Rochester International Jazz Festival 2025 Yvonnick Prene: Chromatic Harmonica Dion Berardo: Guitar Josh Kaye: Guitar Clovis Nicolas: Bass Yvonnick Prené is a celebrated jazz harmonicist, bandleader, composer, and educator based in New York City. Known for his innovative artistry, he has released five highly praised albums as a leader, including *Listen!* (2023) and *Jobim’s World* (2024) on Sunnyside Records. Prené has collaborated with jazz greats such as Peter Bernstein, Rick Margitza, Bill Stewart, and Geoffrey Keezer. Dion Berardo is a world-renowned jazz guitarist based in New York City, performing regularly at prestigious venues like Blue Note, Birdland, and Jazz at Lincoln Center, as well as historic stages worldwide, such as Bimhuis in Amsterdam and Half Note Jazz Club in Athens. His style blends bebop, gypsy jazz, contemporary jazz, blues, and fusion, influenced by Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Django Reinhardt, and Biréli Lagrène. Josh Kaye is a celebrated rhythm guitarist in the gypsy jazz world, now based in New York City. Kaye studied philosophy at Hartford College in Connecticut and began Ph.D. studies at the New School. However, as his career as a performer — mostly on jazz guitar — took off, he chose to dedicate himself to music full-time. Mastering Django Reinhardt’s techniques, Kaye became a fixture in gypsy jazz circles and joined Stéphane Wrembel’s acclaimed ensemble two years ago, earning a reputation as New York City’s greatest rhythm guitarist, as Wrembel told *Brooklyn Magazine.* Born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and raised in France, bassist Clovis Nicolas initially studied philosophy before pursuing music professionally. After graduating from the Conservatory of Music in Marseilles in 1996, he moved to Paris, becoming a sought-after musician, collaborating with artists like Brad Mehldau, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Michel Legrand. In 2002, Clovis moved to New York on a Lavoisier Scholarship, performing at prestigious venues such as Blue Note, Birdland, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. He studied at Juilliard, earning both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Music, studying under Ron Carter and performing in masterclasses and concerts worldwide. Learn more... Admission: Club Pass or $30/door Rochester International Jazz Festival runs from June 20 - 28, 2025. Check out the full schedule here.