| Location(s) | Rochester, New York |
|---|---|
| Years active | 2002-Present |
| Founded by | John Nugent, Marc Iacona |
| Date(s) | June |
| Genre | Jazz |
| Website | Official website |
Established in 2002, the Rochester International Jazz Festival takes place in June of each year, in Rochester, New York. It is produced by John Nugent, Artistic Director and Marc Iacona, Executive Director. The title sponsor is Xerox.
The festival is held at multiple venues throughout the downtown Rochester New York's East End cultural district, including Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, Kilbourn Hall at the Eastman School of Music, Lutheran Church of the Reformation, Christ Church, the Festival Big Tent, Max of Eastman Place, Montage, Xerox Auditorium, Rochester Club, and Abilene - all within walking distance and many on "Jazz Street" (otherwise known as Gibbs Street during the rest of the year), which is closed off for the festival's nine days. In addition, more than 60 free concerts are presented on three outdoor stages.
In 2009, attendance was estimated at a record 133,000 for the 225 concerts presented.[1]
In 2010, 162,000 people attended the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival's 250 concerts presented over nine days, breaking the record set the prior year of 133,000.[2]
2011 saw another record setting year with 285 concerts presented over nine days and in 18 different venues. Attendance reached an all-time high of 182,000.[3]
Contents |
| Year | Days | Headliners | No. of shows | No. of venues | Est. attendance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 7 | Aretha Franklin The Rippingtons Sonny Rollins |
50 | 14 | 15,000 | Norah Jones was booked as an up-and-comer, before her debut album was released—but she performed as a new superstar after it became a runaway success; Franklin concert held at Frontier Field; Chris Botti opened for The Rippingtons |
| 2003 | 10 | Tony Bennett George Benson Dave Brubeck Al Jarreau |
14 | 30,000 | ||
| 2004 | 9 | Oscar Peterson David Sanborn |
55,000 | First year that Gibbs Street was renamed "Jazz Street"; first year for the RIJF Big Tent | ||
| 2005 | 9 | The Bad Plus Dave Brubeck Chick Corea Sonny Rollins |
65,000 | |||
| 2006 | 9 | Woody Allen James Brown Etta James |
80,000 | |||
| 2007 | 9 | Chris Botti & Madeleine Peyroux Jerry Lee Lewis Wynton Marsalis |
120,000 | First year for Nordic Jazz Now | ||
| 2008 | 9 | Al Green Medeski Martin & Wood Boz Scaggs |
125,000 | Jake Shimabukuro, Carolyn Wonderland, and Catherine Russell also appeared | ||
| 2009 | 9 | Dave Brubeck Michael McDonald Smokey Robinson Jake Shimabukuro & Carolyn Wonderland Susan Tedeschi & Taj Mahal |
225 | 133,000 | First year with Xerox as title sponsor | |
| 2010 | 9 | Jeff Beck Herbie Hancock Keb' Mo' Gladys Knight John Pizzarelli Bernie Williams |
250 | 15 | 162,000 | A second Jeff Beck concert was added after the first sold out; club passes also sold out in advance; Trombone Shorty appeared; Smash Mouth closes |
| 2011 | 9 | Chris Botti Natalie Cole Elvis Costello The Fab Faux Béla Fleck and the Flecktones k.d. lang |
285 | 18 | 182,000 | Club passes sold out two months in advance; Kevin Eubanks appears; Trombone Shorty plays a free show; G Love and Special Sauce close out the festival |
The 2009 lineup of major performances was announced on March 24, 2009.[5]
The following headlining acts all played ticketed shows at Eastman Theatre