Wow! What an opening night! The skies were blue, the crowds were fantastic, and the music was incredible! Above photo for RIJF: Jazz Street by Mark Druziak. Check out all the photos from Day 1. | | |
Welcome to Day 2!
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis Headlines at Eastman Theatre (Sold out)
FREE Show with Chris Lane on the East & Alexander Stage
Full Lineup in the Clubs & Free Shows on 5 Stages!
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Rochester, NY – June 21, 2025 – The 22nd Edition of the Rochester International Jazz Festival in partnership with Rochester Regional Health, continues today after a stellar opening night, with music fans filling the streets and every venue.
The nine-day festival will present more than 285 concerts at 18 venues in downtown Rochester, New York, including 110-plus free shows and 1,750-plus artists. Founded in 2002, the festival has become one of the world's leading and largest jazz festivals.
Headlining tonight are the renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis at 8 p.m. at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. This show is sold out. Doors open at 7:15.
A full lineup will be presented in the ten Club Pass venues. Enter with a Club Pass or $30 ($35 at Kilbourn Hall) cash at the door.
Chris Lane headlines at 9 p.m. in a free show on the East & Alexander Stage, which is back for the first time since 2014 and sponsored by the City of Rochester and the Gianniny Brothers. Rochester native Alyssa Trahan opens at 7 p.m. No tickets are required.
Free shows tonight run from 3:45 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on the City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, at 6 p.m. in the Rochester Regional Health Big Tent, at 7 and 9 p.m. at the Wegmans Pavilion, and wrapping up the night with Squeezers Jam Session at the Hyatt Regency Rochester, starting at 10:30 p.m.
Brochures, Club Passes, and tickets can be picked up at The Ticket Shop at 100 East Ave. at the corner of Gibbs St., open during the festival from Noon to 9 p.m. Gibbs Street is closed to traffic.
Complete information on how to navigate the festival, including parking, street closings, where to eat, patron policies, and more, can be found at rochesterjazz.com/plan-your-visit/.
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New This Year for Media!
Simcona Remote Podcast & Media Studio is Open June 23 to 27.
Located inside the Jazz Festival’s air-conditioned Merchandise Tent, working media are invited to reserve time to record interviews, and capture podcast segments or live remote broadcasts. To request a time slot, complete the form at:
rochesterjazz.com/podcast. Once submitted, Amanda Antinore will follow up to coordinate timing, logistics, and technical needs. Questions can be directed to Amanda at amanda@rochesterjazz.com.
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Tonight at Eastman Theatre, 8 PM
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
Sold Out!
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, comprising 15 of the finest jazz soloists and ensemble players today, has been the Jazz at Lincoln Center resident orchestra since 1988 and spends over a third of the year on tour across the world. Featured in all aspects of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s programming, this remarkably versatile orchestra performs and leads educational events in New York, across the U.S., and around the globe. Wynton Marsalis (Music Director, Trumpet) is the Managing and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1961 to a musical family, Mr. Marsalis was gifted his first trumpet at age six by Al Hirt. Read more.
Doors open at 7:15 p.m. Will Call is in the Eastman Lobby.
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Chris Lane
Free! No Tickets Required
9 PM on East & Alexander Stage
Alyssa Trahan Band Opens at 7 PM
Lane’s hits include “Dancin’ In The Moonlight” with Lauren Alaina, “Howdy,” “Stop Coming Over,” “Summer Job Money,” “Fill Them Boots,” “Ain’t Even Met You Yet,” and more adding to his 2.2+ billion total career streams, three #1s – 2X Platinum “Big, Big Plans,” 3X Platinum “I Don’t Know About You,” and Platinum “Fix” – and five certified singles including 2X Platinum “Take Back Home Girl” with Tori Kelly. He has appeared on Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Today, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and Conan, and People’s 2019 Sexiest Man Alive issue. He’s scored nominations at the iHeart Radio Music Awards, ACM Awards, and Radio Disney Music Awards. Read more
Alyssa Trahan, originally from East Rochester, NY is a jill-of-all-trades, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist (she plays over a dozen), and producer based in Nashville, TN.
Arrive early! Food and drinks are available for purchase. No outside food or drinks permitted. All bags will be searched. Individuals 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or an adult 25 years or older. See Patron Policies for what to bring and what is not permitted. See Plan Your Visit for street closings and parking info.
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Things to Know Before You Go!
- Redeem Club Pass tickets for Club Passes and lanyards at the Ticket Shop before attending any shows
- Poster signing with artist David Cowles is from 6 to 8 p.m. ikn the Merch Tent on Jazz Street.
- Ticket Shop is open Noon to 9 p.m. daily at 100 East Ave. at Gibbs
- Street closings and parking
- Food & Drink Guide
- Daily photo albums
- Get official festival gear and gifts in the Merch Tent on Jazz Street, open 4 to 11 p.m.
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Download the RIJF Free App!
- Save Time in Line for early shows at Max and Kilbourn! Line up for wristbands at 4 p.m. outside the venues.
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Take our quick Audience Survey during the festival and let us know how everything is going
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Donate musical instruments in playable condition, accessories, and equipment at Rochester Education Foundation's booth on Jazz St., 5-7:30 p.m.
- All Aid Tent provided by Rochester Regional Health is located outside the Merch Tent
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Squeezers Jam Sessions start nightly at 10:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Rochester Lobby Level. No cover!
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Terell Stafford Quintet
6 & 9 p.m.
Kilbourn Hall
The acclaimed New York-based trumpet player, has been praised by piano legend McCoy Tyner as “one of the great players of our time.” A remarkably gifted and versatile musician, he combines a deep love of melody with a spirited and adventurous lyricism.
Read more
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Brian Charette Organ Trio
6:00 & 9:30 p.m.
Montage
The organist / pianist is a leading voice in modern jazz, #2 on the 2024 Downbeat Critic’s Poll for organ and #6 for keyboards. Brian was also the winner of the 2014 Downbeat Critics’ Poll “Rising Star: Organ” award.
Read more
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Sasha Berliner Quartet
5:30 & 7:45 pm
Inn on Broadway
The musician, composer, producer, and band leader from San Francisco, is a rock drummer turned vibraphonist. She was the 2020 Downbeat Critics’ Poll (first woman and youngest) winner in the “Rising Star – Vibraphone” category.
Read more
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Okan
Rochester Regional Health Big Tent
8:30 - 10:00 p.m.
Fusing Afro-Cuban roots with jazz, folk and global rhythms in songs about immigration, resistance and love, OKAN is Led by violinist and vocalist Elizabeth Rodriguez and percussionist and vocalist Magdelys Savigne.
Read more
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Jarrod Lawson
Theater at Innovation Square
6:30 & 8:30 p.m.
Lawson had an unexpected career thrill with a glowing endorsement from Michelle Obama, when asked by Entertainment Weekly who she was listening to and, after mentioning Beyonce added “There’s this young jazz, blue-eyed soul kid Jarrod Lawson I'm loving.”
Read more
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Sullivan Fortner Trio
Max at Eastman Place
6:15 & 10 p.m.
The GRAMMY Award-winning pianist and composer, is celebrated for his dynamic artistry and deep musical curiosity. His improvisational brilliance and compositional insight have made him one of jazz’s most compelling voices. Read more
| | Free shows on the City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by The Community Foundation start today at 3:45 p.m. with the School of the Arts, Fairport, Gates Chili High School Jazz Bands, and the Eastman School of Music Jazz Honors Unit 1. | | |
US Army Ambasssadors
7:30 & 9:30 p.m.
City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by The Community Foundation
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iGNiTE! Band
7 & 9 p.m
Wegmans Pavilion
East Ave at Chestnut
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78 RPM Big Band
6 p.m.
Rochester Regional Health Big Tent
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Poster Signing Today!
Meet our poster artist, David Cowles, who will sign posters today in the Merch Tent from 6-8 p.m. We have two posters, a Free Headliner Show Poster and an Eastman Headliner Show Poster. They are $20 each in the Merch Tent.
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Get Headliner Tickets!
Get tickets for shows at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre at RochesterJazz.com and on the RIJF App until show time, call (585) 454-2060, buy at the RIJF Ticket Shop, or on the day of the show if available at the Box Office in Kodak Hall's oval lobby, open at 7 p.m. on days of shows only. Doors open at 7:15 p.m. on days of shows only.
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The Wood Brothers
Tuesday June 24
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Rickie Lee Jones
Werdnesday June 25
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Thundercat
Thursday June 26
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About the Rochester International Jazz Festival
The Rochester International Jazz Festival, in partnership with Rochester Regional Health, is one of the world’s leading jazz festivals. Since 2002, the nine-day, multi-dimensional festival has been held annually in downtown Rochester, NY, drawing over 200,000 people to 285+ shows and 18 venues. The festival navigates all genres of creative improvised music from around the world, presenting more than 1,750 legendary performers, familiar favorites, and new discoveries. RIJF is produced by RIJF, LLC, a privately held company owned by Marc Iacona and John Nugent. Nugent, Producer/Artistic Director, is a noted tenor sax player who has traveled the world with many jazz artists, including Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney, the Woody Herman Orchestra, and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Marc Iacona, Producer/Executive Director, is a Rochester native and President of Simcona Electronics. A business and community leader, he is an avid trumpeter and supporter of the arts.
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