Detroit Jazz Festival Announces 2018 Lineup

News, Chick Corea, Terri Lyne Carrington, Esperanza Spalding

By DownBeat I Apr. 12, 2018

Pianist Chick Corea is the artist-in-residence for the 39th annual Detroit Jazz Festival.
(Photo: Toshi Sakurai/Chick Corea Prod.)

The Detroit Jazz Festival on Wednesday announced its lineup for the 2018 installment of the event, which runs Aug. 31-Sept. 3.

The artist-in-residence for the 39th annual festival will be pianist Chick Corea, who will be playing in a variety of settings with the Akoustic Band, the Elektric Band and in a sextet alongside the Detroit Jazz Festival Symphony Orchestra. A new feature of the free festival this year is the Resident Ensemble, a group of musicians aiming to connect with the community through performance. Drummer Terri Lyne Carrington and bassist Esperanza Spalding, who are set for three performances, are members of this inaugural cohort. The late Geri Allen originally was set to participate, and in the wake of her death, the ensemble’s repertoire will focus on her work.

Below, find a list of performers; others will be added in the coming months. Visit The Detroit Jazz Festival homepage for more information. DB

Aug. 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

Sept. 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

Sept. 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

Sept. 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