I always seem to wait until the last minute to kick off my Rochester International Jazz Festival coverage. I tell myself it's to keep the posts fresh in your mind, but let's be honest, it's probably just good old procrastination on my part. Either way, here we go!

The RIJF runs 9 days from June 20th to June 28th, with more than 285 shows (including 110 that are free to the public) at 18 venues featuring more than 1,750 artists from nine countries and the U.S. This year the RIJF has a new sponsor, Rochester Regional Health. The annual event always draws a large number of people, both locals and from all over the world, to downtown Rochester for ticketed and free headliner shows, the festival’s signature Club Pass Series, free Jazz Workshops, and the nightly Jam Sessions.

What's New This Year?

There are a few noteworthy changes for RIJF 2025:

• No International Series at Christ Church: This year, the usual international series at Christ Church won't be happening. This will doubtlessly be a disappointment to many.  While I'm curious about the reason, the festival's long planning cycle suggests it's unlikely related to the current political climate and visas for the artists. It's worth noting that the "International" aspect of RIJF is slightly less of a "thing" this year, with artists from nine countries (Canada, Brazil, Cuba, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Japan, Italy, Germany, and Chile), as compared to sixteen in 2024. 
• Although I missed this in the original post, the Wilder Room is gone as well. Most of the same types of artists who used to grace the stage at Wilder Room will be found over at the Inn on Broadway.  As anyone who frequents the East End would notice, the old Rochester Club building is currently for sale, so probably had to be. 
• Venue Timing Adjustments: While other than the Christ Church the rest of the venues remain the same, you'll want to pay attention to these Club Pass concert timing changes: The second show at the Montage moves to 9:30 p.m. (from 10:00 p.m.); the second show at the Inn on Broadway moves later to 7:45 p.m. (from 7:15 p.m.), the last show at The Little Theater will be at 9:00 p.m. (from 9:15 p.m.), and there will be a longer 90-minute set at 8:30 pm in the Rochester Regional Health Big Tent and the 10:00 pm set has been eliminated.
• New Jam Session Location ... sorta: The nightly Squeezers Jam Session (sponsored by the DiMarco Group) is moving upstairs to the Craft Kitchen & Bar at the Hyatt Regency Rochester. This year, Bob Sneider and his trio will lead the sessions Sunday through Thursday, with Ryan Johnson & his band Escape Terrain taking over on Fridays and Saturdays.

Get Ready for RIJF 2025!

To help you navigate the festival, be sure to check out the spiffy new RIJF website and this year's mobile app. You can also get a taste of the artists performing by checking out the RIJF on Spotify, where they have compiled a playlist of this year's artists.

Over the next month, leading up to the festival, I'll be sharing my personal "picks" for this year's lineup. I'll also dedicate a special post to highlight the incredible local jazz musicians and groups who will be playing at RIJF. As always, my picks will lean towards those new sounds that stretch my ears, but I'll make sure to offer some great alternatives for those looking for a different groove. 

I'm truly looking forward to exploring this year's festival with all of you. Feel free to share your own thoughts in the comments below or reach out via email. Hope to see you on Jazz Street!