April 29, 2025
Annual event to feature trumpeter/composer Michael Rodriguez
St. Mary’s University will swing into the 2025 Fiesta Jazz Festival during the 62nd-annual, two-day, live music event on Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3. Trumpeter and composer Michael Rodriguez — featured on multiple GRAMMY-winning albums — will lead his quintet as the Friday night headliner.
The event will feature national, local and school-aged artists in the University Center, Mengler Conference Room. The festival will temporarily transform the Mengler Conference Room into the “Gold and Blue Jazz Club,” where musical chops will be on display during the Fiesta World Class Jazz Concert and the annual Fiesta Jazz Band Festival.
The event, sponsored by the St. Mary’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, is free and open to the public. Parking will also be free and open on campus.
Friday, May 2
On Friday, May 2, the University Invitational will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with performances by jazz groups from Trinity University, the University of Texas at San Antonio, Northwest Vista College and St. Mary’s.
At 6 p.m., the 2025 Fiesta World Class Jazz Concert will start with the St. Mary’s Faculty Jazz Sextet, featuring Kevin Jones, followed by the Mike Rodriguez Quintet at 7:30 p.m.
More about Friday headliner Michael Rodriguez
Born in Queens, New York, Rodriguez has toured and performed with such jazz icons as Clark Terry, Bobby Watson, Quincy Jones, Joe Lovano, Toshiko Akiyoshi Orchestra, Jessica Simpson, Chico O’Farrill Orchestra, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra, Jon Faddis and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, The Carla Bley Band and Quintet, The Clayton Brothers, Kenny Barron Quintet, Conrad Herwig’s “Latin Side” Projects, Clayton Brothers Quintet, Harry Connick Jr., Bob Mintzer, Yosvany Terry Quintet, Eddie Palmieri Septet, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and the Smithsonian Jazz Orchestra.
In December 2003, Rodriguez recorded on Charlie Haden’s Grammy Award-winning album, Land of the Sun, featuring Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Joe Lovano, and also recorded on two Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra albums, Not in Our Name (2005) and Time/Life (2016). In 2008, Michael became a member of the Gonzalo Rubalcaba Quintet, with whom he recorded Avatar under the Blue Note label. In 2019, he joined Chick Corea’s Spanish Heart Band, which won a Best Latin Jazz Album Grammy for Antidote in 2020. He is currently a member of the internationally acclaimed group SFJAZZ Collective.
The trumpeter and his brother, pianist Robert Rodriguez, have recorded five albums together: Introducing the Rodriguez Brothers (2002), Conversations (2007), Mood Swing (2010) Impromptu (2015), nominated for a Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album in 2015, and most recently Reunited: Live at Dizzy’s Club (2023).
Michael Rodriguez teaches at New York University and the Juilliard School.
Saturday, May 3
On Saturday, May 3, middle and high school bands will participate in the 62nd Fiesta Jazz Band Festival, which will take place in the University Center, Mengler Conference Room, and Treadaway Hall, Recital Hall.
At noon that day, the Mike Rodriguez Quintet will lead a Jazz Clinic in the Mengler Conference Room.
Saturday’s live music performances allow schools from Texas and other states to participate and perform for criticism before a panel of jazz clinicians. Trophies and awards will be presented in various categories.