Night 3 of the CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival will be pretty eclectic, although ending with something familiar (or should I say someone...). By the third day I hope to be getting acclimated to the rhythm of the festival, so to speak. I'm going all nine days so have to pace myself.  So, although you should do you in choosing your listening preferences for the evening, if you're interested here are the artists on my itinerary for the third night of the 2024 RIJF:

• I remember being floored when I first heard Columbian-born jazz harpist Edmar Castañeda on National Public Radio's Tiny Desk Concert in 2010, listening to the intricate tapestry that he was creating with his hands just flying over the strings.  I've never had an opportunity to hear him play live, until now.... His most recent, and 8th, album as a leader is Viento Sur with his nine-musician World Ensemble. Edmar Castañeda will be in Kilbourn Hall at 6:00 and 9:00 pm.
• East Axis will be challenging for some, but while "out" or avant-garde jazz is not unknown at the RIJF, it is refreshing to have this and other more "out" artists in the lineup. However, as the notes on their RIJF artist page quote, East Axis an “avant-garde band for those who are afraid of the avant-garde,” a quartet of monster musicians that includes multi-instrumentalist Scott Robinson, Matthew Shipp on piano, Kevin Ray on bass, and Gerald Cleaver on drums. There is so much going on in this music, which can range from subtle beauty to cacophony (although even with the latter there is a lot of structure in that apparently lack of structure). I encourage you to take a chance and give your ears some exercise.  East Axis will be filling the space in Christ Church at 7:30 and 9:30 pm.
• The last show of the night will for me be like a comfortable shoe ... or not.  Locke/Keezer/Smith is Rochester-raised vibist Joe Locke, pianist Geoffrey Keezer and trumpeter Tommy Smith.  I've seen Joe Locke in many different groups when he has come to town to play the RIJF at least 9 times since his first n the beginning, and also once in NYC at Dizzy's with Kenny Washington.  He's worked with Tommy Smith and the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra that Smith leads.  While I sometimes pass on artists who I've heard at the RIJF so I can get out to hear something different,  Joe Locke is always exploring and always brings something new and I believe that will be assured with these great musicians together. Comfortable shoes or not, Locke/Keezer/Smith will be at the Temple Theater at 7:00 and 9:15 pm

There are a couple I wish I had time to hear (or could be in more than one place at a time) and, given my eclectic choices above, you may want to choose:

• I've always loved jazz flute and will miss hearing flutist Andrea Brachfield and Insight, who will grace the new Club Pass venue at The Inn on Broadway at 5:30 and 7:15 pm.
• Closing out an evening at the RIJF with a piano trio at Max is always a nice, but that's not on my dance card on the third night, so I'm going to miss the Franck Amsallem Trio, who will be playing in the Atrium of Max of Eastman Place at 6:15 and 10:00 pm.

I've included links to the RIJF page for each artist where you can check out the links to their websites and to their music on Spotify. I'm currently building an RIJF 2024 Spotify playlist with a track from recent albums that I could find all my picks (and others listed). Go give it a listen.