In addition to Artist-in-Residence Chick Corea, an inaugural Resident Ensemble that includes drummer Terri Lyne Carrington and bassist/singer Esperanza Spalding performing a tribute to the late pianist Geri Allen will be the highlight of this year’s festival.
The Detroit Jazz Festival, the world’s largest free jazz festival, returns to downtown Detroit this Labor Day weekend with more than 30 performers over four days.
Jazz composer and keyboardist Chick Corea has been announced as this year’s artist-in-residence, and on Wednesday organizers revealed details of a new feature: the Resident Ensemble. The musical group will perform multiple times throughout the 39th annual festival.
The 2018 inaugural Resident Ensemble includes jazz drummer Terri Lyne Carrington and jazz bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding. They will lead three sets in tribute to pianist Geri Allen. The Michigan native was originally meant to be included in this group, but she died in June.
Corea also will have multiple performances, appearing with his Akoustic Band, Elektric Band and as a sextet with the Detroit Jazz Festival Symphony Orchestra.
“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 president and artistic director Chris Collins in a news release. He added the festival will be “free-spirited in nature and offer a unique cultural flair of jazz stylings for all to enjoy.”
Two artists will be honored with milestones at this year’s outdoor event. Detroit jazz group Straight Ahead will celebrate 25 years and will perform Sept. 1 with Regina Carter, Marion Hayden, Gayelynn McKinney and Alina Morr.
And the late Freddie Hubbard will be honored Sept. 2 with the Hub-Tones, a group featuring Nicholas Payton, Randy Brecker, David Weiss and Dwight Adams. The jazz trumpeter would have celebrated his 80th birthday on April 7. He died in 2008.
Other headliners will include Ravi Coltrane, Marcus Miller and Joey DeFrancesco.
For jazz fans who can’t make it to Detroit Labor Day weekend, the festival will be livestreamed via a smartphone, tablet or computer for a $10 fee. Register at live.detroitjazzfest.org .
Quicken Loans will return as the presenting sponsor for the Detroit Jazz Festival and will return in 2019.
mbaetens@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @melodybaetens
Aug. 31-Sept. 3
Downtown Detroit
detroitjazzfest.org
Dr. Valade’s Brass Band led by Shannon Powell
Resident Ensemble: Terri Lyne Carrington and Esperanza Spalding — Tribute to Geri Allen
Chick Corea Akoustic Band
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
Chick Corea Elektric Band
Ravi Coltrane’s Universal Consciousness: Melodic Meditations of Alice Coltrane
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio
Harold Lopez-Nussa with Gregorie 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
Four Freshmen and 5 Trombones
Cecile 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
Chick Corea with the Detriot Jazz Festival Symphony Orchestra with conductor Steven Mercurio
