Elizabeth Shepherd

Elizabeth Shepherd

Credit: WXXI

Vocalist/pianist Elizabeth Shepherd arrived on the international scene in 2006 when her debut album Start To Move was voted one of the top jazz albums of the year by the listeners of the influential Gilles Peterson Show on BBC Radio Worldwide. Since then, the Toronto-based soul jazz innovator has released two widely acclaimed records and toured extensively in North America, Europe and Japan. She has sold out legendary clubs from Tokyo to Detroit, played festivals like Montreal and North Sea Jazz Festivals, and shared the stage with Branford Marsalis and Christian McBride.

The Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, held in Rochester, New York – home of the Eastman School of Music, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Garth Fagan Dance and the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film– is a nine-day event that hosts more than 300 concerts at 19 venues. Now in its 13th year, the festival is the brainchild of John Nugent and Marc Iacona and draws more than 190,000 people from 30-plus states and 15 countries. From legendary performers and familiar favorites – to rising stars and new discoveries – this festival navigates all genres of creative improvised music from all corners of the world.

Shot at the Rochester Club, this 2016 Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival performance was part of Oh Canada! Series Presented by The Canada Council for the Arts. This episode of the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival series will air on WXXI-TV in Spring 2017.

Founded in 2002 by John Nugent and Marc Iacona, the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival is held every June in Rochester, New York – home of the Eastman School of Music, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Garth Fagan Dance and the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film. From legendary performers and familiar favorites – to rising stars and new discoveries – the festival navigates all genres of creative improvised music from all corners of the world.

The Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival Series is produced by WXXI Public Broadcasting and distributed nationally by American Public Television. The series is underwritten by The Louis S. and Molly B. Wolk Foundation.