June 7, 2006
Coming home from Kansas a few days before the start of RIJF, I had a few musings and notes on this year’s Rochester International Jazz Festival:
My wife and I have been noticing that there’s quite bit more hype of the fest in the news, around the water cooler, and elsewhere. People we know who have never gone out to see music with us have bought Club Passes and are planning to attend a number of days. The music critics of the D&C has been profiling the acts, giving their picks for must sees, and the paper had quite a spread in the Living section on Sunday and City Paper had a pullout guide to the entire Festival. Prior RIJFs have seemed to just happen with some obligatory coverage. The critics are going to do daily reviews of the festival (I think we saw some post-mortems in past fests, but not this kind of wall-to-wall coverage). Heck, we’re even going to hear some podcasts each night by John Pitcher and Jeff Spevak (once that starts, I’ll try to get you all a link).
There’s also a lot more advertising that is tying into the festival. For example, the Strathallan Hotel is advertising itself as a “jazz tradition” in Rochester due to the jazz available nightly Thursday through the weekend and are advertising in City Paper a “free jazz shuttle” from 6-10pm during the RIJF. Restaurants within a mile or so of the festival are getting their names in there, too. Perhaps some of this existed last year, but it seems more extensive.
It is clear that John Nugent is getting more cooperation and involvement from the City of Rochester now that Mayor Duffy has taken the reins. The closing of Gibbs for the entire festival is a great improvement as it will give the RIJF a heart that doesn’t have to shut down and will be there for all to view as they go to and fro from work…beckoning for more to stop by and check it out. While I still think that there could be more done to welcome all of Rochester’s communities to the festival, the City’s participation and active support is vital to that being accomplished and it will take time. As I’ve said elsewhere, RIJF could develop into a major component in the revitalization of downtown Rochester and it is good to see that they’re finally stepping up.
As I suggested in a post-mortem after RIJF 2005 (although their actions are likely not connected to, I admit), there are a lot more local acts involved in the festival this year. In addition to Bob Schneider holding court at the State Street Bar & Grill after-hours, which has been a fixture at every RIJF to-date, the following local artists will be performing at shows during the festival: Henderson-Schonig Trio Featuring Dr. Lonnie Smith (well, Henderson & Schonig are local as members of Paradigm Shift), Bill Tiberio, Gap Mangione, Mike Kaupa Quartet, Jack Allen Big Band, the Respect Sextet (well, they’re in the Big Apple now…), Jeff Campbell Trio w/John Hollenbeck, Gray Mayfield Trio + Mark Whitfield (Mayfield appears with Paradigm Shift often at the Flat Iron Cafe), Harold Danko & Friends, Bill Tiberio Group, Smugtown Stompers, Central NY Jazz Orchestra, and assorted high school and Eastman Community groups.
Nugent is using venues that have appeared before on a more regular basis, including the Little Theater and the Memorial Art Gallery.
There’s something in the air, I think. Perhaps this year may be the year RIJF breaks out in Rochester (it’s already breaking out nationally and internationally).
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I agree. I know quite a few people who have purchased passes and who have never been. I am happy about the local support, but nervous that “my” festival will be a bit too crowded this year. And as for the “critics”, I need to point out to whoever comes around that blogging the festival is already broken ground!
Yes, we are on for Friday, and Ken is in as far as I know. I’ll shoot you an e-mail about it.
Comment by Seth — June 7, 2006 @ 5:41 pm
I introduced four new people to the Jazz Festival this year. They had never been and never really thought about going until I mentioned it. Part of their hesitance to go was their idea of what it’s all about and about jazz, in general. What is esp great this year, which I didn’t get a sense of last year, is a bit broader range of what is considered “jazz.” So what if it’s not all “pure jazz”?
Too crowded? I don’t think so.
Comment by jean — June 11, 2006 @ 10:45 am