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Detroit Jazz Festival 2023: A Tribute to a Great Jazz City
Courtesy Detroit Jazz Festival
Hart Plaza & Campus Martius
Detroit, MI
September 1-4, 2023
Opening night is always a gas. Whether it takes the form of the annual rite of spring in baseball, the long anticipated opening of a Broadway play, or for that matter, the opening salvo of a world class jazz festival in Detroit, it is an occasion of revival and hope. As thousands descended on the Carhartt Amphitheatre stage on a gorgeous summer Friday evening, that opening night vibe was present and accounted for. The next few hours would see a tribute to the festival's "Angel of Jazz," and a peek into the doings of festival Artist in Residence,
Karriem Riggins
drumsb.1975
During the afternoon hours, finishing touches were put on the three festival stages, vendors readied their wares, and the surrounding neighborhood near the Campus Martius stage in downtown's Cadillac Square was abuzz with locals and out-of-towners alike. At Hart Plaza along the Detroit RiverWalk, music blared out of PA speakers in sound check, as vendors hurriedly set up and festival staff completed the finishing touches in preparation for the deluge of people who would arrive shortly.
Everything about the festival in 2023 spoke to Detroit pride, to the massive contributions the city has made to jazz history, and continues to provide in the present. The billing boasted Detroit natives Riggins and headlining NEA Jazz Masters
Regina Carter
violinb.1966
Louis Hayes
drumsb.1937
Of all the major jazz festivals in America, the Detroit Jazz Festival possesses the most primal vibe of all. While events in Monterey and Newport may see more acclaim, they as well present the music in an idyllic environment far removed from the core of Black music in America—the urban environs of its major cities. In Detroit, the entire festival is presented downtown and along the Detroit RiverWalk, with all activities easily within walking distance of each other. As the festival has become an international concern, it has staunchly maintained a strong connection with its core values as a jazz city. Festival director " data-original-title="" title="">Chris Collins in booking the event's three stages, has always had a taproot submerged into the broad based talent pool of the city's current scene, and its native artists practicing their craft abroad.
With a capacity crowd on the Hart Plaza grounds in tow, the festival began its annual journey with a traditional second line entrance by Dr. Valade's Brass Band, led by Detroit's true connection with New Orleans tradition—drummer and bandleader Shannon Powell. The band is a collection of musicians that crosses generational lines, annually providing a celebratory beginning to the festival. Unfortunately, the band's post— second line stage performance had to be canceled due to health concerns with Mr. Powell. Surely to the ebullient bandleader's delight, the evening proceeded as he rested comfortably at his hotel. His spirit filled the cool evening air and uplifted every note played thereafter.
"Gretchen C. Valade, Our Angel of Jazz," was a program dedicated to the memory and spirit of the festival's generous benefactor who passed away on December 30, 2022 at age ninety seven. Valade provided an endowment that will carry the festival many generations into the future. The businesswoman, philanthropist and patron of the arts was a true lover of jazz, personified by Mack Avenue Records, her many contributions to Detroit area jazz education, the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe in Grosse Pointe and the soon to be Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center at Wayne State University. Part of a 9.5 million dollar contribution to jazz studies and performance at the school, the venue will include a 350 seat concert hall, and a basement style club bearing the name of Detroit's own
Dee Dee Bridgewater
vocalsb.1950
The evening's homage to Valade included music from some of the city's most prominent jazz stars, with a video tribute and narration from festival director Collins. The program included performances of a few pearls composed by Valade as well. Her spirit prevailed throughout the evening, upholding her credo of sorts, concerning the future of the festival—"Keep it free, and keep it jazz."
NEA Jazz Master Carter kicked things off with the original members of the all-female Detroit ensemble,
Straight Ahead
band / ensemble / orchestra
GayeLynn McKinney
drumsAllen Dennard
trumpet
Trunino Lowe
trumpetPianist
Danilo Pérez
pianob.1966
Collins then introduced the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra, a collection of Detroit's finest, first performing the music of jazz legend and Valade friend,
Gerald Wilson
composer / conductor1918 - 2014
Duke Ellington
piano1899 - 1974
Dizzy Gillespie
trumpet1917 - 1993
Ray Charles
piano and vocals1930 - 2004
Billie Holiday
vocals1915 - 1959
NEA Jazz Master Bridgewater is a favorite daughter of Detroit, and was a close friend of Valade. She was raised in Flint, MI, and has maintained a close relationship with the festival. After performing an inspired rendition of
Nina Simone
piano and vocals1933 - 2003
John Clayton
bassb.1952
Carmen Staaf
pianob.1981
Shirazette Tinnin
drums
Amina Scott
bassRiggins took the stage just as darkness was creeping into the night sky, the first of three residency sets at the festival. Titled "Interplay," the set was built around Riggins' equal ties with jazz and hip hop, and featured DJ, producer and rapper Otis Jackson, Jr., known professionally as Madlib. Los Angeles based DJ J.Rocc and Detroit guitarist
Sasha Kashperko
guitarSaturday, September 2-Day Two: Cool to be Cool
Saturday morning along the Detroit River was cool, with a breeze drawing a swath around the grounds at Hart Plaza. It would be a harbinger of things to come in terms of weather, as Sunday and Monday would prove to be sweltering hot, with temps well into the nineties. After Saturday, there would be no cool down, whether speaking of the hot and humid conditions, or the music emanating from the festival's three stages.With the festival spotlight on Detroit artists, stop one for the day was a performance led by young Detroit trumpeter Trunino Lowe. As is common with young, talented artists, Lowe was full of energy and humility, with a stage presence that was honest, joyous and revealing of his professional inexperience. That inexperience however, stripped down the performance emotionally for the audience. Lowe, who recently relocated to New York was clearly overwhelmed with performing on this large a stage, at this festival, in his hometown. Lowe is a product of Detroit's public school music programs, and this was a coming home of sorts for him. At one point, his physical self housing a current almost too strong to be grounded, he remarked, "This is really happening." On the cusp of his first album release, Lowe channeled all of that energy into a hard driving set, leading his quartet into a collection of his original compositions. The trumpeter worked off two microphones, one allowing him to utilize electronics, the other for his straight, acoustic sound. Lowe played more of the latter, using electronics occasionally and tastefully. Surrounded by the tall buildings at Campus Martius, this set was emblematic of the entire festival in 2023. While the festival itself projected Detroit pride, Lowe himself played like it really meant something to him, something rooted in his personal pride in the city that calls him its own.
Lowe's set also spotlighted young, rising Detroit stars in bassist
Jeremiah Edwards
bassLouis Jones III
drumsSequoia Snyder
pianoSaturday sported temperatures in the eighties, a Detroit high sky and a gentle breeze that added a layer of repose to the entire day. Of course, the challenge before a festival goer at an event of this magnitude is choosing which sets to attend, which to push aside, and which to subdivide in the effort to see and hear nearly everything.
The
Melissa Aldana
saxophone
Glenn Zaleski
pianob.1987
Without ever venturing over to Hart Plaza, the stage at Campus Martius was providing enough punch all by its lonesome. The vibe of the surrounding Cadillac Square, replete with street vendors, food trucks and an engaged, diverse audience, was intoxicating. The large gathering was then blessed with a trio performance from pianist Perez, bassist
John Patitucci
bassb.1959
Brian Blade
drumsb.1970
While admittedly hypnotized by the goings-on at Campus Martius, the artistic excellence there acted as a barrier from experiencing another great source of Detroit pride at the festival. The two stages at Hart Plaza hosted three phenomenal jazz bands from Northview, Monroe and Rockford High Schools, a powerful statement as to the future of jazz music in Detroit. Youth Vocal Competition winner, Phoebe King, performed with the support of the Wayne State University Jazz Ensemble under the direction of
Russ Miller
guitar
Miho Hazama
composer / conductorb.1986
Stefon Harris
vibraphoneb.1973
As the afternoon continued, and evening drew near, another Detroit tradition came to mind. After the music ends at 11 PM on festival stages, the jam continues at Cliff Bell's, a jazz club just a short ride on the Detroit People Mover away. Tonight would be Detroit night, a wide spectrum of Detroiters both young and older that would include the festival's artist in residence.
NEA Jazz Master Garrett's entrance onto the stage at Campus Martius brought a vibe of familiarity and colorful resonance to the air. The native Detroit son typically arrives with a highly skilled ensemble featuring the likes of bassist
Corcoran Holt
bass
Keith Brown
pianob.1983
Ronald Bruner
drumsRudy Bird
percussionIn the meantime, who in their jazz infused right mind could miss a Scofield set on a perfect evening to end a long festival day?
The
John Scofield
guitarb.1951
Bill Stewart
drumsb.1966
Miles Davis
trumpet1926 - 1991
Hal Galper
piano1938 - 2025
Arriving at the venerable club at 11:30 and being greeted by the welcoming Michael Brockway at the door, a table awaited at the edge of the stage, as well as some finely crafted tequila on ice. Clumsily, in tripping over a foot en route from the bar to the table, I am introduced to saxophonist and bandleader
Isaiah Collier
saxophone- 1998
Rodney Whitaker
bassb.1968
Jeremiah Edwards
bassSunday, September 3-Day Three: Bring the Heat
Sunday morning, there was a press and artist meet and greet in the Governor's suite at the Detroit Marriott at Renaissance Center, where all festival artists and press, as well as a large contingent of out of town fans were lodged. With a stunning view from the top of the hotel's west tower, press members and artists were able to comfortably mingle and enjoy food and drink. With such notables as NEA Jazzmasters Hayes and Carter in attendance, the affair was a reflection of how the festival sees the media in relation to getting the word out on the year round work being done by DJF to propagate the music in the present and far into the future. Festival Artistic director Collins was effusive in his praise for the media and its role in the success of the festival, his praise reflecting how accommodating and welcoming the festival and city is to its invited guests in the press."I grew up with Downbeat, Jazz Times, our local Free Press and News, filling us in on what's happening and where things are going. We can't thank you enough for being at the Detroit Jazz Festival, supporting what we do and carrying it forward to the public. Being a no admission festival in the United States at this time is rare and a real challenge. Real art that we value at the center of our mission demands philanthropy, it always has. It's not a profit making business in the long run," explained Collins.
He went on to explain the reasons they may seem like NPR in constantly seeking and accommodating support, a must to perpetuate the success the festival has enjoyed for forty four years. It is the nature of the beast, and a continual righteous mission to keep America's truly original art form alive and well in challenging times. Collins sees musicians, producers, journalists, photographers and radio hosts in the same light—all as caretakers of the music, working to remove barriers to access. Bottom line, the Detroit Jazz Festival brings more than thirty million dollars into the local Detroit economy each year. The investment of local and national donors, including the extremely generous endowment granted the festival by Valade, in the end, is a worthy investment in the community at large, and a catalyst for great art to be gifted to its people.
With ninety degree temperatures being slightly alleviated by storm clouds and a strong wind off the water, Sunday began as it ended—with a performance lended by bassist/educator and Detroit legend, Rodney Whitaker. At Campus Martius, he opened the day with his Michigan State Jazz Ensemble, or more appropriately, "The Bebop Spartans." At the end of the day, he led an all-star tribute to the spiritual music of
John Coltrane
saxophone1926 - 1967
Stevie Wonder
vocalsb.1950
Chick Corea
piano1941 - 2021
Harry "Sweets" Edison
trumpet1915 - 1999
Duke Pearson
piano1932 - 1980
Tim Warfield
saxophone, tenor
Eric Reed
pianob.1970
Michael Reed
drumsFollowing the Bebop Spartans at Campus Martius was a quartet led by highly skilled Jazz at Lincoln Center and
Artemis
band / ensemble / orchestra
Alexa Tarantino
saxophone, altob.1992
Steven Feifke
pianob.1991
Mark Whitfield
guitarb.1966
By the time vibraphonist
Joel Ross
vibraphone
Kanoa Mendenhall
bass, acoustic
Bobby Hutcherson
vibraphone1941 - 2016
Milt Jackson
vibraphone1923 - 1999
While Whitaker led his Coltrane revival on the riverfront, the amphitheater stage housed a unique performance by pianist
Jason Moran
pianob.1975
Roy Hargrove
trumpet1969 - 2018
Monday, September 4-Day 4: Leaving With a Sense of Joy
While strong westerly winds and scattered storm clouds kept Sunday's ninety degree temperatures mostly in check, Monday brought heat and high humidity without the cooling breeze to festival goers, on this the final day of the event. It was at times almost unbearable to be in the direct sun, with patrons flocking to shady areas and grassy knolls along the Detroit River. The enthusiasm of the crowd however, went unabated all the way to the last set, under slightly cooler conditions, with vocalist
Samara Joy
vocalsThe early hours were occupied by still more examples of the outstanding jazz education community surrounding the city of Detroit. While previous days had seen performances by ensembles representing local high schools, Wayne State University and Whitaker's outstanding group from Michigan State, Monday had a big blue vibe, with the University of Michigan Jazz Ensemble under the baton of Ellen Rowe giving a fine seventy minute set at Campus Martius. In Hart Plaza, more Detroit high schoolers performed, representing the Duke Ellington Conservatory of Music and Art as well as Renaissance and Cas Tech high schools. Cuban born drummer/composer
Dafnis Prieto
drumsb.1974
In the shade of the locust grove along the Detroit RiverWalk, bassist
Linda May Han Oh
bass, acousticb.1984
Greg Ward
saxophone
Fabian Almazan
pianob.1984
Among Monday sets at the Carhartt Amphitheater stage, the homecoming of eighty six year old Detroit born and raised NEA Jazzmaster Hayes stood out front and center. Leading a quintet that featured pianist
David Hazeltine
pianob.1958
Dezron Douglas
bass
Steve Nelson
vibraphoneb.1954
Samara Joy
vocals
Charles Mingus
bass, acoustic1922 - 1979
Mike Migliore
saxophone1954 - 2019
Luther Allison
pianob.1939
Evan Sherman
drumsFemale representation in the festival's programming continues to improve, as is the case in the genre in general, but still has a ways to go. From what we see talent-wise in Detroit area high school and college programs, these numbers are bound to improve. But the 44th edition of this festival featured eleven female headliners, in addition to a groundswell of sidewomen in male led ensembles. Six of these were vocalists, highlighting the need for a larger instrumental contingent of female bandleaders at this point in time in the jazz community as a whole. One of the vocalists in Ms. Bridgewater is a beloved mentor for female instrumentalists, as one sees in her band with Tinin, Scott and Staaf. In Aldana, Carter, Tarantino, Oh and Hazama, we see a counterbalance to singers Bridgewater, Joy,
Joan Belgrave
vocals
Lizz Wright
vocalsb.1980
Jesse Palter
vocalsAfter Joy's set, the massive crowd that had gathered for day four departed for points too numerous to imagine. Many of the musicians and production workers left late Monday night, but many others spent that extra night at the Marriott, and departed early the next morning. Car service began to transport musicians to the airport as early as three in the morning. Upon leaving, many thoughts accompanied the forty five minute ride to the airport. As a journalist, there was the great feeling of welcoming and appreciation felt from beginning to end of the festival itself, but genuinely throughout the city as well. With the city now out of the pandemic mindset in full blown fashion, visitors can once again feel the full energy of this great jazz city. Two years prior in 2021, the festival was pulled inside due to the breakout of the Delta variant. The ballrooms at the Detroit Marriott became soundstages, live performances became video presentations. Audiences were imagined, as only a few journalists witnessed the sets live directly. While 2022 brought the music back to the live stages at Campus Martius and Hart Plaza, 2023 brought them back in force, for what should prove to be record crowds. The applause was louder and more vibrant. The soul of this great music city was bared in full, revealing on no uncertain terms the qualities of the community we have grown to love over the past four decades.
Tags
Live Review
Paul Rauch
United States
Washington
Seattle
Karriem Riggins
Regina Carter
Louis Hayes
Kenny Garrett
Christopher Collins
Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe
Dee Dee Bridgewater
Straight Ahead
Eileen Orr
Gayelynn McKinney
Marion Hayden-Banfield
Dwight Adams
Allen Dennard
Trunino Lowe
Danilo Perez
Gerald Wilson
duke ellington
Dizzy Gillespie
Ray Charles
Billie Holiday
Marcus Elliott
Nina Simone
John Clayton
Carmen Staaf
Shirazette Tinin
Amina Scott
Sasha Kashperko
Jeremiah Edwards
Louis Jones III
Sequoia Snyder
Melissa Aldana
John Patitucci
Brian Blade
Wayne Shorter
Russ Miller
Miho Hazama
Stefon Harris
Corcoran Holt
Keith Brown
Melvis Santa
Ronald Bruner
Rudy Bird
John Scofield
Bill Stewart
Vincente Archer
Miles Davis
Hal Galper
Isaiah Collier
Sarah Whitaker
Rodney Whitaker
Jauron Perry
Houston Patton
John Coltrane
Stevie Wonder
Chick Corea
Harry "Sweets" Edison
Duke Pearson
Walter Blanding
Tim Warfield
Eric Reed
Michael Reed
Artemis
Alexa Tarantino
Steven Feifke
Mark Whitfield, Jr.
Joel Ross
Jeremy Horn
Jeremy Dutton
Kanoa Mendenhall
Bobby Hutcherson
Milt Jackson
jason moran
Roy Hargrove
Samara Joy
Dafnis Prieto
Linda May Han Oh
Christian McGhee
Greg Ward
Fabian Almazan
David Hazeltine
Dezron Douglas
Abraham Burton
Steve Nelson
Charles Mingus
Mike Migliore
Luther Allison
Evan Sherman
Joan Belgrave
Lizz Wright
Jesse Palter
Veronica Swift
Rockelle Whitaker
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