Jazz It up a Little…..

Remember in the movie Anchorman when Rob Burgundy plays the jazz flute? I'm going to yell so many quotes from that scene all day on Sunday...

It's high time that Rochester had its own jazz festival. And this weekend, we WILL! The Inaugural Rochester City Jazz Festival is going down on Sunday from 12 pm to 8 pm at the Rochester Civic Theatre, with some great ensembles; The D'Sievers, Group 47, and the Atlantis Quartet.

One of the coolest parts of the event is the jazz jam that will be going on from 1 pm to 4pm on the Rochester Civic Theatre's patio. I love when people from the crowd just jump on in and start playing along. It's the coolest thing because you never know what you are going to hear. But it is ALWAYS amazing and makes me wish I had any musical ability at all! If YOU do, make sure to bring your instrument!

photo courtesy of John Sievers

Event organizer and trombonist extraordinaire, John Sievers said "This event wouldn't be possible without the generous support of both the Rochester Civic Theatre and a stARTup grant from the Rochester Downtown Alliance. Jazz is one of America's truly original art forms, and it is incredible to see it embraced here in Rochester. This is going to be the start of a new local tradition, and it will definitely be a must-see event."

Check out the Rochester City Jazz Festival Facebook page.

Tickets are $10 if purchased with cash or check at the Rochester Civic Theatre Box Office. Tickets are also available online.

Here is the schedule:

Noon-12:45 The D'Sievers *on the patio stage* (the D'Sievers is a jazz quartet based in Rochester, made up of John Sievers (trombone), Eric Straubmuller (piano), Steve Sawyerr (bass), and Kurt Savela (drums).

1-4 p.m. Jazz Jam (your chance to sign up and sing or play two songs with The D'Sievers as your backing band) *on the patio stage*

4:30-6 p.m. Group 47 *on the indoor main stage*

6:30-8 p.m. Atlantis Quartet *on the indoor main stage*

Here is my favorite part of the press release talking about the D'Sievers:

Bryan Lund, from The Rochester Post Bulletin, describes the band as "seducing audiences with trombone-fueled jazz" that consists of "some ripping tunes." Megan Kennedy from KROC-FM described the CD "Trombots and Mermaids" as putting a "stamp on Rochester's musical map." (I made the press release! That's pretty much just as cool as getting thanked in album covers, or a song written about you!)

Categories: Lifestyle