Clifton Anderson

Pictured: Clifton Anderson

Credit: WXXI

Enjoy the mellow tones and big sounds of trombonist Clifton Anderson and his quintet.
Trombonist Clifton Anderson peforms with his quintet in this episode of Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, Thursday, June 29 at 12 midnight on WXXI-TV. Clifton Anderson grew up surrounded by music. His father was a church organist and choir director, and his mother a singer and pianist. At seven years old he received his first trombone, a gift from his uncle Sonny Rollins. Clifton has since worked with a "who's who" of diverse musical giants, from jazz pianist McCoy Tyner and Stevie Wonder to Dizzy Gillespie and Paul Simon. 

More about the series:

Produced by WXXI, the national series provides jazz lovers a front row seat to one of the most popular and respected jazz festivals in the country. The series offers an unsurpassed look into the 2015 jazz festival, featuring performances by an eclectic group of musicians, which in addition to Clifton Anderson, the series includes the Benny Trio, Tessa Souter, and Antonio Sanchez.

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 16th 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 in the historic Kilbourn Hall at the Eastman School of Music, the series features four performances and artist interviews.

The series, distributed by American Public Television, is supported in part by The Louis S. and Molly B. Wolk Foundation. For more information, visit WXXI.org/jazz.