Rochester Jazz Festival: Opening Night a hit with music lovers

Marili Vaca, Tina MacInyre-Yee, Bill Wolcott, Victoria Freile, Gary Craig, Tracy Schuhmacher, Justice Marbury
Updated ·2 min read

It's time for Rochester's preeminent summer festival, the Rochester International Jazz Festival.

Now in its 21st year, the nine-day festival includes music at 20 downtown venues.

The Harley School Jazz Band gets the party started with a free concert at 3:45 p.m. on the Jazz Street Stage at East and Gibbs.

Packing them in at the Rochester International Jazz Festival

There was a great vibe at the free shows by Cinnamon Jones and Funk You on Opening night, Photographer Tina MacIntyre-Yee and Social Media Reporter Marili Vaca said.

"The weather was amazing," Vaca said. "Everyone loved Funk You."

Rochester Jazz Fest: Scenes from Opening Night

Rochester International Jazz Festival food: Bring your appetite  

Veteran food writer Tracy Schuhmacher says she’ll be sampling these spots.

Jazz Festival weather: Bring an umbrella after tonight 

While strong thunderstorms are hitting Ontario County, where Carrie Underwood is set to perform at CMAC, the weather is mostly dry in Rochester.

The rest of Friday evening will be partly cloudy, with a chance for a passing shower, according to the National Weather Service's office in Buffalo. Highs are expected in the low 80s with a low of 70 degrees.

Rain is expected both Saturday and Sunday, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms on Saturday and thunderstorms likely Sunday. Highs could reach the mid-80s, with lows falling into the 60s.

Rochester International Jazz fest opening night: 3 don't-miss shows

Veteran journalist and music enthusiast Gary Craig recommends these three shows tonight: The California Guitar Trio, Stanley Jordan and Connie Han Trio.

Rochester Jazz Festival Lineup: There’s tons of free shows 

Cinnamon Top and Funk You are among the top free shows on Opening Night of the Jazz Festival.

This year's festival features 326 shows including 104 free ones.

Taj Mahal headlines Friday at Rochester jazz fest

Grammy-winning Blues legend Taj Mahal is the headliner on opening night of the Rochester International Jazz Festival. Here he performs on opening night of Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival n Los Angeles, California, in 2023.
Grammy-winning Blues legend Taj Mahal is the headliner on opening night of the Rochester International Jazz Festival. Here he performs on opening night of Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival n Los Angeles, California, in 2023.

Taj Mahal kicks off the headliner series with an 8 p.m. concert in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. Tickets were still available late Thursday to see this legendary blues musician whose had three Grammy Award wins and 15 nominations.

Cinnamon Jones and Funk You top the free concerts tonight. Jones, a Rochester artist, will perform twice (7 and 9 p.m.) at the Wegmans Pavilion at East and Chestnut. Funk You, an Augusta, Georgia, band, has concerts at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. on the Jazz Street Stage.

There's no concert scheduled for Opening Night at Parcel 5. Click this link to see the full lineup of shows.

Rochester Jazz Fest 2024: Where to park 

Nearby parking garages (rates vary) include:

  • East End Garage at Main and Scio streets

  • Midtown Garage, with entrances on South Clinton Avenue, Court Street and Broad Street

  • Washington Square Garage on Woodbury Boulevard

  • South Avenue Garage, between South Avenue and Stone Street

  • Sister Cities Garage, on North Fitzhugh Street

  • Mortimer Street Garage, on North Clinton Avenue

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester Jazz Festival: Opening Night a hit with music lovers