Ready for some fresh live jazz in and around Rochester, NY? Each week, these posts gather the listings for live jazz to hear around Rochester for the next seven days immediately below. After the "fold" (a link at the end of this week's listings) you'll find live jazz through the the last few days of August and September and a start on October (plus some items of special interest beyond that….). Please, if you're out at a venue hearing some live jazz and a listing for the gig was not in our post, let them know about JazzRochester and that's where you look when you want to hear some live jazz around town. Let them know anyway….
FYI, there will be some changes happening around JazzRochester. Typepad, the ancient blogging platform that I've used to publish this site since 2006, has just announced is shutting down at the end of September. Over the next month I'll be checking out some other platforms and making some decisions on what to move. I hope to send out some surveys through the email list and other channels to get some input on what you will miss so I can make decisions on what and how to retain content. I was thinking about cleaning house anyway.
Thursday, August 28, 2025
- Rich Thompson Trio Generations @ Lila's, 5:00 pm
- iSteel Music @ Vanni’s Jazz Club at the Inn on Broadway, 5:00 pm
- Mike Pullano @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- Behrcat @ Vanni’s Jazz Club at the Inn on Broadway, 9:00 pm
Friday, August 29, 2025
- Victoria Moore Trio @ Vanni’s Jazz Club at the Inn on Broadway, 5:00 pm
- Ann Mitchell Jazz Duo @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- Ryan Johnson @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
- Jazz On Tap: Stewie Evans Trio @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 6:30 pm
- Trio East @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
- XYZ Quintet @ The Trestle (Sodus Point), 7:00 pm
- Mel Henderson with the Rochester Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra @ Epworth Hall, 20 Janes Ave. (Silver Lake), 7:00 pm
- Dan Zawel Duo @ Vanni’s Jazz Club at the Inn on Broadway, 9:00 pm
Saturday, August 30, 2025
- Cinque @ Irondequoit Music & Arts Festival, 1:00 pm (House of Guitars outdoor stage)
- Ryan Johnson Duo @ Vanni’s Jazz Club at the Inn on Broadway, 5:00 pm
- Mel Henderson & Marvin Dolly @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- Prime Time Brass Jazz Combo @ Pane Vino on the River, 6:00 pm
- Bob Sneider Trio @ The Trestle (Sodus Point), 7:00 pm
Sunday, August 31, 2025
- Jazz Jam with R&D Jazz @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 11:30 am
- Olcott Beach Jazz Trail Festival @ Olcott Beach on Lake Ontario (route 78 North just past route 18), 12:00 to 7:00 pm
- Victrola Voila! @ Iron Smoke Distillery (Fairport), 3:30 pm
- Dan Zawel @ Vanni’s Jazz Club at the Inn on Broadway, 5:00 pm
-
Steve Grills and the Roadmasters @ Twisted Rail Brewing (Canadaigua), 5:00 pm
- Bob Sneider Trio @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
Monday, September 1, 2025
- Margaret Explosion @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
- Bob Snieder Trio @ Lila's, 5:00 pm
- Penfield Big Band @ Penfield Community Center, 1985 Baird Rd. (Penfield), 7:30 pm
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
- The Biltmore Commandos @ The Spirit Room, 8:30 pm
Looking for some live jazz after the coming 7 days? Then click on the link below … the "fold" … and check those listings out.
Looking for live jazz later in September?
- 4th: Mike Kornrich Jumpin' Jazz Trio @ Vanni’s Jazz Club at the Inn on Broadway, 5:00 pm
- 4th: Stewie Evans Trio @ Lila's, 5:00 pm
- 4th: Ralph DeBergalis Duo @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 4th: Ann Mitchell Duo @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 5th: Jim Nugent @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 5th: Jazz On Tap: Beach Avenue Jazz Band @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 6:30 pm
- 5th: Bob Sneider & Christine Jensen @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
- 5th: The Biltmore Commandos @ The Spirit Room, 8:30 pm
- 5th: Steve Grills and the Roadmasters @ Dinosaur BBQ (Rochester), 9:00 pm
- 5th: Dan Atkinson Trio @ Vanni’s Jazz Club at the Inn on Broadway, 9:00 pm
- 6th: Brunch with Deepak Thettu & Friends @ Brown Hound Downtown (at the MAG), 11:00 am
- 6th: Lonnie @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 6th: Dan & Eric's Jazz Duo @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
- 6th: Rick Holland Big Band @ The Trestle (Sodus Point), 7:00 pm
- 8th: Archive Ravens (Residency) @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
- 9th: Jazz90.1 WGMC-FM and The Ontario Beach Park Program Committee present Jazz at The Beach featuring Darryl Parker Quartet @ Tropix Nightclub, 4775 Lake Ave (Charlotte), 7:00 pm
- 10th: Rochester Fringe Festival: Funkyard Brass Band @ Memorial Art Gallery, 5:15 pm
- 10th: The Biltmore Commandos @ The Spirit Room, 8:30 pm
- 11th: Stewie Evans Trio @ Lila's, 5:00 pm
- 11th: Ryan Johnson Duo @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 11th: Rochester Fringe Festival: Funkyard Brass Band @ Memorial Art Gallery, 4:00 pm
- 11th: Rochester Fringe Festival: Scoulive @ Memorial Art Gallery, 7:00 pm
- 11th: Hot Record Club with Gian Carlo Cervone (and 78s from the earlier days of blues and jazz) @ The Spirit Room, 8:30 pm
- 11th: Dan Atkinson Trio @ Vanni’s Jazz Club at the Inn on Broadway, 9:00 pm
- 12th: Rochester Fringe Festival: Mid-Century Modern Jazz Quartet @ The Little Theater, Theater 1 stage, 5:00 pm
- 12th: Mike Pallini @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 12th: Lovin’ Cup’s 17th Anniversary Party featuring The Swooners @ Lovin' Cup Bistro & Brews, 6:00 pm
- 12th: Jazz On Tap: Mike Melito Trio @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 6:30 pm
- 12th: Lovin’ Cup’s 17th Anniversary Party Piranha Loco with Ben Bruton @ Lovin' Cup Bistro & Brews, 8:30 pm
- 12th: Melvin Henderson & Marvin Dolly @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
- 12th: Rochester Fringe Festival: Eastman Percussion Ensemble @ Kilbourn Hall, 6:30 pm
- 12th: Jacobo Vega-Abela Quintet @ The Trestle (Sodus Point), 7:00 pm
- 13th: Ann Mitchell with John Gabriele & Kyle Vock @ Hoag Library (Albion), 12:00 pm
- 13th: Mary DeFranco Jazz Trio @ Cappelletti's Italian Restaurant. 100 Isla Way (Brockport), 5:00 pm
- 13th: Moondance Trio @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 13th: Jazz On Tap: Mike Melito Trio @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 6:30 pm
- 13th: Ryan Johnson & Glen Cummings @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
- 13th: Max Robbins @ The Trestle (Sodus Point), 7:00 pm
- 13th: Laura Dubin & Antonio Guerrero @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
- 13th: Gap Mangione and the New Big Band @ Jazz 'N Caz Festival, Cazenovia High School Auditorium (Cazenovia), 7:00 pm (for full lineup for Jazz at Caz festival, September 10-13 see this link)
- 14th: Bop Shop and the Rochester Fringe Festival present Dave Rivello DRI I RED! @ Bop Shop Records, 1460 Monroe Ave. (Rochester), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 15th: Archive Ravens (Residency) @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
- 15th: Bop Shop and the Rochester Fringe Festival present Kirk Knuffke with Ray Anderson and special guest Harold Danko @ Bop Shop Records, 1460 Monroe Ave. (Rochester), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 16th: GateSwingers Big Band @ Rochester Fringe Fest, JCC Community Center (Brighton), 6:30 pm
- 16th: Faculty Artist Series: Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media Showcase @ Kilbourn Hall, 7:30 pm
- 16th: Bop Shop and the Rochester Fringe Festival present the Hank Roberts Trio @ Bop Shop Records, 1460 Monroe Ave. (Rochester), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets … eventually)
- 17th: Mary DeFranco Jazz @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
- 17th: The Biltmore Commandos @ The Spirit Room, 8:30 pm
- 18th: Stewie Evans Trio @ Lila's, 5:00 pm
- 18th: Marco Amadio @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 19th: Connie Fredericks-Malone @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 19th: Ann MItchell Duo with guitarist Dan DeLuca @ Flight Wine Bar (Corn Hill Landing), 6:30 pm
- 19th: Jazz On Tap: Darryl Parker Trio @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 6:30 pm
- 19th: The White Hots @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
- 19th: Ken Foster's Game Night Quartet @ The Trestle (Sodus Point), 7:00 pm
- 19th: Bop Shop and the Rochester Fringe Festival present the Ricky Ford Quartet @ Bop Shop Records, 1460 Monroe Ave. (Rochester), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 19th: Deepak Thettu & Friends @ The Alexander, 8:00 pm
- 20th: Jazz Jam with Jack's Jammers @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 2:00 pm
- 20th: Michael Sidoti @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 20th: Annie Wells & Dave Arenius @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
- 20th: Smooth Jazz Super Saxy Birthday Bash for Jimmie Highsmith Jr. with special guest Scott Mayo and Taryn Highsmith @ Photo City Music Hall, 7:00 pm (call or text 585-666-0019 for tickets)
- 22nd: Archive Ravens (Residency) @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
- 24th: The Biltmore Commandos @ The Spirit Room, 8:30 pm
- 25th: Stewie Evans Trio @ Lila's, 5:00 pm
- 25th: Mike Pullano @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 26th: Ann Mitchell Jazz Duo @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 26th: Vince Ercolamento & Joe Chiappone @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
- 26th: Jazz On Tap: Jazz Generation @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 6:30 pm
- 26th: The Flock @ The Trestle (Sodus Point), 7:00 pm
- 27th: Special Blend Trio @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 27th: Jazz Night with The Djangoners @ Rochester Academy of Music, 1441 East Ave., 6:00 pm (see their site for tickets)
- 27th: Daniel King & Keith Dudinski @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
- 27th: Sonic Alchemists @ The Trestle (Sodus Point), 7:00 pm
- 28th: Sonic Alchemists @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
- 28th: Joe Policastro Trio @ Bop Shop Records, 1460 Monroe Ave. (Rochester), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 29th: Archive Ravens (Residency) @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
Looking for live jazz in October?
- 1st: The Biltmore Commandos @ The Spirit Room, 8:30 pm
- 2nd: Mike Kornrich Jumpin' Jazz Trio Vanni’s Jazz Club at the Inn on Broadway, 5:00 pm
- 3rd: Jazz On Tap: Jon Randall Octet @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 6:30 pm
- 3rd: Kilbourn Concert Series: Terri Lyne Carrington We Insist 2025! @ ESM, Kilbourn Hall, 7:30 (more info & tickets)
- 3rd: The Biltmore Commandos @ The Spirit Room, 8:30 pm
- 4th: Women in Jazz: Keynote Address with Terri Lyne Carrington @ ESM, Hatch Recital Hall, 9:00 am
- 4th: Women in Jazz: Concert with Faculty and Guests Artists @ ESM, Hatch Recital Hall, 11:30 am
- 4th: Monk Catallo @ The Trestle (Sodus Point), 7:00 pm
- 6th: Eastman Jazz Orchestra @ ESM, Kilbourn Hall, 7:30 pm
- 7th: Pat Metheny Dream Box/Moondial Tour @ Beston Hall, Nazareth University (Pittsford), 6:30 pm (more info & tickets)
- 8th: Eastman New Jazz Orchestra @ ESM, Kilbourn Hall, 7:30 pm
- 8th: The Biltmore Commandos @ The Spirit Room, 8:30 pm
- 9th: Hot Record Club with Gian Carlo Cervone spinning jazz and blues on original 78s @ The Spirit Room, 8:30 pm
- 10th: Deepak Thettu & Friends @ Brown Hound Downtown (at the MAG), 5:00 pm
- 10th: Jazz On Tap: Mid-Century Modern Jazz Quartet @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 6:30 pm
- 11h: Max Robbins @ The Trestle (Sodus Point), 7:00 pm
- 12th: Tuba Skinny @ The Smith Opera House (Geneva), 7:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 14th: Jazz90.1 WGMC-FM and The Ontario Beach Park Program Committee present Jazz at The Beach featuring Sofrito Latin Jazz Quintet @ Tropix Nightclub, 4775 Lake Ave (Charlotte), 7:00 pm
- 15th: The Biltmore Commandos @ The Spirit Room, 8:30 pm
- 16th: Soundtrax Film Music Festival, Film Scores Live! featuring Terence Blanchard with the E-Collective and the Gateways Festival Orchestra @ Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, 7:30 pm (more info & tickets)
- 17th: Jazz On Tap: Rick Holland Quartet @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 6:30 pm
- 21st: Faculty Artist Series: Charles Pillow, jazz saxophone @ ESM, Hatch Recital Hall, 7:30 pm
- 22nd: Charlie Ballantine Quartet plays the music of Bob Dylan @ Bop Shop Records, 1460 Monroe Ave. (Rochester), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 22nd: The Biltmore Commandos @ The Spirit Room, 8:30 pm
- 23rd: Jazz 90.1 presents The GateSwingers Big Band @ Greece Baptist Church, 1230 Long Pond Road (Greece), 7:00 pm
- 24th: Jazz On Tap: Paradigm Shift @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 6:30 pm
- 24th: Deepak Thettu & Friends @ The Alexander, 8:00 pm
- 27th: Chamber Jazz Ensemble @ ESM, Hatch Recital Hall, 7:30 pm
- 28th: Eastman Jazz Workshop Ensemble & Eastman Jazz Lab Band @ 7Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, 7:30 pm
- 29th: The Biltmore Commandos @ The Spirit Room, 8:30 pm
Some special live jazz even later….
- November 1st: Keigo Hirakawa Quartet featuring Stacy Dillard @ Bop Shop Records, 1460 Monroe Ave. (Rochester), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- November 16th: Dan Bruce Trio @ Bop Shop Records, 1460 Monroe Ave. (Rochester), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- December 5th: Cécile McLorin Salvant @ Dallas Morse Coors Concert Series, Bailey Hall, Cornell University (Ithaca), 7:30 pm (more info & tickets)
Click on the links where available for more information on the gig or tickets where needed, or check out the venue's website in the right panel if there. For the most part only start times for the gigs are listed, call the venue or visit their website for more details about when the doors open, how long the band will be playing, etc. Please let me know if you've heard about any gigs that I may have missed here or if I have anything wrong below (see the Contact Us link above to send an email if that's how you roll). Tell your jazz-loving friends (and jazz musicians you know) about the site so they can join us here or on our other channels.
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