CGI Rochester International Jazz Fest Starts In 2 Weeks! 325 Shows – 1750+ Artists – 19 Venues – Headliner Shows Free!

The CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival returns for the 19th Edition in less than two weeks! The nine-day Festival starts Friday, June 17, and continues through Saturday, June 25. It all takes place at 19 diverse open-air and indoor venues in downtown Rochester, New York.

From legendary performers and familiar favorites to rising stars and new discoveries, the CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival navigates all genres of creative improvised music from all corners of the world. More than 208,000 people attended the last Festival, which was held in 2019. The multi-dimensional Festival will present 325 shows including a record 130 free shows and events with more than 1750 artists.

All Headliner Shows Are Free & Outdoors

All headliner shows will be free and presented on two major outdoor stages, Midtown Stage at Parcel 5, with three free shows nightly all nine days, and Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Park, with two free shows nightly the final weekend of June 24 and 25.

Headlining this year are Chris Botti, Devon Allman Project + special guests Dirty Dozen Brass Band & Samantha Fish, “Allman Family Revival,” Tommy Emmanuel, Spyro Gyra, Robin Thicke, Sheila E., Booker T Presents: A Soul Stax Revue, New Power Generation, G Love & Special Sauce The Bacon Brothers, and Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors. Free, no tickets are required. Shows go on rain or shine.

Club Pass Series Features 196 Artists

The popular Club Pass Series of 196 shows is held at 11 diverse club venues. Enter with the 3- or 9-day Club Pass, a value pass to discovery, or $30 ($35 Kilbourn) cash only at the door, no reserved seating, and no advance tickets.

The festival’s motto is “It’s not just who you know, it’s who you don’t know” so take advantage of the Club Pass to discover new sounds and artists. Club Series artists this year include Lew Tabackin Trio, Tessa Souter, Robin McKelle, Bob James Quartet, Joe Locke, NY Chillharmonic, Brubeck Brothers, Kenny Werner, Jeremy Pelt, Kurt Elling with Charlie Hunter, Ranky Tanky, Tommy Smith, Bill Frisell, Drum Battle: Kenny Washington vs. Joe Farnsworth, Emmaline, Samara Joy, Tivon Pennicott Quartet, Ravi Coltrane, Big Lazy, Itamar Borochov, Adam Melchor, Champian Fulton Trio, Giveton Gelin, Immanuel Wilkins Quartet, Dan Wilson Quartet, Sarah McKenzie, Helen Sung Trio, Connie Han, Lioness and {{Sunna Gunnlaugs]} Trio and many more!

• The Festival will welcome musicians from Australia, Bahamas, Canada, Cuba, England, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Netherlands, and Scotland.
• Nightly Jam Sessions are free and are held at the Festival's official hotel, the Hyatt Regency Rochester. You never know who will show up to play! Starting at 10:30 p.m. nightly. No cover charge. Parking for the jams is free after 10 p.m. in the South Avenue Garage courtesy of the City of Rochester.
• 5 Free Student Jazz Workshops for music students of all ages will be held from Monday, June 20 to Friday, June 24 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Eastman School of Music Ray Wright Room (120) Sponsored by Wegmans. Instructed by visiting RIJF artists and led by Bob Sneider.
• Hundreds of talented young musicians from area schools and Eastman Community Music School will again grace the Jazz Street stage with their talent. The RIJF / Eastman School of Music annual jazz scholarship presentation/concert is free and will be held outdoors on the Jazz Street Stage. The festival has awarded almost $500,000 in scholarships since 2002.

Tickets & Information

• Club Passes are available online at RochesterJazz.com. The 3 Day Club Pass is $194 + $6 service charge. Use any 3 days during the Festival. The 9 Day Club Pass is $254 + $6 service charge. The Club Pass offers significant savings off the individual entry cover charges of $35 for Kilbourn Hall and $30 at all other Club Pass venues. Seating is first-come, first- served. Passes are shareable and may be transferred.
• Free Shows- no tickets required. All shows rain or shine.
• Ticket / Information Shop Opens June 6 at 100 East Avenue at the corner of Gibbs Street in Rochester, New York. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 15, 16. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 17 and noon to 10 p.m. during the festival. Buy Club Passes, redeem Club Pass tickets for Passes (June 13th and afterward), get information, and pick up brochures, program guides, and maps.
• Maximize your festival experience by downloading the Festival’s free official App for iPhone and Android devices
• Sign up for our free newsletter at RochesterJazz.com

About the CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival

The CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival is one of the world’s leading jazz festivals. Held annually in Rochester, NY, more than 200,000 music fans attend the nine-day festival, which presents 325 shows at 19 venues with more than 1750 artists from around the world. the festival was founded in 2002 and is produced by RIJF, LLC, a privately held company owned by John Nugent and Marc Iacona. 2022 will mark the festival's 19th Edition. The 2020 and 2021 Festivals could not be held due to the coronavirus pandemic.