Genre-bending percussionist and composer John Hollenbeck brings his ensemble The Claudia Quintet to the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival (XRIJF) this year, one of numerous Eastman School of Music alumni, students, and faculty members performing on the fest’s stages.
Eastman has been involved in the festival since it was founded in 2002. Held in the area surrounding the school’s campus on Gibbs Street—renamed “Jazz Street” during the festival—this year’s event runs from Friday, June 24, through Saturday, July 2.
Guitarist and faculty member Bob Sneider continues to earn his moniker as “the hardest-working man at the jazz festival” as he closes out each night of the festival with jam sessions at 10:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Rochester Downtown. In addition, Sneider is hosting and moderating the Wegmans-sponsored Jazz Workshops for Young Music Students, which this year will feature guest artists from XRIJF’s “Made in the UK” series. Sneider will also be performing with Curtis Stigers, appearing on stage with his brother John, a University of Rochester and Eastman alumnus who plays trumpet for Stigers.
Another University of Rochester graduate who took lessons and classes at Eastman, keyboardist Peter Levin, can be heard with headliner Gregg Allman on Friday, July 1, in Kodak Hall. Eastman graduate Gary Versace will make two appearances with the John Abercrombie Organ Trio.
In addition to the Claudia Quintet, Eastman graduate Hollenbeck leads the Grammy-nominated John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble. As a composer, he writes music that draws from the traditions of jazz and of new music and has been nominated for Grammys for composition and for arranging. The Claudia Quintet also includes Eastman graduate Red Wierenga, a pianist and composer who plays accordion in the group.
Besides alumni and faculty, students from the Eastman School of Music and ensembles from the Eastman Community Music School (ECMS) will be appearing in the festival. Among the scheduled events are:
Every night:
10:30 p.m., jam sessions with Bob Sneider Trio, Holiday Inn Rochester Downtown
Monday, June 27, through Friday, July 1:
1 p.m., Jazz Workshops for Young Music students, Ray Wright Room (Room 120), Eastman School of Music. Daily guest artists from the Made in the UK series: Gwyneth Herbert, Christine Tobin, Mammal Hands, Leuwen Steffan, and Matthew Halsall. Hosted and moderated by Bob Sneider.
Friday, June 24:
5:45 and 7:45 p.m., Paul Hofmann, piano, Hatch Recital Hall
6 p.m., ECMS Junior Jazz, Jazz Street Stage
Saturday, June 25:
6 p.m., ECM jazz combos with Bob Sneider and Mike Kaupa, 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 26:
6 p.m., ESM Honors Performance Unit 1, Jazz Street Stage
6 and 10 p.m., John Abercrombie Organ Trio with Gary Versace & Adam Nussbaum, Montage Music Hall
7 and 9:15 p.m. The Majestics with ESM staff member Ron Stackman, Little Theatre
Monday, June 27:
6 p.m., ESM Honors Performance Unit 2, saxophonist Luke Norris, Jazz Street Stage
7 and 9 p.m., Bill Tiberio Band, Avangrid Foundation/RG&E Fusion State
7:30 and 9:30 p.m. RIJF-ESM Jazz Scholarships Performance directed by Jeff Campbell, Jazz Street Stage
Tuesday, June 28:
Noon, Karl Stabnau<, saxophone, Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County
6 p.m. New Horizons Big Band, Jazz Street Stage
7:30 p.m. ECMS Youth Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Street Stage
9:30 p.m., Music Educators Big Band, Jazz Street Stage
Wednesday, June 29:
Noon: Gabe Condon, guitar, joins Rod Blumenau, piano, Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County
6 p.m., ESM-XRIJF Scholarship Alumni, Jazz Street Stage
6 p.m., span style=”color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial;”>Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra, Rochester Regional Health Big Tent
7 and 9: 15 p.m., Trio East (Rich Thompson, drums; Clay Jenkins, trumpet; Jeff Campbell, bass), Little Theatre
Thursday, June 30:
5:45 and 7:45 p.m., Harold Danko, piano, Hatch Recital Hall
6 p.m., New Horizons Vintage Jazz, Jazz Street Stage
6:30 and 9 p.m., John Hollenbeck and The Claudia Quintet, Xerox Auditorium at Xerox Plaza
7 and 9:15 p.m., Dave Rivello Ensemble, Little Theatre
Friday, July 1:
Noon, Herb Smith, Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County
6 p.m., ECMS jazz combos with Mike Kaupa and Paul Hofmann, Jazz Street Stage
6 and 9 p.m., Curtis Stigers, with John Sneider (University of Rochester and Eastman alumnus), trumpet, and guitarist Bob Sneider, Kilbourn Hall
8 p.m., Greg Allman, Kodak Hall, with Red Wierenga, accordion
Saturday, July 2:
6 p.m., ESM Honors Performance Unit 3, Jazz Street Stage
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