Downtown Rochester will be filled with the sounds of jazz over the next week as the CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival opens.
The nine-day festival will feature more than 320 performances, including more than 100 free shows and events — a Jazz Fest record — in 20 diverse venues.
As previously announced, headlining this year's festival are George Benson, Steve Gadd Band, Patti LaBelle, Jeff Goldblum & the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, Steve Miller Band with special guest Marty Stuart, and Marc Cohn and the Blind Boys of Alabama.
Free show headliners include Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, returning to the festival for their seventh appearance; the Allman Betts Band, and The Legendary Downchild Blues Band 50th Anniversary Tour featuring Dan Aykroyd.
A full list of free performances are listed online.
More than 208,000 people attended the Jazz Festival last year. With this year's lineup and artists ranging from legendary performers to familiar favorites, there might be even more attendees.
The festival runs June 21-29.
Throughout the event, you can drop off used instruments at the M&T Bank and Rochester Educational Foundation booth. They are accepting all kinds of instruments and supplies for local music students. To learn more about the program, click here.