Detroit and Philadelphia have such similar jazz histories that the cities might well be twins separated at birth. Both reached their zenith of influence in the hard bop 1950s. Both graduated countless players to the national scene. Both produced R&B juggernauts, Motown and Philly soul.
The 29th annual Detroit International Jazz Festival, which runs Friday through Monday, is dedicated to these meccas. More than 100 national, local and school groups will perform under the banner of “A Love Supreme: The Philly-Detroit Summit." Some of the most famous musicians from both cities will be on the bill.
As usual, there will be six stages spreading from Hart Plaza into the core of downtown with a pedestrian corridor along Woodward Avenue. The festival is the largest free jazz festival in North America.
Here are our best bets for the Jazz Fest. We picked three each day and have included videos with most of the performers. Saturday
Ted Nash Quartet: The Mancini Project: Nash -- a saxophonist, flutist, composer and member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra -- has a knack for organizing intriguing projects. While the idea of extensive reworkings of jazz-tinged Hollywood music and ballads by Henry Mancini might seem too precious, Nash's new CD on Palmetto, which is devoted to that concept, is full of lovely invention, fresh material, careful but never oppressive arrangements and fluid improvisations by a tightly knit quartet. With pianist Frank Kimbrough, bassist Ben Allison and drummer Matt Wilson. 1:30 p.m., Absopure Waterfront Stage
Philly-Detroit Summit with Christian McBride, Randy Brecker, Geri Allen, Perry Hughes, Bootsie Barnes and Karriem Riggins: Bassist and festival artist-in-residence McBride stages a promising jam session combining top former Detroiters (pianist Allen, drummer Riggins) and Philadelphians (McBride and trumpeter Brecker), with underrated local heroes -- Hughes, a swinging and authoritative Detroit guitarist, and Barnes, a tenor saxophonist who plays a bluesy brand of bop. 3:45 p.m., Absopure Waterfront Stage.
The 29th annual Detroit International Jazz Festival, which runs Friday through Monday, is dedicated to these meccas. More than 100 national, local and school groups will perform under the banner of “A Love Supreme: The Philly-Detroit Summit." Some of the most famous musicians from both cities will be on the bill.
As usual, there will be six stages spreading from Hart Plaza into the core of downtown with a pedestrian corridor along Woodward Avenue. The festival is the largest free jazz festival in North America.
Here are our best bets for the Jazz Fest. We picked three each day and have included videos with most of the performers. Saturday
Ted Nash Quartet: The Mancini Project: Nash -- a saxophonist, flutist, composer and member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra -- has a knack for organizing intriguing projects. While the idea of extensive reworkings of jazz-tinged Hollywood music and ballads by Henry Mancini might seem too precious, Nash's new CD on Palmetto, which is devoted to that concept, is full of lovely invention, fresh material, careful but never oppressive arrangements and fluid improvisations by a tightly knit quartet. With pianist Frank Kimbrough, bassist Ben Allison and drummer Matt Wilson. 1:30 p.m., Absopure Waterfront Stage
Philly-Detroit Summit with Christian McBride, Randy Brecker, Geri Allen, Perry Hughes, Bootsie Barnes and Karriem Riggins: Bassist and festival artist-in-residence McBride stages a promising jam session combining top former Detroiters (pianist Allen, drummer Riggins) and Philadelphians (McBride and trumpeter Brecker), with underrated local heroes -- Hughes, a swinging and authoritative Detroit guitarist, and Barnes, a tenor saxophonist who plays a bluesy brand of bop. 3:45 p.m., Absopure Waterfront Stage.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
