Jazz Festival returns for third year

It's back and it's bigger than ever: The third annual Rochester International Jazz Festival, sponsored in part by the Eastman School, takes place June 4-12.

This year's festival will feature more than 70 concerts, performances by Eastman students among them, at venues throughout the Rochester area. The Eastman School is in the thick of things with concerts at the Eastman Theatre and Kilbourn Hall. For both weekends during the festival, Gibbs Street will be dubbed "Jazz Street" and will be closed to traffic in favor of live music on outdoor stages.

David Sanborn and the Earl Klugh Band kick off the festival with performances at the Eastman Theatre on Friday, June 4, at 8 p.m. Bobby McFerrin, Yolanda Adams, the Oscar Peterson Quartet, Marian McPartland, and other noted performers will grace the Eastman stage.

In her concert on June 7 at 8 p.m., McPartland will be accompanied by associate professors Jeff Campbell on bass and Rich Thompson on drums. She will perform piano duets with Bill Dobbins, professor and conductor of the Eastman Jazz Ensemble and Eastman Studio Orchestra, and Harold Danko, chair and professor of jazz studies and contemporary media and director of jazz performance workshops.

The Eastman Jazz 2004 Showcase, organized by artistic director Harold Danko, is scheduled for Sunday, June 6, at 8 p.m. The evening features the Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra, led by Howard Potter, student-led groups from Eastman's jazz performance workshops, and the Eastman Jazz Ensemble, led by Dobbins, featuring current students and recent alumni, as well as special guest soloist Clay Jenkins on trumpet.

Jazz guitar instructor Bob Sneider's duo will perform on June 5 at 6 p.m. on the Jazz Street Stage, assistant professor Dave Rivello's ensemble will perform on June 7 at 6 p.m. in the Big Tent at the corner of Main and Gibbs Streets, and Harold Danko and his New York City trio will play on June 8 at 10 p.m. at the Little Theatre on East Avenue.

Organizers expect approximately 50,000 music fans to attend the festival. Last year's festival drew more than 40,000 attendees.

For a complete schedule of events and ticket information, visit the Rochester International Jazz Festival Web site at www.rochesterjazz.com or call 234-2002.

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