Jazz Festival

The Xerox Rochester International Jazz festival is one of Rochester’s signature events and WXXI’s award winning News Department had complete coverage on radio, television online and on social media.

WXXI’s Alex Crichton and Scott Regan of WRUR’s Open Tunings local music program presented a look at each day of the festival with "Jazz Break" each weekday morning during Morning Edition on WXXI-AM 1370.

WXXI’s news staff presented live updates from the festival each weekday afternoon during NPR’s All Things Considered on WXXI-AM 1370.

The Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival begins Friday, but organizers are already looking ahead to improvement for next year’s event.

Producers of the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival say they're working on a plan to operate shuttle buses during next year's jazz event.

The organizers of the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival say they are ready for the best event yet in the festival long history.

Two weeks from Friday, the first notes will be played at venues all over downtown Rochester as the 11th annual Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival gets under way.

Festival founder John Nugent and co-producer Marc Iacona spoke with WXXI’s Bob Smith about preparations for this year on 1370 Connection on Monday, June 11.

The official ticket shop for the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival opened Monday.

Tickets for headliner concerts at Kodak Hall at the Eastman Theater can be picked up at the corner of East Avenue and Gibbs Street.

Festival goers can also get an official brochure and schedule at the ticket shop.

This year's nine-day event features more than 1,000 artists in 300 concerts, starting June 22nd.

Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding has been added as a headliner at this summer's Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival.

Spalding will play at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre on June 23 replacing Queen Latifah who had to cancel because of a scheduling conflict.

Spalding made her debut at the festival in 2007. She says she was inspired at age four to become a musician after seeing cellist Yo Yo Ma perform on Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Spalding won the Best New Artist Grammy in 2011, the first jazz artist to win that award.

Just hours after announcing ticket sales would be delayed for Queen Latifah’s recently announced Jazz Festival concert - the concert has now been canceled completely.

At issue is a prior commitment the singer and actress made to a press tour for a movie.

“Despite having a bonafide agreement in place with Queen Latifah, we were informed that a scheduling conflict had arisen that would prevent her from appearing here on June 23," Festival Co-producer and Artistic Director John Nugent said in a statement.

Organizers of this year's Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival announced the full lineup for the festival Tuesday.

Norah Jones, Steve Martin and Diana Krall are the top names at this year’s event which begins Friday, June 22. The 11th Edition of the festival features more than 1,000 artists, performing at 18 venues in downtown Rochester.

UPDATE: Queen Latifah June 23rd Concert Canceled

Festival co-producer, John Nugent, says that includes nearly 70 concerts on three outdoor stages,

Diana Krall, Norah Jones and Steve Martin will headline this year’s Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival.

Renowned jazz star Krall will headline opening night on Friday, June 22 at Kodak Hall at the Eastman Theatre. Jones performs on the same stage a week later on Friday, June 29.

Famed actor & comedian Steve Martin brings his bluegrass music to the Eastman Theatre with the Steep Canyon Rangers on Wednesday, June 27.