DETROIT — In keeping with its tradition of assembling a unique, true-to-jazz lineup of artists to headline its signature event, the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation has announced more than 30 performances that will take the stage during Labor Day weekend. Ranging from leading women artists and up-and-comers to legendary artists that play the spectrum of jazz undertones, the impact of the Festival’s diverse programming will span generations.
The headliners were announced yesterday during a luncheon at the Detroit Athletic Club, where Quicken Loans also announced it would return as the Detroit Jazz Festival’s presenting sponsor for the 2018 and 2019 Festivals. The company began its presenting sponsorship of the world’s largest free jazz festival in 2016.
In its 39th year, the Detroit Jazz Festival presented by Quicken Loans, which runs Friday, August 31 through Monday, September 3, 2018 in downtown Detroit, will kick off with performances by Artist-in-Residence Chick Corea and the 2018 inaugural Resident Ensemble, a new addition to the Festival’s annual programming. Each year a core ensemble noted for their artistry, connectivity and camaraderie will engage with the Detroit community and prepare multiple performances of varying texture, instrumentation and repertoire for the Festival. This year’s Resident Ensemble will feature Terri Lyne Carrington and Esperanza Spalding, who will lead three sets, with one incorporating a technology element. Originally meant to include the late Geri Allen, much of the Ensemble’s focus will be inspired by her music.
“Jazz has always been about freedom, communication and individual expression, and there’s nothing that encapsulates the depth of the genre better than a diverse lineup like the one we have planned this year,” said Chris Collins, president and artistic director of the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation. “From legends to artists just embarking on their musical careers, to some of the most powerful female artists that have ever touched the genre, the 39th Annual Detroit Jazz Festival presented by Quicken Loans will be free-spirited in nature and offer a unique cultural flair of jazz stylings for all to enjoy.”
Corea’s varying performances throughout Labor Day weekend; including performances with his Akoustic Band, Elektric Band, and a sextet with the Detroit Jazz Festival Symphony Orchestra; embody several different jazz stylings, setting a precedent for the wide range of performances jazz enthusiasts can expect to see at the Festival. A few other artists blending a variety of jazz tones and elements sure to engage a younger, more diverse audience, include Chris Dave and the Drumhedz, Sasha Masakowski, Marcus Miller, Nicholas Payton and Omar Sosa. Through these artists and others, Festival attendees can anticipate grooving to an array of jazz music incorporating elements of electronic, avant-garde, New Orleans, rock, modern, classical, spiritual and more.
Some of the more influential women artists headlining the Festival, beyond the Resident Ensemble and Masakowski, include Cécile McLorin Salvant, Tia Fuller, the original all-female group Straight Ahead, and Trio of Oz’s Rachel Z.
Here’s a comprehensive list of the dynamic artists confirmed for this year’s Festival:
Friday, August 31
- Dr. Valade’s Brass Band Led by New Orleans Legend Shannon Powell
- Resident Ensemble: Terri Lyne Carrington and Esperanza Spalding — Tribute to Geri Allen
- Artist-in-Residence: Chick Corea Akoustic Band
Saturday, September 1
- Straight Ahead 25th Anniversary Reunion Featuring: Regina Carter, Marion Hayden, Gayelynn McKinney and Alina Morr
- Julian Lage Trio
- Dr. Lonnie Smith Organ Trio
- Detroit Jazz Festival National Instrumental Competition Winner
- Tia Fuller
- Nicholas Payton — Afro-Caribbean Mixtape
- Sasha Masakowski & Art Market
- Emmet Cohen Trio
- Trio of Oz featuring: Omar Hakim and Rachel Z
- Artist-in-Residence: Chick Corea Elektric Band
- Ravi Coltrane’s Universal Consciousness: Melodic Meditations of Alice Coltrane
Sunday, September 2
- Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio
- Harold López-Nussa with Grégoire Maret and Pedrito Martinez
- Eddie Daniels Quartet with The Harlem String Quartet
- Omar Sosa Quarteto AfroCubano
- Karriem Riggins Detroit Generations
- Hub-Tones: Freddie Hubbard 80th Birthday Celebration — Featuring: Nicholas Payton, Randy Brecker, David Weiss and Dwight Adams
- Chris Dave and the Drumhedz
- Resident Ensemble: Terri Lyne Carrington and Esperanza Spalding — Tribute to Geri Allen
- ASABA Trio — Hirofumi Asaba
- Senri Oe
- J.C. Heard JazzWeek@Wayne All-Stars
- Pat Martino Quintet
- Marcus Miller
Monday, September 3
- Four Freshmen and 5 Trombones
- Cécile McLorin Salvant
- The Brecker Brothers Band Reunion
- Resident Ensemble: Terri Lyne Carrington and Esperanza Spalding — Tribute to Geri Allen
- Christian Sands Trio
- Joey DeFrancesco: Project Freedom
- Artist-in-Residence: Chick Corea with the Detroit Jazz Festival Symphony Orchestra, Conductor: Steven Mercurio
The full Festival schedule will be available at detroitjazzfest.org as the event nears.
“There is no better place to spend Labor Day weekend than downtown at the Detroit Jazz Festival,” said Gretchen Valade, chair of the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation Board of Directors. “Once again, we have a truly remarkable, all jazz, world-class lineup for Detroiters — and our guests from around the world — to enjoy in one of the best cities I know.”
In addition to once again creating a stellar lineup, the Foundation has brought back Detroit Jazz Fest LIVE! For just $10, Festival attendees and out-of-towners unable to make it to the Festival can livestream performances from all four stages, all four days via their smartphone, tablet or desktop. Additionally, the livestreaming service features select performances throughout the year from the Foundation’s year-round initiatives, Festival schedules, maps and more. Jazz enthusiasts that purchased Detroit Jazz Fest LIVE! for the 2017 Festival, will need to repurchase the livestream service for 2018. Register for the livestream at https://live.detroitjazzfest.org.
About Quicken Loans
Detroit-based Quicken Loans Inc. is the nation’s largest home mortgage lender. The company closed more than $400 billion of mortgage volume across all 50 states from 2013 through 2017. Quicken Loans moved its headquarters to downtown Detroit in 2010. Today, Quicken Loans and its Family of Companies employ more than 17,000 full-time team members in Detroit’s urban core. The company generates loan production from web centers located in Detroit, Cleveland and Phoenix. Quicken Loans also operates a centralized loan processing facility in Detroit, as well as its San Diego-based One Reverse Mortgage unit. Quicken Loans ranked highest in the country for customer satisfaction for primary mortgage origination by J.D. Power for the past eight consecutive years, 2010 – 2017, and also ranked highest in the country for customer satisfaction among all mortgage servicers the past four consecutive years, 2014 – 2017.
Quicken Loans was once again named to FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list in 2018 and has been included in the magazine’s top 1/3rd of companies named to the list for the past 15 consecutive years. The company was also named the #1 place to work in technology in 2017 by Computerworld magazine’s “100 Best Places to Work in IT,” a recognition it has received eight times in the past 12 years.
For more information and company news visit QuickenLoans.com/press-room.
About the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation
The Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization that presents jazz and educational workshops throughout the year. The Foundation supports the Detroit Jazz Festival, which is the largest free jazz festival in the world and a major tourist attraction for the City of Detroit, with 26% of its audience coming from out of state.
The Foundation receives grant funding from the Kresge Foundation, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Erb Family Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts to support education programs, community engagement activities and Festival operations. Hundreds of individuals also contribute to the Festival through Rhythm Section memberships and annual Guardian contributions.
Major corporate partners include Quicken Loans, JPMorgan Chase & Co., DTE Energy Foundation, Ford Motor Company, Carhartt, Inc., Mack Avenue Records, Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, Bedrock and Comcast Cable. Additional partners include Absopure, AMTECH International, Andiamo, Bingham Legal Group, Central Michigan University, Cliff Bell’s, Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, Detroit Saxophone Center, Digital Planet, Domino’s, Downtown Detroit Partnership, George Johnson & Company, Giffels Webster, Greektown Casino-Hotel, Lyft, Metro Cars, MGM Grand Detroit, Oakland University, Pepsi, Rocket Fiber, Stella Artois, Steinway Piano Gallery of Detroit, St. John Providence, Wayne State University, Whole Foods Market and Woodward Gallery. Media partners include Fox 2, WJR, WEMU-FM, DownBeat, JazzTimes, Metro Times, WDET, WRCJ and Detroit Public Television. The Greening of the Festival is supported by a generous grant from the DTE Energy Foundation.
For more information on the Detroit Jazz Festival, please visit:
DetroitJazzFest.org | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Source: Detroit Jazz Festival