Jazz and Blues Lounge

Jazz in the Motor City

by balaspa on May 22nd, 2008

It’s probably a lost cause, and I admit it. I want to be the place where people can go to find out about all of the coolest jazz festivals. The problem is, though, there are just so many music festivals, and so many of them dedicated to jazz and blues, that it really has to be an impossible task. There ought to be a blog dedicated to just following and discussing music festivals (hint, hint, b5media).

However, while looking around I found a link and some information about the Detroit International Jazz Festival. Now you and I both know that the Motor City gets a bad rap. Maybe it even gets a bad rap with some justification, but I think every major American city deserves a fair shake. There are good people living in an around Detroit and while they may deserve our sympathy for being Tiger, Lion or Redwing fans, they deserve to have some great music and a great jazz festival.

The festival this year will run from Augst 29 - September 1, 2008. And, directly from their website:

“In 2008, the Detroit Jazz Fest will celebrate the rich musical traditions of Philadelphia and Detroit and the “Trane” that connects them.

Billed as A Love Supreme: the Philly/Detroit Summit, the festival will feature Philadelphia native and renowned bassist Christian McBride as artist in residence. Other featured artists include Dianne Reeves, Hank Jones, Gerald Wilson, Geri Allen, along with Philly stalwarts Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath, Roy Hargrove, Pat Martino and many more.”

The festival also features blues, gospel and R & B music stretched over the four days. Borrowing, once again, from their website, here is the lineup as it stands today:

Friday, August 29
Dianne Reeves
Philly/Detroit Tribute to Marvin Gaye with Lalah Hathaway, Rahsaan Patterson, Jose James
and Christian McBride

Saturday, August 30
Bonerama
Christian McBride Band
Col. Bruce Hampton & the Quark Alliance
Dee Dee Sharpe
Godfathers of Groove: Reuben Wilson, Grant Green, Jr., and Bernard Purdie
Detroit/Philly Summit with Christian McBride, Karriem Riggins, Perry Hughes, Bootsy Barnes,
and Dwight Adams
Lalah Hathaway
Mike Stern Band featuring Lincoln Goines, Lionel Cordew and Richie Morales
Robin Eubanks + EB3 with Orrin Evans and Kenwood Dennard
Ted Nash
The Latin Jazz All Stars: A Tribute to Hilton Ruiz & Mario Rivera with Arturo O’Farrill, Pete
Escovedo, Ray Vega and Dave Valentin
Michigan State University Big Band with Jon Faddis

Sunday, August 31
“Battle of the Big Bands” – Count Basie Orchestra with special guest Nnenna Freelon vs.
The Gerald Wilson Orchestra with special guest Kenny Burrell
Ravi Coltrane’s Tribute to Alice, with Geri Allen, Charlie Haden, Jack DeJohnette and
Brandee Younger
Benny Golson Quartet
Brian Bromberg with Randy Brecker and Jeff Lorber
Kenny Garrett
Jimmy Heath & The Wayne State University Big Band
Pat Martino Quartet
Roy Hargrove Quintet
Stanley Jordan Trio
Hot Club of Detroit
Hank Jones Trio
Gerald Cleaver
Detroit-Torino Project

Monday, September 1“Calvin Cooke & Friends” Sacred Steel
Barry Harris Trio
Benny Golson & the Temple University Big Band
Cyro Baptista & Beat the Donkey
The Dizzy Gillespie™ All Stars with special guest Roberta Gambarini
Esperanza Spalding
Gerald Clayton Trio
ICP Orchestra
James Carter Septet
Jim Hall Quartet featuring Geoffrey Keezer, Scott Colley and Lewis Nash
Matt Wilson’s “Arts and Crafts” featuring Terell Stafford, Gary Versace and Martin Wind
Alexander Zonjic & Friends with Maysa, Jeff Lorber, Doc Gibbs and the Motor City Horns
The Derek Trucks Band
The Heath Brothers Quartet with Jimmy Heath, Tootie Heath, Jeb Patton and David Wong
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Kenny Barron Trio
Second Ebenezer Majestic Voices
Dorinda Clark-Cole

So, if you are planning a trip that might take you through the Michigan, Detroit, Windso area sometime near the end of August, you may want to check it out. Detroit is not that far from Chicago, so I am even considering making a pilgrimmage, but I might have my hands full right here in Chicago at the same time.

POSTED IN: Bands, Chicago, Festivals, blues, jazz