Detroit International Jazz Festval

SOUL AND JAZZ CELEBRATED AT
29TH INSTALLMENT OF VENERABLE FESTIVAL

Christian McBride

This week festival organizers announced the lineup for the 29th annual Detroit International Jazz Festival, taking place Friday, August 29 through Monday, September 1 at Hart Plaza on the Detroit River waterfront. Billed as “A Love Supreme: The Philly/Detroit Summit,” the 2008 festival will celebrate the storied jazz and soul traditions of these two great American cities.

“I enjoy the challenge of designing the festival lineup around a theme,” says executive and artistic director Terri Pontremoli. Opening night will feature Dianne Reeves and a jazz tribute to Marvin Gaye curated and arranged by Christian McBride. Other special events at this year’s festival include a battle of the bands between the Count Basie and Gerald Wilson Orchestras, and a “Saturday Night Fish Fry” with Reuben Wilson’s Godfathers of Groove, Robin Eubanks + EB3 and Joey DeFrancesco with Karriem Riggins and Christian McBride. A tribute to Alice Coltrane, led by her son Ravi, will feature jazz giants Charlie Haden, Jack DeJohnette, and Detroit’s own Geri Allen. The Dizzy Gillespie TM All-Star Jazz Band, with James Moody, Jimmy Heath and Slide Hampton, will close out the festival on Labor Day.

The “Jazz Talk Tent” will be full of stories with Christian McBride, Jimmy Heath, Benny Golson, Barry Harris, Hank Jones, Jim Hall, Kenny Burrell, James Moody and Slide Hampton. Topics will range from the B3’s role in blues to Detroit/Philly histories, the impact of John Coltrane and Dizzy Gillespie, discussions of Marvin Gaye, Gamble & Huff, Motown, and yes, sports.

The ridiculously diverse line-up this year also includes:

Hank Jones, Gerald Wilson, Stanley Jordan, Jim Hall, Bonerama, Pat Martino, Derek Trucks, University of Michigan Jazz Trombone Choir, Calvin Cooke, Grant Green Jr., Mike Stern, Bonerama, Trombone Shorty, Kenny Barron, Ted Nash, Roy Hargrove, Nnenna Freelon, Cyro Baptista & Beat the Donkey, Matt Wilson’s Arts & Crafts. Alexander Zonjic, Jeff Lorber, Doc Gibbs, Maysa, the Motor City Horns, Brian Bromberg with Randy Brecker, Col.Bruce Hampton & The Quark Alliance, Dee Dee Sharpe, Gerald Clayton, Esperanza Spalding, The Hot Club of Detroit and many more.