Rochester International Jazz Festival Starts Today

  I  

The fifth annual Rochester International Jazz festival in Rochester, N.Y., kicks off tonight with a performance by Woody Allen and his New Orleans Jazz Band.

More than 600 international musicians will appear at the festival, which will run through June 17. Concerts will be held in 13 venues throughout the city and featured performers include James Brown, Phil Woods, Toots Thielemans, Wayne Shorter and Susan Tedeschi.

For more information on the Rochester International Jazz Festival go to rochesterjazz.com.



  • Cassandra_Wilson_%40_2026_Mark_Sheldon-2_copy_2.jpg

    Wilson’s ability to connect to audiences helped her to win two Grammy awards and multiple other accolades. She was named an NEA Jazz Master in 2022.

  • Pritesh_Walia_courtesy_Pritesh_Walia.jpg

    “The love from the jazz and music community restored my faith in humanity,” Walia wrote in an online post upon his release from detention at an ICE facility.

  • Poncho.jpeg

    ​Percussionist Poncho Sanchez was among the artists scheduled to perform at the now-canceled inaugural LA Jazz Festival.

  • GB_Headshot_copy.jpg

    Bertoncini was a specialist and advocate for the nylon-string acoustic guitar, turning down high-profile opportunities that were unsuited to the sound and techniques that he used with that instrument.

  • DB26_Jessica_Molasky_John_Pizzarelli_Tony_Bennett_Courtesy_John_Pizzarelli_copy.jpeg

    Jessica Molaskey and John Pizzarelli with Tony Bennett at their wedding reception in 1998.