Rochester Jazz Festival lineup for Saturday, June 29: Three shows to check out
Each day of the CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival provides a bounty of choices for music lovers. Here are some options. For a full lineup and venue and time information go to rochesterjazz.com. Also, these choices are focused on the club venues.
Rochester Jazz Festival 2024: Recommendations for Saturday, June 29
Brubeck Brothers
I hope the Brubeck Brothers will continue to come to the festival and, as long as they do, I will continue to recommend them. This is genuine familial history: The two brothers at the heart of the quartet are the sons of jazz legend Dave Brubeck. But don't think this is a group that is of note solely because of that genealogy. They bring the goods with every performance, and aficionados of jazz at its purest would be hard-pressed to light upon a better show. These are versatile musicians keeping the wonder that is jazz alive. And, yes, while they can stand upon their own musical chops, their version of Dave Brubeck's iconic "Take Five" is always a must-hear, honoring its legacy while still unearthing new layers.
Luca Ciarla solOrkestra
This multi-piece orchestra — okay, just kidding, it's really just violinist Luca Ciarla. However, through the technology of looping, Ciarla constructs the perception of orchestral strings, adding depths of instrumentation and unique vocalizations. A native of Italy, he was playing both violin and piano by the age of 8. Somewhere along the musical journey, he discovered this adeptness of building instrumental stratum upon stratum, crafting full-bodied landscapes. And, if the music isn't enough, he also whistles, melodically.
Change at Montage
There is a certain gritty flavor to the Montage Music Hall, and I sincerely mean that as a positive. That makes it the perfect location for a spirited band on the festival’s final night. I remember so many joyful closures to the festival with the 10 p.m. Montage show on the final Saturday. The Manuel Valera Trio will replace Michael Mwenso and the Shakes at Montage at 6 and 10 p.m. due to a visa-related issue, which makes it impossible for Mwenso to travel to the U.S. from the United Kingdom.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester Jazz Fest lineup for Saturday, June 29: 3 shows to check out
