Eastman School of Music musicians — current students, faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as students and faculty from the Eastman Community Music School (ECMS) — will be appearing throughout the 2019 CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival (RIJF).
This year’s festival runs June 21 through 29 at 20 venues, including the school’s Hatch, Kilbourn, and Kodak Halls, as well as the Ray Wright Room. Most of the other locations are within a short walking distance of the School’s campus on Gibbs Street, which is renamed “Jazz Street” during the event. Eastman has been involved in the festival since it was founded in 2002.
For detailed information on tickets and venue locations, check the CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival website www.rochesterjazz.com
For more information on Eastman jazz programs, click on: Eastman Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media. Jazz fans will be able to catch Eastman musicians throughout the Festival and on different stages:
Weeknights
10:30 p.m.: Since the launch of the festival, guitarist and faculty member Bob Sneider, together with Karl Stabnau, saxophone, and Eastman School of Music alumnus, close out each night with a jam session, The Street Craft Kitchen & Bar, Hyatt Regency Rochester Hotel.
Bob Sneider will also be hosting Student Workshops in the Rayburn Wright Room (Eastman School of Music) with guest artists on weekdays. Open to all students / ages.
Friday, June 21
6 p.m.: Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra, Colin Gordon and Charlie Carr, co-directors – City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage. Presented by the Community Foundation.
8 p.m.: Steve Gadd Band, Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. Grammy Award-winning drummer Steve Gadd is a 1968 Eastman graduate.
Saturday, June 22
6 p.m.: Eastman-RCSD Jazz Ensemble, directed by ECMS instructor Mike Kaupa– City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage. Presented by the Community Foundation.
Sunday, June 23
5:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.: Bill Dobbins, Eastman professor of jazz studies – Hatch Recital Hall at The Eastman School of Music.
6 p.m.: ESM Jazz Honors Performance:: Würtzburg Ensemble: – City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage. Presented by the Community Foundation.
7:30 p.m.: Russell Scarbrough Soul Jazz Big Band along with Bob Sneider, Rich Thompson, and world-renowned flutist Ali Ryerson– City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage. Russell Scarbrough is a 2004 and 2008 Eastman graduate.
Monday, June 24
6 p.m.: ESM Jazz Honors Performanc: Ethan Cypress and the Eastman Trombones- City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage. Presented by the Community Foundation.
Tuesday, June 25
12 p.m.: Billy Petito, 2017 Eastman graduate– Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County.
6 p.m.: New Horizons Big Band, directed by Priscilla Todd Brown– City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage. Presented by the Community Foundation.
6 p.m. and 10 p.m.: Dave Glasser Quartet, featuring David Glasser (MM86), Bill Dobbins, Jeff Campbell, and Rich Thompson– Wilder Room.
7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.: Bill Tiberio Band– City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage. Presented by the Community Foundation.
Wednesday, June 26
12 p.m.: Ryan Barski, Eastman student – Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County.
4:30 p.m.: Herb Smith Freedom Trio, ECMS instructor, M&T Pavilion-Squeezers Stage.
5:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.: Harold Danko, Eastman professor emeritus of Jazz Studies & Contemporary Media – Hatch Recital Hall at Eastman School of Music.
6 p.m.: New Horizons Vintage Jazz Band, directed by Don Sherman– City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage. Presented by the Community Foundation.
Thursday, June 27
12 p.m.: Mike Melito, ECMS instructor – Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County
5:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.: Gary Versace,
6 p.m.: Junior High Jazz Ensemble Directed by ECMS instructor Mike Kaupa– City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage. Presented by the Community Foundation.
Friday, June 28
12 p.m.: Mike Kaupa, ECMS instructor – Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County.
6:00 p.m.: Bob Sneider Performing with ECMS Jazz Performance Workshop – City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage. Presented by the Community Foundation.
6:00 p.m.: ECMS Bass Instructor Danny Ziemann, and Eastman graduate (1980) and former faculty member Walt Weiskopf– City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage. Presented by the Community Foundation.
Saturday, June 29
6 p.m.: ESM Jazz Honors Performance: Aidan O’Connor- City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage. Presented by the Community Foundation.
6 p.m.: The New Energy Jazz Orchestra, featuring Rich Thompson, Rochester Regional Health Big Tent.
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About the Eastman School of Music:
The Eastman School of Music was founded in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman (1854-1932), founder of Eastman Kodak Company. It was the first professional school of the University of Rochester. Mr. Eastman’s dream was that his school would provide a broad education in the liberal arts as well as superb musical training. The current dean is Jamal Rossi, appointed in 2014.
More than 900 students are enrolled in the Collegiate Division of the Eastman School of Music—about 500 undergraduates and 400 graduate students. They come from almost every state, and approximately 23 percent are from other countries. They are taught by a faculty comprised of more than 130 highly regarded performers, composers, conductors, scholars, and educators. They are Pulitzer Prize winners, Grammy winners, Guggenheim Fellows, ASCAP Award recipients, published authors, recording artists, and acclaimed musicians who have performed in the world’s greatest concert halls. Each year, Eastman’s students, faculty members, and guest artists present more than 900 concerts to the Rochester community.