Every June, the Rochester International Jazz Festival lights up the city, drawing international attention to our vibrant music scene. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of world-renowned artists, but don’t overlook the exceptional talent we have right here at home.

Rochester’s jazz community is alive and thriving—from promising high school ensembles to acclaimed professionals who live and perform here year-round. Many of these local musicians take the stage during RIJF, giving you the chance to hear them in a festival setting (and for them, more exposure, so perhaps you'll come out to hear them during the year). While my daily picks often spotlight artists you rarely get to hear in Rochester, I always make time to catch local sets between Club Pass shows. After all, this site is dedicated to supporting Rochester’s live jazz scene the other 356 days of the year.

Each year during the festival, I compile a list of local jazz (and other genre) artists performing at RIJF. It’s your chance to discover rising stars before they break nationally or reconnect with longtime local favorites. And on Wednesdays during the festival, I will still publish a post spotlighting artists playing outside the official RIJF footprint, offering even more ways to enjoy Rochester’s homegrown music while you're in town for the festival. Below, you’ll find this year’s lineup of local performers at RIJF. If I’ve missed anyone, drop me a note and I’ll be happy to add them. For more details on the artists and bands, be sure to visit their pages on the RIJF website.

Friday, June 20, 2025

• Harley School Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 3:45 pm
• Greece Arcadia High School Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 4:30 pm
• Canandaigua High School Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 5:15 pm
• Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 6:00 pm
• Prime Time Brass @ Rochester Regional Health Big Tent, 6:00 pm
• Dan Atkinson Septet @ Wegmans Pavilion, 7:00 & 9:00 pm
• Ryan Johnson and Escape Terrain @ Hyatt Regency Rochester Squeezers Jam Sessions, 10:30 pm

Saturday, June 21, 2025

• School of the Arts HS Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 3:45 pm
• Fairport HS Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 4:30 pm
• Gates-Chili HS Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 5:15 pm
• Eastman School of Music (ESM) Jazz Honors Unit 1 @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 6:00 pm
• 78 Rpm Big Band @ Rochester Regional Health Big Tent, 6:00 pm
• iGNiTE! Band @ Wegmans Pavilion, 7:00 pm
• McKinley James @ The Duke, 7:45 & 9:45 pm
• Ryan Johnson and Escape Terrain @ Hyatt Regency Rochester Squeezers Jam Sessions, 10:30 pm

Sunday, June 22, 2025

• Honeoye Falls Lima HS Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 3:45 pm
• Pal-Mac HS Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 4:30 pm
• Pittsford Sutherland. HS Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 5:15 pm
• Herb Smith Freedom Trio @ Montage Music Hall, 6:00 & 9:30 pm
• Joe Locke Group @ Kilbourn Hall, Eastman School of Music, 6:00 pm (well, he was raised here... so gets the honorary local designation)
• ECMS Jazz Combos Directed by Bob Sneider @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 6:00 pm
• Penfield Big Band @ Rochester Regional Health Big Tent, 6:00 pm
• Jimmie Highsmith Jr. @ Wegmans Pavilion, 7:00 & 9:00 pm
• Fred Costello @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 7:30  & 9:30 pm
• Bill Tiberio Band @ The Duke, 7:45 & 9:45 pm
• Bob Sneider Trio @ Hyatt Regency Rochester Squeezers Jam Sessions, 10:30 pm

Monday, June 23, 2025

• Joey Stempien @ Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County, 12:00 pm
• Jazz Workshop with Dawn Thomson, Vocal Jazz @ Eastman School of Music Ray Wright Room, 1:00 pm
• Webster Schroeder HS Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 3:45 pm
• Spencerport HS Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 4:30 pm
• Penfield HS Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 5:15 pm
• ESM Jazz Honors Unit 2 @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 6:00 pm
• Brockport Big Band @ Rochester Regional Health Big Tent, 6:00 pm
• RIJF-ESM Scholarship Concert @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 7:30 & 9:30 pm
• Grupo IFÉ @ Wegmans Pavilion, 9:00 pm
• Bob Sneider Trio @ Hyatt Regency Rochester Squeezers Jam Sessions, 10:30 pm

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

• Simon Fletcher @ Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County, 12:00 pm
• Alexander HS Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 3:45 pm
• Brockport HS Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 4:30 pm
• Victor HS Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 5:15 pm
• Laura Dubin Trio @ Inn on Broadway, 5:30 & 7:45 pm
• New Horizons Big Band Directed by Priscilla Todd Brown @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 6:00 pm
• Greece Jazz Band @ Rochester Regional Health Big Tent, 6:00 pm
• Scott Mayo Band @ Theater at Innovation Square, 6:30 pm
• Flower City Trio @ Wegmans Pavilion, 7:00 & 9:00 pm
• Music Educators Big Band Bill Tiberio @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 7:30 pm
• Bob Sneider Trio @ Hyatt Regency Rochester - Squeezers Jam Sessions, 10:30 pm

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

• Mel Henderson 4tet @ Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County, 12:00 pm
• Jazz Workshop with Mike Kaupa, Trumpet @ Eastman School of Music Ray Wright Room, 1:00 pm
• West Irondequoit HS Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 3:45 pm
• Bloomfield HS Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 4:30 pm
• Greece Athena HS Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 5:15 pm
• Dave Rivello Ensemble @ Inn on Broadway, 5:30 & 7:45 pm
• ECMS Faculty with Special Guest Vocalists @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 6:00 pm
• New Horizons Jazz Ensemble directed by Don Sherman @ Rochester Regional Health Big Tent, 6:00 pm
• Celebrating the Brecker Bros 'Heavy Metal Be-Bop' with the Viavattine Bros @ Theater at Innovation Square, 6:30 pm
• Sonidos Unidos @ Wegmans Stage at Parcel 5, 7:00 pm
• Red Hot & Blue Band @ Wegmans Pavilion, 7:00 pm
• Rochester Metro Jazz Orchestra @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 7:30 & 9:30 pm
• Bad Sneakers @ Rochester Regional Health Big Tent, 8:30 pm

Thursday, June 26, 2025

• Mike Kaupa @ Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County, 12:00 pm
• Jazz Workshop with Paul Hofmann, Piano @ Eastman School of Music Ray Wright Room, 1:00 pm
• Webster Thomas HS Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 4:30 pm
• Pittsford Mendon HS Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 5:15 pm
• Rich Thompson Trio @ Inn on Broadway, 5:30 pm
• Hilton High School Jazz Band @ Rochester Regional Health Big Tent, 6:00 pm
• Public Water Supply @ Wegmans Pavilion, 7:00 pm

Friday, June 27, 2025

• Quinn Lawrence @ Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County, 12:00 pm
• Jazz Workshop with Jeff Campbell, Acoustic Bass @ Eastman School of Music Ray Wright Room, 1:00 pm
• RIT Jazz Ensemble @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 3:45 pm
• Brighton HS Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 4:30 pm
• Eastridge HS Jazz Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 5:15 pm
• Mike Kaupa's Eastman Community Music School Ensembles & Junior Jazz @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 6:00 pm
• All In Brass Band @ Rochester Regional Health Big Tent, 6:00 pm
• USP @ Wegmans Pavilion, 7:00 & 9:00 pm
• Ryan Johnson and Escape Terrain @ Hyatt Regency Rochester - Squeezers Jam Sessions, 10:30 pm

Saturday, June 28, 2025

• MCC Jazz Ensemble @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 3:45 pm
• Joey Stempien Big Band @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 4:30 pm
• ESM Jazz Honors Unit 3 @ City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 6:00 pm
• The GateSwingers Big Band @ Rochester Regional Health Big Tent, 6:00 pm
• Helium Bubble @ Wegmans Stage at Parcel 5, 7:00 pm
• The Buddhahood @ Wegmans Pavilion, 7:00 & 9:00 pm
• Majestics @ Temple Theater, 7:00 & 9:15 pm
• Ryan Johnson and Escape Terrain @ Hyatt Regency Rochester - Squeezers Jam Sessions, 10:30 pm