Welcome to my new-ish resurrected blog. I did this many years ago, but like everything else when schedules get busy, it went by the wayside.
One of my goals for 2025 is to bring this blog back as a way to communicate to you – our valued listeners and members. So, grab a cup of coffee and hang with me a bit, as I take time to share Jazz90.1 happenings and other tidbits that I hope that you find interesting.
‘Ain’t Nothing But a Family Thing
With the Rochester Int’l Jazz Fest right around the corner, I can’t help but feel excitement.
Sure – I’m excited to see the many artists coming to town. I’m excited for how alive Downtown Rochester becomes, and I’m excited to see smiles on everyone’s faces.
What am I excited about the most?
Seeing our family.
For nine straight days, our booth on Gibbs Street turns into a giant family reunion. The kind of reunion where you have relatives who may be a little crude and sassy, and where there’s dancing, good spirits, and plenty of laughter. We greet old friends, and meet many new friends, too.
Sometimes, we come together to remember friends who have passed away since last year.
It is such a special time.
The festival has been an important part of my life. Organizers welcomed me to the station 20 years ago with open arms, and I’ve shared magical moments at the festival over the years too, like when my two-week-old daughter made her first visit to our booth in 2022.
The festival is also a time that we reflect on the decades that we have given our time, talents and energy to The Rochester International Jazz Festival.
On average, we devote nearly 300 staff hours during the nine-day festival. That doesn’t take into account the support and promotion that we provide year-round.
We’ll do whatever we can to ensure the RIJF is a success. Why? Because the festival has become a part of our family. Marc, John and their team are part of this station – and we’re a part of the festival.
YOU are also a part of our Jazz90.1 family.
Derrick Lucas recently told me a story about when Artistic Director and Producer John Nugent came to the station and talked about his dream of starting a jazz festival in Rochester. Although before my time here, John was no doubt met with strange looks, uncertainty, and questions as to whether it could ever succeed in our city. Others had tried – but no one had seen real success.
From that first meeting and a handshake, Jazz90.1 committed all of our resources to the festival – and we’re partly responsible for its growth and success. We were there from day one, and now 22 festivals later – we’re still here.
Like family. Like old friends.
When you’re family – you do whatever it takes to support each other.
When you believe in something – you stop at nothing to support it.
Jazz90.1 is one giant family, and that’s very obvious during those nine days downtown. We wouldn’t be here without our family.
The festival wouldn’t be here without their family, either.
As we head into another RIJF (and my 18th….,) I am excited to again be together with all of our family on Jazz Street.
January 2025 Blog Post
February 2025 Blog Post
March 2025 Blog Post
April 2025 Blog Post
May 2025 Blog Post