Jazz@Rochester

Urban Grooves Music, a Rochester based entertainment group founded by Marcus Robinson, is attempting to “bring good people together to enjoy only the best in regional Funk, Soul, Jazz, and Reggae music.” While not necessarily succeeding in numbers, the group’s Urban Grooves Jam Fest on Saturday at the German House did succeed in bringing a diverse group of people together to hear great music by a local artists ranging from the straightahead of Bill Tiberio Group, to the great Latin jazz of the Mambo Kings, to the funky sounds of Jimmy Highsmith and Marcus Robinson’s own Thornwood, to the reggae of Mountain Mojo Authority, and capped off by the drumming circles and world music sounds of Buddahood. The whole thing kicked off around 4pm and, and ended sometime after the Budda’s (there was supposed to be a jam session extending to 1am or so, but I don’t know whether that happened or not).
Unfortunately, Dianna and I didn’t have the stamina to catch the whole thing, leaving after Thornwood left the stage (not because of the change to a more rock-oriented sound, as I love both reggae and Buddahood’s eclectic mix), but we had a great time listening to some of the best jazz musicians in the Rochester area in a larger venue, the German House with some decent sound (although there were some limited issues with the sound). I (and I expect Marcus Robinson) really wish there had been a bigger turnout for this event. On a positive note, what impressed upon me was Urban Groove’s explicit goal to bring diverse communities together through the medium of music. On that front, it was quite successful, if limited in number. Keep trying Marcus (and it appears he has another scheduled for April 2006)! Urban Grooves also sponsors the “Urban Grooves Cafe” series, which used to be over at Water Street, but based on their website may be moving to a new location.