2012 Detroit Jazz Festival Announces Star-Studded
Lineup
World's top jazz artists among the headliners for this year's festival
The 33rd annual Detroit Jazz Festival, the world's largest
free jazz festival, will feature the most celebrated names in jazz including:
Sonny Rollins; Wynton Marsalis Quintet; Pat Metheny Unity Band
featuring Chris Potter, Antonio Sanchez, and Ben Williams;
Chick Corea and Gary Burton with the Harlem String Quartet;
and the Wayne Shorter Quartet featuring Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci
and Brian Blade.
"This year, we wanted to focus on going back to traditional jazz roots. Bringing
together these world-class jazz artists gives festival-goers the opportunity to
experience jazz at its finest - a collaboration between artists with history, experience
and a style all their own, " said Chris Collins, artistic director of the Detroit
Jazz Festival. "Many of the artists joining us at the festival have worked together
before and we're reuniting them, as well as introducing unique first-time collaborations,
to celebrate the culture of jazz and really show how jazz has made an impact in
our region and across the nation."
Rollins and Marsalis return to the festival for the first time since 1987, and Metheny
will make his festival debut with his new ensemble. Additionally, New Orleans-native
and trumpeter Terence Blanchard will serve as the 2012 Artist-in-Residence, performing
with his quartet as well as curating a special Art Blakey Tribute, featuring Peter
Washington, Lewis Nash, Geoffrey Keezer and Curtis Fuller, among other appearances.
Other headliners include: Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas Quintet: Sound Prints featuring
Lawrence Fields, Linda Oh and Joey Baron; Lew Tabackin Quartet featuring Randy Brecker;
Jerry Bergonzi Quintet; Donny McCaslin Group featuring Jason Lindner, Tim Lefebvre
and Mark Guiliana; David Binney Quartet; Brian Lynch and Unsung Heroes; Cécile McLorin
Salvant; and Grégoire Maret Quartet, among others.
The festival will continue its longstanding tradition of presenting and recognizing
Detroit's rich jazz legacy. Of note, trumpeter Marcus Belgrave will return home
with a special all-star Homecoming Band, spotlighting fellow Michigan natives, Curtis
Fuller, Kenny Garrett, Geri Allen, Marion Hayden and Louis Hayes. Garrett, Hayes,
and tenor saxophonist Rick Margitza will also perform with their respective quartets.
The Wayne State University Big Band will perform new works by distinguished pianist
Michael Abene and feature guests Joe Lovano and vocalist Judi Silvano. Other homecoming
performances include saxophonist Charles McPherson in a co-lead quintet with trumpeter
Tom Harrell, multi-reedman Charlie Gabriel, who will celebrate his 80th birthday
with special guests, and drummer Gerald Cleaver performing with his working band,
Uncle June.
A wide array of special concept projects will also be showcased in the upcoming
festival. Conductor David Berger will lead "The Sacred Music of Duke Ellington,
" a program focusing on music from Ellington's three landmark Sacred Concerts written
during the last decade of his life. The program will feature a 100-voice Detroit
choir and a big band, as well as vocal soloists. The Mack Avenue Records Super-Band
will make its worldwide debut, featuring select artists from their roster: Kevin
Eubanks, Sean Jones, Tia Fuller, and Alfredo Rodríguez, among others. Saxophonist
Steve Wilson will be featured in a special "Bird with Strings Revisited" project,
paying homage to the saxophonist Charlie "Bird" Parker's landmark album, Charlie
Parker with Strings (Verve, 1955).
Festival-goers will be treated to an assortment of trios, ranging from organ-centric
groups such as Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein, Bill Stewart; Bernard Purdie, Reuben
Wilson, Grant Green Jr. (formerly known as The God Fathers of Groove); plus one
with special guest Donald Harrison Jr., and Ellery Eskelin's trio (each lending
its own unique organ trio sound, spanning post bop, jazz blues/soul, and free jazz
respectively); to the pure acoustic sounds of piano virtuoso Fred Hersch's trio
and Detroit-based Gary Schunk's Electric Fusion Trio. The groups collectively demonstrate
the wide musical possibilities for the sacred configuration.
In addition to Terence Blanchard's presence, New Orleans' influence will be felt
with the special program, "A Night in Treme (The Musical Majesty of New Orleans)"
- based on the acclaimed HBO dramatic series, Treme. The show will feature
the Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Charlie Gabriel, Christian Scott, Donald Harrison,
Jr., and James "12" Andrews. Harrison will also appear with his quintet during the
festival.
As is tradition, the festival will highlight some of the most engaging artists in
Latin jazz, including: Quincy Jones protégé and Cuban piano sensation Alfredo Rodríguez,
celebrated percussionist Poncho Sanchez's Chano y Dizzy (with Terence Blanchard),
pianist/composer/educator Arturo O'Farrill's Afro-Cuban influenced Septet with special
guest Donald Harrison Jr., storied trumpeter Jerry Gonzalez y Los Comandos de la
Clave, and trombonist Papo Vazquez' Pirates Troubadours.
"My focus has always been on continually improving the festival, " said Gretchen
Valade, chair of the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation board of directors. "Chris
Collins has done a fantastic job securing this all-star lineup for the 2012 festival.
All of these incredible performers coming together at the Detroit Jazz Festival
means a lot, not only to our city, but to all jazz enthusiasts. It is a chance to
see so many favorites in one arena. I could not be more thrilled with how this year's
festival continues to develop and, as always, it's free to the public."
The Detroit Jazz Festival is largest free jazz festival in North America. Attendees,
in addition to artists, come from all over the world, with 23 percent of the festival
audience coming from outside of Michigan. The festival has an economic impact of
tens of millions of dollars, contributing greatly to the city of Detroit. The festival
also was recently voted the number two jazz festival in North America in a reader's
poll by JazzTimes, the world's leading jazz publication.
Major corporate sponsors include JP Morgan Chase, Carhartt, DTE Energy Foundation
and Mack Avenue Records. In addition, there is a growing base of individual support.
Fans are encouraged to become Rhythm Section members by making donations of any
size online in support of the festival's "KEEP IT FREE" campaign.
The Detroit Jazz Festival, now in its 33rd year, takes place over Labor Day weekend
in Hart Plaza, downtown Detroit. This year's official poster, a sought after collector's
piece, was created by artist Douglas Tocco, who has been designing since 1991 and
has also created posters for the Detroit International Auto Show and the Detroit
Symphony Orchestra.
About the Detroit Jazz Festival
The Detroit Jazz Festival is an independent, non-profit organization that presents
jazz and educational workshops throughout the year. Recently voted number two in
North America in a JazzTimes reader's poll, the Detroit Jazz Festival is
the largest free jazz festival in the world and a major tourist attraction for the
City of Detroit, with 23 percent of its audience coming from out of state.
The festival receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Erb
Family Foundation, and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Kresge
Foundation. Major corporate partners include Carhartt, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and
Mack Avenue Records. Additional partners include Absopure Water Company, Amtech
International, Budweiser, Charity Motors, Cliff Bells, Comcast, Compuware, Detroit
Marriott, Dickinson Wright, Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, Fathead, Meridian, MGM Grand Detroit,
Motor City Casino, Pepsi, Plante Moran, PNC Foundation, Quicken Loans, St. John
Providence Health System, DownBeat, JazzTimes, MetroTimes and
Fox 2. The festival's Greening Program, now entering Phase IV, is supported by a
generous grant from the DTE Energy Foundation. For more information visit
www.detroitjazzfest.com.
DL Media | 124 N Highland Ave | Bala Cynwyd | PA | 19004
Related Press News:
|
If you would like to collaborate with Jazzitalia, click here.....
