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Greetings!
The countdown is on—just 9 weeks until our 23rd Edition! From June 19–27, the lineup, the energy, and the moments you’ll talk about all year are closer than you think. We’ll be sharing updates, artist highlights, and tips in our weekly newsletters to help you plan your perfect Jazz Fest experience.
🎶 It’s never too early to start building your schedule. Let’s make this your best Jazz Fest yet.
| | Coltrane at 100: 4 Essential Concerts to Experience | | | |
Celebrating John Coltrane w/ Joe Lovano + Special Guests
Fri Jun 19, 9:30 p.m., Kodak Hall
at Eastman Theatre, $40 cash
at the door or Club Pass.
Read more
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The Coltrane Sutras w/ Jonathan and
Andrew Kay
Wed Jun 24, Montage, 6 & 10 p.m., $30 cash at the door or Club Pass.
Read more
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Sketches of Trane w/
Jon Ballantyne & Tommy Smith
Sat Jun 20, Hatch Hall, 5:45 & 7:45 p.m., $30 cash at the door
or Club Pass.
Read more
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Trane of Thought w/ Pat LaBarbera & Kirk MacDonald
Thu Jun 25, 5:30 & 7:45 p.m., Inn on Broadway, $30 cash at the door or Club Pass.
Read more
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New Album for Alexa Tarantino
Kilbourn Hall, Sat Jun 20, 6 & 9 p.m. Club Pass or $35 cash at the door.
Alexa Tarantino’s fifth studio album, The Roar and the Whisper, is a spellbinding new chapter in the jazz musician’s evolution. The saxophonist, flutist, composer, and educator has long been lauded for her poise and precision—“a one-woman wrecking crew,” as Wynton Marsalis calls her. Now, Blue Engine Records captures the full breadth of her artistry: from spirited, up-tempo improvisations to intimate, ethereal ballads. The album includes vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant, also performing at this year's festival on June 24 at 7 p.m. at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. Read more
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Kyle Roussel, A Cross-genre Tour de Force
Kilbourn Hall, Jun 26, 6 & 9 p.m., & Hatch Hall, Jun 27, 5:45 & 7:45 p.m., Club Pass or $35/$30 cash at the door.
Kyle Roussel, a Grammy-nominated musician, wants St. Charles Parish students to know that where they come from is special and unique. Read his words of wisdom. The multi-hyphenate talent is the spirit of New Orleans itself. The musician, producer, composer, instrumentalist, and performer is a cross-genre tour de force — proficient in piano, organ, keyboard, and drums — moving fluidly between jazz, soul, gospel, funk, and everything in between. Read more
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It's the Final Tour for The Bad Plus
Kilbourn Hall, June 24, 6 & 9 p.m. Club Pass or $35 cash at the door
Earlier this year, The Bad Plus announced that 2026 will be the band's final year. "As we enter into year 27 - after a great deal of soul searching and consideration - we have decided to bring this chapter to a close. We share this news with heavy hearts, but also with great pride in what we have accomplished. It has been a privilege to share our music with the world, and we leave behind a body of work that we could not be more proud of. We look forward to performing our final shows throughout the coming year and hope to see as many of you as possible. This band changed our lives. Thank you all for being a part of that," –with love and gratitude, Reid and Dave. The Bad Plus has graced our RIJF stages in 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2018. So don't miss this opportunity to say farewell this year in their fifth and final appearance at RIJF. Read more
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Dave Stryker's New Album
Theater at Innovation Square, Sun Jun 21, 6:30 & 8:45 p.m.
Club Pass or $30 cash at the door
New in 2026, on Blue Fire The Van Gelder Session - Strikezone Records, Dave Stryker realizes a long-held ambition by recording with his longtime organ trio at the legendary Rudy Van Gelder Studio. Joined by Jared Gold on Hammond organ and McClenty Hunter on drums, Stryker delivers a groove-driven session that plays to the trio’s deep chemistry, built over two decades of collaboration. The album balances four sharp Stryker originals—including the muscular title track “Blue Fire”—with thoughtfully reworked standards and covers. Read more
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Favorite the 23rd Edition Producers' Picks
Favorite these not-to-miss shows and add them to your personal schedule on the RIJF free App! Hiromi’s Sonic Wonder, Harvey Mason’s Chameleon, Danilo Perez Trio, Celebrating John Coltrane With Joe Lovano & Friends, Bob James Trio, Alexa Tarantino, Sasha Dobson, Cecile McLorin Salvant, NYC Jazz All Stars Feat. Eric Alexander & Jeremy Pelt, Kyle Roussel Quartet, Brittany Davis, Will Calhoun Quartet from Living, Color, Bill Frisell Quartet Feat. Greg Tardy, Brandon Woody’s Upendo, Doreen Ketchens New Orleans Jazz, Quartet, Robin McKelle & The Flytones – Stax Soul Sessions, Holly Cole, Makoto Ozone & Tommy Smith, Avishai Cohen Big Vicious, and Trane of Thought. Thanks to Harris Beach Murtha, our App Sponsor.
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The Music Will Play on at Vanni's Jazz Lounge
Jams led by Ryan Johnson & Escape Terrain, June 19 to 27, 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
If you haven't been there yet, we’re pleased to introduce this second official Jam Session venue (in addition to the Hyatt Regency Rochester) for our popular late-night jams: Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway (See Club Pass show lineup). This intimate hideaway will be a perfect place to cap off your jazz fest evenings with the timeless spirit of swing and soul. Enjoy a perfectly stirred cocktail, a lingering glass of wine, or a sparkling flute of champagne, paired with small plates and late-night bites. Stay a little longer, carried by the music and the company you keep. Sponsored by the Inn on Broadway.
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Where Tomorrow’s Jazz Stars Take the Stage
Join us daily from 3:45–6:45 p.m., June 19–27, at the City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by The Community Foundation, for an incredible lineup of young talent from the Eastman School of Music and regional high school and college jazz bands.
High School & College Jazz Bands: Alexander, Bloomfield, Brighton, Brockport, Canandaigua, Eastridge, Fairport, Gates, Greece Arcadia, Greece Athena, Greece Olympia, Harley, Hilton (playing at Wegmans Pavilion), Honeoye Falls-Lima, Multi-School Band, Pal-Mac, Penfield, Pittsford Mendon, Pittsford Sutherland, School of the Arts, Spencerport, University of Rochester Jazz Ensemble, Victor, Webster Schroeder, Webster Thomas, and West Irondequoit.
New! Student Club Passes Announced: We're offering both 1-Day and 3-Day Club Passes this year for students 25 and under. Purchase in-person only (no online sales) at the Festival Ticket Shop at 100 East Ave., June 15-18, noon to 5 p.m. and noon to 9 p.m. June 19-27. Valid student ID required. 1-Day Club Passes are $70, and 3-Day Passes are $180, including service fees.
New! Each student performing in school bands and Eastman School of Music youth ensembles at the festival may request 2 complimentary 1-day Club Passes to stay and hear some of the world's finest jazz musicians playing at our festival. Students can sign up for passes with their school's band director.
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FAQ: How do I attend a Club Pass Show?
You can enter with either cash at the door ($40, Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, $35 at Kilbourn Hall, and $30 for all other Club Pass venues) or a 1-Day, 3-Day, or 9-Day Club Pass. No advance single tickets are sold for any Club Pass show. Entry is first-come, first-served, whether you pay cash at the door or have a ticket. There are no reserved seats; seating is general admission.
Why Get a Club Pass | Ticket Info | Club Pass Schedule | Venues
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Follow our 2026 Spotify Playlist
We've made it easy to become more familiar with some of the artists in our lineup this year. We've put together top tracks in our 2026 Spotify Playlist. It's time to discover your new favorites!
Listen Here
| | Photos: Top, East Main Street by Tom Flint; Temple Bldg by Dick Bennett | | | | |
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About the Rochester International Jazz Festival
The Rochester Regional Health Rochester International Jazz Festival, presented by M&T Bank, is one of the largest jazz festivals in the United States and the largest in New York State, transforming downtown Rochester, NY, each June into a walkable celebration of world-class live music. Over nine days, more than 1,750 artists perform in more than 300 concerts across 19 venues – from iconic concert halls and intimate clubs to vibrant free outdoor stages. With legendary performers, rising stars, and global talent, the festival delivers an unmatched mix of jazz and creative music in a lively festival setting. The unique European-style format allows audiences to experience multiple shows each night, creating one of the most immersive and musically diverse jazz festival experiences in North America. The festival is produced by RIJF, LLC, a privately held company. The festival team is led by Marc Iacona, Executive Director and Producer; John Nugent, Artistic Director; Karl Stabnau, Operations Director; Jean Dalmath and Amanda Antinore, Public Relations/Marketing Directors; and Jenna Manetta-Knauf, Logistics Director. Since its founding in 2002, annual attendance has grown from 15,000 to over 210,000, generating $220M+ in regional economic impact and establishing the Festival as a premier international summer music event.
| | | Rochester International Jazz Festival, LLC | 250 East Avenue | Rochester, NY 14604 US | | | | |
