The seventh night of the Rochester International Jazz Festival is filled with artists I want to hear. My choices are a blend of my diverse tastes, a yearning to explore new musical genres, and, regrettably, timing. So, you do you, but if you’re interested, here are the artists/groups I am aiming to hear at the 2026 RIJF on June 25th. The headings are links to their RIJF pages so you can check them out yourself. It is possible to go hear the full sets on these picks (depending on how fast you walk, in some cases). I’ve added links at the end to a few more I wish I could fit in.
Camila Meza
Born in Santiago, Chile, Camila Meza was exposed to a broad musical world through her siblings and, after starting her career in Chile, moved to NYC at 23, graduated from The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and began bringing her talents as a vocalist, guitarist and composer in the NYC jazz scene and festivals. She has been a member of Ryan Keberle’s Catharsis and Fabian Almazan’s Rhizome, and played with Paquito D’Rivera, Aaron Goldberg, Sachal Vasandani, and many more artists. Meza was named the #1 Rising Star Female Vocalist by Downbeat Magazine in 2022. Debuting as a leader in 2007, Meza recently released her sixth album, Portal, which is her first record consisting entirely of her original compositions. The album blends jazz with Latin American influences, Brazilian rhythms and electronic elements.
Venue: Kilbourn Hall
Time: 6:00 pm & 9:00 pm
Isaiah J. Thompson Trio
This pianist and composer started touring with Wynton Marsalis in several of his projects around the time he graduated from Juilliard, and then joined the John Pizzarelli Trio in 2019 and has performed with Christian McBride, Steve Turre, Catherine Russell, and Buster Williams. A struggle with tendonitis in his arms that limited his playing made him reassess his priorities, become more spiritual, and pursue more education at the Fuller Theological Seminary. A little over a year ago, Thompson released an ambitious and personal album on Mack Avenue, The Book of Isaiah: Modern Jazz Ministry, which is an autobiographical suite of music exploring faith, musicianship, race, and humanity, produced by legendary pianist Cyrus Chestnut. Thompson was a featured interview in the October 2025 issue of Downbeat Magazine.
Venue: Max of Eastman Place (Thompson is also playing solo piano on June 26th in Hatch Recital Hall)
Time: 6:15 pm & 10:00 pm (on the 26th, 5:45 pm & 7:45 pm)
Trane of Thought
Canadian saxophonists Pat LaBarbera (he was born near Rochester in Mt. Morris) and Kirk MacDonald have been playing together since MacDonald was a student of Pat’s at Humber College. Their deep and shared connection to the music of John Coltrane eventually led them to the Trane of Thought collaboration, and for many years they have performed an annual tribute to Coltrane since at the famed jazz club at the Rex Hotel in Toronto and elsewhere. With the centennial of Coltrane’s birth now upon us, they have continued that tradition. LaBarbera has even expanded on the theme through his collaboration on the Coltrane Sutras project. Trane of Thought is an RIJF Producer’s Pick.
Venue: The Inn on Broadway
Time: 5:45 pm & 7:45 pm
You Might Also Consider …
I won’t be hearing these artists, despite wishing I could, but that doesn’t mean you can’t:
- Tessa Souter. This vocalist is an RIJF frequent flyer (and festival favorite).
- Laura Dubin Trio. A local favorite who always brings something different.
- Robin McKelle & the Flytones Stax Soul Sessions (opening for Galactic). Robin was born in Rochester and her singing and composing cross all genres, including jazz, blues and, here, the Stax Records soul sound. McKelle is an RIJF Producer’s Pick. She’s also appearing on the Jazz Street Stage on the 26th.
Whatever you choose, I hope you take some chances and let something unexpected grab your ears. Tell me who you’re planning on seeing in the Comments below (for those of you who get the email, you’ll have to come to the site first). I’ll be back with more picks for the rest of the RIJF soon.
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