you a one-stop place to find all your live jazz in and around Rochester. Click on the links where available for more information on the gig or tickets where needed, or check out the venue's website in the right panel if there. For the most part only start times for the gigs are listed, call the venue or visit their website for more details about when the doors open, how long the band will be playing, etc. Let me know if I have missed anything or have something wrong. If you're out at a venue, please tell them about the site. Sign up for to get all the JazzRochester posts on the About page. Local jazz musicians and venues/promoters can also sign up there.