The “Live Shots” post went on vacation this week (as did I), and didn’t have enough images to justify doing one from the road). Did ya miss it?
Each week JazzRochester gathers the listings for live jazz to hear around Rochester for the next seven days, which are immediately below. Open the rest of the post at the end of this week’s listings (if you’re receiving via the email list you will see them all) and you’ll find live jazz we have heard about through the rest of May and June, plus some items of special interest beyond that. Check back from time to time as I will update the post throughout the week as I hear about new live jazz gigs around town until the next post is published. Please tell your jazz-loving friends about the site so they can join us here or on our other channels.
Thursday, April 30, 2026 . . . International Jazz Day!
- The Charlie Mitchell Group @ Lila’s, 5:00 pm
- Ralph DeBergalis Duo @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- John Nyerges @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway, 5:00 pm
- International Jazz Day with a special Avant Garde free jazz extravaganza, featuring Psionic Sentiments, NPV and Fault Commission @ The Trestle (Sodus Point), 7:00 pm
- Swinging at the Biltmore @ The Biltmore Bar & Lounge, 7:00 pm
- Paradigm Shift @ Annette’s American Bistro (Webster), 7:00 pm
- 2026 International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert (Live in 4K from Chicago on YouTube). This is usually a great concert, so check it out!
Friday, May 1, 2026
- Jazz Happy Hour with Rev & Mabel @ The Biltmore Bar & Lounge, 5:00 pm
- Ralph DeBergalis Duo @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- WGMC Jazz 90.1 Listener Party with Deepak Thettu @ WGMC Studios, Greece Olympia School, 1139 Maiden Lane (Greece), 5:30 pm
- Jazz On Tap: The Darryl Parker Trio @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 6:00 pm
- Melvin Henderson & Marvin Dolly @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
- Eastman Jazz Lab Band @ ESM, Kilbourn Hall, 7:30 pm
- Rochester’s Jazz Escape Weekend Getaway featuring Nathan Mitchell, Lori Williams, Jeanette Harris, JJ Sansaverino, Saxl Rose, Gino Rosaria, Evan Taylor, Patrick Lamb, Phillip Doc Martin, Kevin Jackson Demetrice Everett @ The Duke on Main and Hyatt Regency (more info & tickets for weekend, tickets for music only)
Saturday, May 2, 2026
- Blue Barn Cats @ The Biltmore Bar & Lounge, 5:00 pm
- Jim Nugent @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- Marye Lobb & Ryan Johnson @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
- Dean Keller’s Soul Jazz Joint @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
- Stewie Evans Trio @ Annette’s American Bistro (Webster), 7:00 pm
- Mike Melito Trio @ The Trestle (Sodus Point), 7:00 pm
- Cool Club & the Lipker Sisters @ Acquilano Wine Cellars (Canandaigua), 7:00 pm
- Rochester’s Jazz Escape Weekend Getaway featuring Nathan Mitchell, Lori Williams, Jeanette Harris, JJ Sansaverino, Saxl Rose, Gino Rosaria, Evan Taylor, Patrick Lamb, Phillip Doc Martin, Kevin Jackson Demetrice Everett @ The Duke on Main and Hyatt Regency (more info & tickets for weekend or tickets for music only)
Sunday, May 3 , 2026
- Laura Dubin Trio @ Parma Greece United Church of Christ, 1211 Manitou Rd (Greece), 1:00 pm
Monday, May 4, 2026
- No jazz for you?
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
- Andy Calabrese @ Lila’s, 5:00 pm
- Craig Snyder Trio @ Lovin Cup Bistro & Brews, 7:30 pm
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
- Ben Miller Trio @ Spotted Octopus Brewing, 56 South Union Street (Downtown), 6:00 pm
- Gian Carlo Cervone’s Lakeview Hot Record Club (playing vintage 78s and other recordings of jazz from the 30s and later) @ The Biltmore Bar & Lounge, 6:30 pm
- Margaret Explosion @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
Looking for some live jazz later this month and beyond? Then click on the arrow to open it up here . . . .
Looking for live jazz later in May?
- 7th: Rich Thompson Trio Generations @ Lila’s, 5:00 pm
- 7th: Paradigm Shift @ Annette’s American Bistro (Webster), 7:00 pm
- 7th: Swinging at the Biltmore @ The Biltmore Bar & Lounge, 7:00 pm
- 8th: Jazz Happy Hour with Rev & Mabel @ The Biltmore Bar & Lounge, 5:00 pm
- 8th: Ryan Johnson Duo @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 8th: Vince Ercolamento & Joe Chiappone @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
- 8th: Annie Wells Band @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
- 8th: Ravi Coltrane @ Smith Opera House (Geneva), 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 9th: Mike Pallini @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 9th: Jaesic Wade & Ben Miller @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
- 9th: Darryl Parker Quartet @ Annette’s American Bistro (Webster), 7:00 pm
- 9th: Laura Dubin & Antonio Guerrero @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
- 9th: Phil Haynes 2 Horns & What? featuring Peyton Pleninger & Jonathan Ragonese @ Bop Shop Records, 8:00 pm
- 9th: GCC Organ Trio @ The Biltmore Bar & Lounge, 8:00 pm
- 10th: Moondance Trio @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 10th: Mel Henderson & Gerry Youngman @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
- 12th: Djug Django @ Lila’s, 5:00 pm
- 12th: WGMC Jazz 90.1 and The Ontario Beach Park Program Committee present Jazz at the Beach with the Bill Tiberio Band @ Tropic Night Club (Charlotte), 7:00 pm
- 12th: Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass & Other Delights @ Kodak Center, 7:30 pm (tickets)
- 12th: Bop Arts presents Bob Sneider & Joel Miller Duo @ Bop Shop Records, 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 13th: Ben Miller Trio @ Spotted Octopus Brewing, 56 South Union Street (Downtown), 6:00 pm
- 14th: John Troy Group @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway, 5:00 pm
- 14th: Rich Thompson Trio Generations @ Lila’s, 5:00 pm
- 14th: Swinging at the Biltmore @ The Biltmore Bar & Lounge, 7:00 pm
- 14th: Mel Henderson “3tet” @ Vanni’s Jazz Lounge, 9:00 pm
- 15th: Jazz Happy Hour with Rev & Mabel @ The Biltmore Bar & Lounge, 5:00 pm
- 15th: Marco Amadio @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 15th: George Miller & Eric Davidson @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
- 15th: Sofrito @ Lovin Cup Bistro & Brews, 7:30 pm
- 16th: Live Jazz Jam Session and Wine Tastings with Jack’s Jammers @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 2:00-4:00 pm
- 16th: Mike & Angie @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 16th: Cinque @ Rohrbach’s Railroad Street, 6:00 pm
- 16th: Dean Keller & Mike Van Allen @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
- 16th: Darryl Parker Quartet @ Annette’s American Bistro (Webster), 7:00 pm
- 17th: Kleinhans Music Hall & JazzBuffalo present Emmet Cohen Presents Miles & Coltrane at 100 @ Kleinhans Music Hall (Buffalo), 3:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 17th: Michael Sidoti @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 17th: Steve Grills & The Roadmasters @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
- 17th: The Levin Brothers @ Lovin Cup Bistro & Brews, 7:30 pm (more info)
- 19th: Bill Tiberio @ Lila’s, 5:00 pm
- 19th: ECMS Springfest: New Horizons Green Jazz and Jazz Ensembles @ ESM, Kilbourn Hall, 6:30 pm
- 20th: Live Jazz Jam Session and Wine Tastings with Jack’s Jammers @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 2:00-4:00 pm
- 20th: Ben Miller Trio @ Spotted Octopus Brewing, 56 South Union Street (Downtown), 6:00 pm
- 20th: ECMS Springfest: Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra @ Kilbourn Hall, 6:30 pm
- 20th: Mid-Century Modern Jazz Quartet @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
- 21st: Rich Thompson Trio Generations @ Lila’s, 5:00 pm
- 21st: Swinging at the Biltmore @ The Biltmore Bar & Lounge, 7:00 pm
- 22nd: Raedwald and the State Street Stompers @ The Biltmore Bar & Lounge, 5:00 pm
- 22nd: Ann Mitchell Jazz Duo @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 22nd: Jazz On Tap: Bob Sneider Trio @ Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte), 6:00 pm
- 22nd: Higher Ground Duo @ Ravenwood Golf Club, 6:00 pm
- 22nd: Maxwell Robbins & Wade McClung @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
- 22nd: Rich Thompson Trio + Wyatt Pepper @ Rochester Academy of Medicine, 7:00 pm
- 22nd: Bop Arts presents Elsa Nilsson & Arturo O’Farrill @ Bop Shop Records, 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 22nd: Raedwald @ The Biltmore Bar & Lounge, 8:00 pm
- 23rd: Ann Mitchell Jazz Duo @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 23rd: Stewie Evans Trio @ Lemoncello (E. Rochester), 6:00 pm
- 23rd: George Collichio @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
- 23rd: Darryl Parker Quartet @ Annette’s American Bistro (Webster), 7:00 pm
- 24th: Special Blend Trio @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 24th: The White Hots @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
- 26th: Rich Thompson Trio Generations @ Lila’s, 5:00 pm
- 26th: Stein/Smith/Shead Trio @ Bop Shop Records, 8:00 pm (more info)
- 27th: Ben Miller Trio @ Spotted Octopus Brewing, 56 South Union Street (Downtown), 6:00 pm
- 28th: Rich Thompson Trio Generations @ Lila’s, 5:00 pm
- 28th: Rick Holland Little Big Band with Lindsey Holland @ The Biltmore Bar & Lounge, 7:00 pm
- 28th: Mike Kaupa Quartet @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
- 28th: Rick Holland Little Big Band with Lindsey Holland @ The Biltmore Bar & Lounge, 8:00 pm
- 29th: Jazz Happy Hour with Rev & Mabel @ The Biltmore Bar & Lounge, 5:00 pm
- 29th: Mark Bradley Duo @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 29th: Ann Mitchell & John Gabriele @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
- 29th: Sarah De Vallière & the Rhythmwell with special guest Katie Haverly @ Lovin Cup Bistro & Brews, 7:30 pm
- 29th: John Troy Organ Trio @ The Biltmore Bar & Lounge, 8:00 pm
- 30th: Deborah Sorensen & Kara Mandara @ Flight Wine Bar Downtown, 6:30 pm
- 30th: Darryl Parker Quartet @ Annette’s American Bistro (Webster), 7:00 pm
- 30th: Max Robbins @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
- 30th: Fred Hersch Trio @ Geneva Music Festival, Gearan Center for the Performing Arts: Froelich Hall (Geneva), 7:30 pm (more info & tickets)
- 31st: Jazz Brunch with the Ann Mitchell Jazz Duo @ Geneva on the Lake, 10:00 am-1:00 pm
- 31st: Mel Henderson Duo @ Prosecco Italian Restaurant (Farmington), 5:30 pm
- 31st: Trio East @ The Little Theatre Cafe, 7:00 pm
May I interest you in some jazz coming in June … ?
- 2nd: ECMS Springfest: Jazz Performance Workshops @ Kilbourn Hall, 5:30 pm
- 2nd: Victrola Voilà @ Cheshire, 6:00 pm
- 2nd: ECMS Springfest: Music Educators Jazz Ensemble @ Kilbourn Hall, 8:30 pm
- 4th: Paradigm Shift @ Annette’s American Bistro (Webster), 7:00 pm
- 5th: Sax Summit with Will Holton, Doc Martin & Jimmie Highsmith Jr. @ 3 Heads Brewing, 7:00 pm (call or text 585-666-0019 for tickets)
- 9th: WGMC Jazz 90.1 and The Ontario Beach Park Program Committee present Jazz at the Beach with Deepak Thettu & Friends @ Tropic Night Club (Charlotte), 7:00 pm
- 9th: Gregory Porter @ Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle (Buffalo), 7:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- 16th: Victrola Voilà @ Cheshire, 6:00 pm
- 19th-27th: 23rd Annual Edition of the Rochester International Jazz Festival (see schedule here). Watch for my “Picks” posts soon!
- 29th: Bop Arts presents David Murray & Kahil El’Zabar @ Bop Shop Records, 8:00 pm (more info & tickets, eventually…)
- 30th: Victrola Voilà @ Cheshire, 6:00 pm
Some special live jazz even later …
- July 9-12: Syracuse Jazz Festival @ Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards & Syracuse University (website)
- July 14th: Bop Arts presents Barry Altschul, Joe Fonda, Kenny Wessel & Hayes Greenfield @ Bop Shop Records, 8:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- October 4th: Bop Arts presents Dimensionality @ Bop Shop Records, 8:00 pm (more info & tickets, eventually)
- October 7th: Samara Joy with Septet @ Smith Center for the Arts (Geneva), 7:30 pm (tickets)
- October 14th: Bop Arts presents New Origin Trio featuring Joe Fonda, Harvey Sorgen & Christophe Rocher @ Bop Shop Records, 8:00 pm (more info & tickets, eventually)
- November 5th: Dirty Dozen Brass Band @ Smith Center for the Arts (Geneva), 7:30 pm (tickets on sale 4/10, 4/9 for members)
- November 8th: Kleinhans Music Hall and JazzBuffalo present Nicole Zuraitis Quintet @ Kleinhans Music Hall, Mary Seaton Room, 3 Symphony Circle (Buffalo), 3:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- December 6th: Kleinhans Music Hall and JazzBuffalo present Swinging in the Holidays featuring Champian Fulton and Carmen Bradford @ Kleinhans Music Hall, Mary Seaton Room, 3 Symphony Circle (Buffalo), 3:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- March 14, 2027: Alfredo Rodríguez Trio @ Kleinhans Music Hall, Mary Seaton Room, 3 Symphony Circle (Buffalo), 3:00 pm (more info & tickets)
- April 22, 2027: Kleinhans Music Hall and JazzBuffalo present Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves Celebrate the Ballads of John Coltrane @ Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle (Buffalo), 7:00 pm (more info & tickets)
Click on the links where available for more information on the gig or tickets, or check out the venue’s website in the right panel. 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. Most shows do not have a cover. Please let me know if you’ve heard about any gigs that I may have missed here or if I have anything wrong (see the Contact Us link above to send an email if that’s how you roll).
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