Mar 30, 2026 10:30 PM
Flea Finds His Jazz Thing
In the relatively small pantheon of certifiable rock stars venturing into the intersection of pop music and jazz, the…
Dave McMurray (left), Esperanza Spalding, Ravi Coltrane and Terri Lyne Carrington pay tribute to the late Geri Allen at the 2018 Detroit Jazz Festival.
(Photo: Tak Tokiwa/Detroit Jazz Festival)The Detroit Jazz Festival, which previously announced its move online and focus on local talent, today presented the lineup for Sept. 4-7.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to showcase our Detroit talent, our Detroit sound, to the global jazz community,” Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation President and Artistic Director Chris Collins said in a press release. “The lineup of Detroit jazz legacy artists, coupled with the up-and-coming generation of jazz revolutionaries will provide an exciting jazz journey through Detroit’s past, present and future.”
Among the acts set to appear are Pharoah Sanders, Robert Glasper, Robert Hurst, Rodney Whitaker, Steve Turre and Sister Strings. Joan Belgrave also will present The Marcus Belgrave Legacy Ensemble.
Performances are set to be broadcast live from the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. There won’t be live audiences, but the same lighting and sound tech at traditional festivals will be utilized, according to the release. Streams and broadcasts will be available on the festival’s website and social accounts, local Channel 22, on public radio and through the DetroitJazzFest LIVE! app. DB
“Cerebral and academic thought is a different way to approach music,” Flea says of his continuing dive into jazz. “I’ve always relied on emotion and intuition and physicality.”
Mar 30, 2026 10:30 PM
In the relatively small pantheon of certifiable rock stars venturing into the intersection of pop music and jazz, the…
Cécile McLorin Salvant busts out Jelly Roll Morton’s “The Murder Ballad” at Big Ears, here with pianist Sullivan Fortner.
Apr 7, 2026 1:21 PM
There’s pluralism, then there’s PLURALISM! — and then there’s Big Ears. Thurston Moore, who participated in…
Onstage, Rollins would move about restlessly, thrusting his tenor sax in the air as he blew.
May 26, 2026 11:08 AM
Sonny Rollins, the iconic saxophonist, composer and improviser whose career stretched from the origins of bebop to 21st…
Each of the 25 JAMs has delivered a poster featuring a jazz legend that is sent out to schools across the nation. This year’s poster features Tony Bennett.
Mar 30, 2026 10:20 PM
Every April for the past quarter century, something remarkable has happened across the United States and far beyond.…
“We thought it’s important that Ronin has a new statement,” said Nik Bärtsch of his band’s latest album, Spin. “The sound is differently produced, so it reflects more of who we are.”
Apr 21, 2026 10:00 AM
Nik Bärtsch cuts an imposing figure on stage. He’s unmistakable with his soul patch, shaven head and black attire.…
