The Detroit International Jazz Festival is taking place this weekend from Friday, September 3rd thru Monday, September 6th. Now in its 31st year, the festival takes place over several city blocks in downtown Detroit – from Hart Plaza to Campus Martius – with five stages and 100 acts over four days. It also offers educational activities for adults and children, giant puppets, fireworks, late-night jam sessions, rare opportunities to meet the artists and much more. And it’s all FREE.
Subtitled “Flame Keepers: Carrying the Torch for Modern Jazz,” the 31st annual Detroit Jazz Fest will pay homage to six trailblazers of modern jazz: Art Blakey, Ray Brown, Miles Davis, Horace Silver, Betty Carter and Gil Evans.
“The talents of these geniuses burned brightly not only through the movements they created, but also through their investment in and ‘schooling’ of young players – now seasoned and carrying the torch for their mentors,” explained Executive and Artistic Director Terri Pontremoli.
The lineup features world-renowned pianist Mulgrew Miller, trumpeter/composer Terence Blanchard, saxophonist Branford Marsalis, conductor/composer Maria Schneider and master drummer Roy Haynes, along with a host of other leading national artists, emerging artists, Detroit-based artists and outstanding student ensembles.
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| Branford Marsalis |
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| Ledisi |
Memorial Park Middle School "Big Noise"
Detroit School of Arts Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Renaissance High School Jazz Ensemble
Take 6 with Mulgrew Miller Trio
Tower of Power
Saturday, September 4
Allen Park Middle School Jazz Ensemble
Berklee College of Music Jazz Ensemble
Carl Cafagna & North Star Jazz
Danilo Pérez Quartet
Detroit Tribute to Betty Carter
Ellen Rowe Quartet
Grand Rapids Northview High School Jazz Ensemble
Hot Club of Detroit
“Hot Pepper” with Barry Harris & Gary Smulyan
Kirk Whalum: Tribute to Donny Hathaway with special guest Lalah Hathaway
Michigan State University Jazz Orchestra with Mulgrew Miller and Gary Smulyan
Mike LeDonne Quartet
Mt. Pleasant High School Jazz Band
Mulgrew Miller & Wingspan
Muruga Booker and the Rainforest Band featuring Perry Robinson and Badal Roy
Pat Bianchi Trio
Poogie Bell Band
Salim Washington & The Harlem Arts Ensemble
Scott Kinsey Group
Terence Blanchard Quintet
Tia Fuller Quartet
The Brad Felt NuQuartet Plus
The Chris Canas Band
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Troy High School Jazz Ensemble
William Patterson University Jazz Septet with Mulgrew Miller
Yellowjackets
Sunday, September 5
Brownie Speaks: The Music of Clifford Brown featuring Dominick Farinacci and Jonathan Batiste
Cousino High School Jazz Ensemble
Dave McMurray
Dennis Tini Trio
Detroit Symphony Civic Jazz Orchestra with special guest Matt Wilson
Freddy Cole Quartet
Grosse Pte. South HS Jazz Band
Jason D. Williams Show
Johnny O’Neal
Juilliard Jazz Quartet
Kenny Barron & Mulgrew Miller
Ledisi
LL7
Mambo Legends Orchestra
Maria Schneider Orchestra
MF Productions Defenders of the Groove with Ernie Andrews, Louis Hayes, Donald Harrison,
Melvin Sparks, Steve Turre, Eddie Henderson, Chembo Corneil & Luke O'Reilly
Northville High School Jazz Ensemble I
Robert Hurst Quartet
Ron Kischuk & the Masters of Music Trombones
Stevenson High School Jazz Band
Tierney Sutton Band
Tribute to Ray Brown with Christian McBride, Benny Green and Karriem Riggins
Trio M: Myra Melford, Mark Dresser and Matt Wilson
Warren Mott Marauder Big Band
Wayne State University Big Band with Terence Blanchard
Western Michigan University Jazz Orchestra with Bobby Watson
Monday, September 6
Allen Toussaint
Branford Marsalis
Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet
Dave Bennett Quartet
Detroit Jazz Fest High School All-Stars
Detroit School of Arts Jazz Ensemble with George Bohanon
Finger Poppin’: A Tribute to Horace Silver with the Michael Weiss Quintet featuring Randy Brecker
HORIZON: Featuring Bobby Watson, Victor Lewis, Terell Stafford, Edward Simon and Essiet Essiet
Ionia High School Jazz Ensemble
James Fortune & FIYA
Kurt Elling Quintet with special guest Ernie Watts
Manhattan Transfer/Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra and special guest Gerald Wilson
Nadir
Roy Haynes Fountain of Youth Band
Second Ebenezer Majestic Voices
Triumph Church Mass Choir
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| Tower of Power |
