Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival Wraps up Spectacular Record-Setting 8th Edition

Mark Your Calendars for the Ninth Edition, June 11-19, 2010

Rochester, NY--The 8th Annual Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival presented by M&T Bank wrapped up a spectacular nine days of music presented by some of the world’s greatest artists. Attendance this year was 133,000 topping last’s year’s record of 125,000 and marking the seventh straight year of attendance growth.

Smokey Robinson, Dave Brubeck. Michael McDonald, Taj Mahal, Susan Tedeschi, Jake Shimabukuro, Carolyn Wonderland, and SMV The Thunder Tour with Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten, headlined the nine-day event, which ran June 12-20. In all, more than 800 musicians made Rochester’s Downtown cultural district their destination.

“As Artistic Director, today I feel an enormous sense of pride and joy just having witnessed over 225 incredible performances taking place without a hint of a glitch or problem,” said John Nugent, Producer. “Our festival crews/staff knocked it out of the park this year on all levels for our record audiences of 133,000. The energy, excitement and atmosphere on Jazz Street was beyond electric, it was scintillating!”

“Marc Iacona and I are truly delighted with every facet of our 8th Edition! In the immortal words of the great Chet Baker (trumpet player) who wanted to leave the band stand but the audience kept wanting more, here’s where I’m at today: “Thanks so much, folks it was really great! I really have to go now because it’s time to get ready for the next gig.”

“After the last note was played on Saturday, I am reminded why we work all year preparing for this tremendous festival, said Marc Iacona, Executive Director and Producer. “It was the thousands of smiles that I saw from attendees who seemed to forget about any challenges they had during their prior workday hours.”

“The accolades we received from musicians conveyed how overwhelmed they were by our organization and hospitality,” noted Iacona. ”Rochester, NY is now a major destination around the world in June. The combination of positive economic impact and quality of life is our goal. None of this is possible without the support of our sponsors and the Individuals who invest in club passes and tickets, and come down and spend time in our city.”

“The first year of our title sponsorship exceeded our goals and expectations in every way," said Edward Gala, vice president, Global Experiential Marketing, Xerox Corp. “The jazz festival proved itself as a world-class platform to engage our customers, our employees and our community. We look forward to building on this success next year." “Now, added Nugent, “We begin putting together the Ninth Edition of the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, so mark your calendars for June 11-19, 2010.”

Highlights

• The largest single day attendance in the Festival’s history was Friday June 19, attracting 45,000 people to indoor and outdoor concerts.
  
  
• More than 50 free shows were held on three outdoor stages, drawing music fans of all ages.
  
  
• Building upon its reputation for delivering one of the most international U.S jazz festival lineups, XRIJF welcomed musicians from 18 countries including Benin (West Africa), Italy, England, Wales, Canada, Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Cuba, Mali, Jamaica, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland.
  
  
• The highly praised Nordic Now Series was back for its third year at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, featuring Kari Ikonen Karikko, Nordic Connect, Soren Kjaergaard, Jonas Kullhammar Quartet, Sidsel Stromnes, NYNDK, Nils Petter Molvaer Group, Arve Henriksen, and Delirium representing Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
  
  
• The newest and sought after “Made in the UK” Series at Christ Church was the largest ever series of United Kingdom artists in the U.S. and was a favorite stop on the Club Pass circuit drawing consistent standing room only crowds. The series, which garnered support from “Arts Council England, featured Peter King Quartet, Liane Carroll Trio, Neil Cowley Trio, Huw Warren, Paula Gardiner Trio with Huw Warren, Tessa Souter Quartet, Tony Kofi Quartet, Norma Winstone with Gareth Williams, and Tim Garland’s Lighthouse Trio.
  
  
• It was magic after midnight at another year of packed Jam Sessions.
  
  
• Three scholarships were awarded to incoming Eastman School of Music students at the RIJF Scholarships Concerts, named this year in memory of the late Gerry Niewood, noted Eastman alumni. Twenty three Eastman students have been awarded scholarships since Nugent and Iacona started the fund in 2002. It was the first Jazz Scholarship ever established at Eastman School of Music.
  
  
• Two new larger new venues, Xerox Auditorium and the Club Pass Big Tent, added additional capacity for the ever-popular Club Pass Series.
  
  
• More than 50% of Club Passes were sold before a lineup was even announced. The Pass once again sold out.
  
  
• Many instruments were donated for City School students including one donated by a newcomer to Rochester, a professional educator from Ithaca, who just moved here and wanted to donate one of his instruments to benefit city students.
  
  
• The second annual Kids Jam led by Bob Sneider and many other Eastman School of Music faculty drew dozens of young aspiring musicians.
  
  

Sponsors

Xerox, City of Rochester, M&T Bank, Senator Jim Alesi, the Democrat and Chronicle, Eastman School of Music, Rochester Plaza Hotel, Monroe County, The Community Foundation, 13WHAM TV, Brooklyn Brewery, Michelob, Spaten Beer, Visit Rochester, Mercury Print Productions, AirTran, Harris Interactive, DownBeat Magazine, Max of Eastman Place, SUNY Brockport, House of Guitars, and Presentation Source.