Detroit Jazz Festival Announces Line-Up
So many concerts, shows, and festivals have been cancelled or at least postponed these days (that’s why we’re currently not updating our events calendar), but nevertheless, the Detroit Jazz Festival has announced the line-up for the 41st edition. And yes, maybe the timing for the announcement does look strange (yesterday) in these troubled times, but I think we need some optimism and things to look out for, even though we can not be sure if the festival will take place as planned. However, Labor Day weekend is still far away and let’s hope that we can get together soon and enjoy some live music. From Friday, September 4th, until Monday, September 7th, Dee Dee Bridgewater will be this year’s artist-in-residence. She will perform with her all-female big band, with Kurt Elling, with Bill Charlap, and with the Woodshed Network Ladies.
On Friday, Herbie Hancock will be the only other artist except Dee Dee. Saturday sees the Matthew Whitaker Quartet, the Kenny Barron Trio, Alicia Olatuja, Etienne Charles, David Binney Angeleno Quartet, Kurt Elling’s Big Blind with Dee Dee, Broadway legend Ben Vereen, and more, Keyon Harrold presenting “Jazz and the birth of Hip-Hop” with Georgia Anne Muldrow, Elzi, and Chris “Daddy” Dave, Pharoah Sanders, and The Manhattan Transfer meets Take 6. Sunday (September 6th) has Roberto Fonseca, Michael Mayo Quartet, Anat Cohen Tentet, Alfredo Rodriguez & Richard Bona Sextet, Gregory Porter, Sean Jones “Dizzy Spellz”, Dee Dee with pianist Bill Charlap, Abdullah Ibrahim and the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra, Charlie Parker @100 with Terri Lyne Carrington and Rudresh Mahanthappa, and the Dave Brubeck 100th Anniversary Tribute featuring the Brubeck Brothers, Jerry Bergonzi, the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra and Choir, and more.
And finally, on Labor Day, artists hitting the stage will be Robert Glasper, the Dee Dee Bridgewater Big Band, the Jimmy Greene Quintet (great new album “While Looking Up”, review coming asap), Omar Sosa & Marialy Pacheco Piano Duo, Abdullah Ibrahim & Ekoya, Joey Alexander Trio, and Eddie Daniels and Bob James “Exploring New Worlds”. You can find all relevant info on www.detroitjazzfest.org
