The 30th Anniversary of the Detroit International Jazz Festival | Sept. 4-7th, 2009

First,
there are the “family guys”:  91 year-old Hank Jones, the Clayton
Brothers, Dave Brubeck & sons, John & Bucky Pizzarelli, Larry
& Julian Coryell, the Heath Brothers, Pete & Juan Escovedo, and
Brian Auger and his family.  Then, there are the “heirs” (musicians who
represent strong family traditions): T.S. Monk with a “tentet”
performance of Monk on Monk, and Chuchito Valdes – son and grandson of
brilliant pianists Chucho and Bebo.

The
homecoming of Detroit ‘s greats brings to the stages vocalist Sheila
Jordan, known for her heartbreaking ballads and improvisational lyrics;
pianist Geri Allen in a quartet featuring tap dancer Maurice Chestnut
as an additional “voice” in the band; Louis Hayes (Cannonball
Adderley’s original drummer) with his Cannonball Legacy Band; Charles
McPherson, known for his work with Mingus; the adventurous Bennie
Maupin’s Dolphyana – a tribute to Eric Dolphy; drummer Karriem Riggins’
Virtuoso Experience with Mulgrew Miller and DJ Madlib; Dee Dee
Bridgewater (okay Flint, close enough) with the Michigan State
University Big Band; and Marcus Belgrave’s Allstar Jazz Ensemble – a
reunion of his protégés including Bob Hurst, Geri Allen and Karriem
Riggins. Last, but certainly not least, the indefatigable Gerald
Wilson, conducting his commissioned work for the festival’s 30th
anniversary.

Add
to that a special treatment of Detroit trumpeter Donald Byrd’s
jazz-gospel recording A New Perspective – which also gives a festival
nod to Blue Note on their 70th, and showcases Sean Jones and other
artists from the Mack Avenue label, led by Detroit native Rodney
Whitaker.  The festival will close with a commissioned “concerto
grosso” by John Clayton, written for and performed by the Scott
Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra and the Clayton Brothers Quintet.  The Clayton
Brothers will open the performance with material from their CD Brother
to Brother, which honors the amazing brother teams of the Burrells, the
Heaths and the Adderleys, to name a few.  Detroit Jazz Fest and John
Clayton were awarded a prestigious grant from the Joyce Foundation for
this special project. Out of the four 2009 Joyce grant recipients in
the Midwest, the Detroit Jazz Fest was the only music organization to
receive the honor.

“Not
everything will be Detroit or family-centric,” says Pontremoli.  “We’re
thrilled to have Chick Corea and his fabulous trio with Stanley
(Clarke) and Lenny (White) on opening night.  And then, of course,
there’s Wayne Shorter with John Patitucci, Brian Blade and Danilo
Perez…it just doesn’t get much better than that!”  Festival fans will
also be treated to a performance by vibraphonist Stefon Harris, and
recently signed Mack Avenue artist Christian McBride will make a return
appearance with his new quintet, Inside Straight.

Other
cool presentations include a 100th birthday celebration for Benny
Goodman by clarinetist extraordinaire Eddie Daniels and the WSU Big
Band a; Bottoms Up!, a “superbass” performance by John Clayton,
Christian McBride and Rodney Whitaker; and a piano tribute to Tommy
Flanagan, Hank Jones, Barry Harris and Milt Jackson by pianist Antonio
Ciacca.  Outside of jazz, audiences will be treated to appearances by
Irma Thomas, the soul queen of New Orleans, Detroit’s own gospel sister
act, The Clark Sisters, and Motown’s very own Contours featuring
Sylvester Potts.

Rising
star artists in 2009 include vocalist Gretchen Parlato (2004 Thelonious
Monk award winner); Alfredo Rodriquez, the stellar pianist recently
discovered by Quincy Jones; and vocalist Jose James, who blew the
audience away last year as a special guest in the Marvin Gaye tribute.

The
Detroit International Jazz Festival will continue to encourage young
talent not only by inviting college and high school ensembles to
showcase, but by giving them opportunities to perform with jazz
veterans.  The Wayne State University Big Band will perform the music
of Benny Goodman with clarinetist Eddie Daniels and the Michigan State
University Big Band will perform the works of John Clayton with Dee Dee
Bridgewater. Other visiting schools include the Berklee (Boston) Jazz
Ensemble, North Carolina Central University Jazz Ensemble and the
Brubeck Institute Jazz Quartet.  Jazz Fest continues its partnership
with MSBOA by showcasing outstanding Michigan high school jazz
ensembles. And back by popular demand is the KidBop area for the
wee-boppers and their parents, with stories, songs and other fun
activities.

The
Pepsi Jazz Talk Tent will also be full of laughs and stories, with Hank
Jones, Christian McBride, Jimmy Heath, Bennie Maupin, Louis Hayes and
Sheila Jordan.  Topics will range from remembering Cannonball to
discussing the genius of Elvin Jones, Eric Dolphy, Donald Byrd, and the
special piano trademark of Detroit.  The tent will also feature a
gallery of historic festival photographs in honor of DJF’s 30th
anniversary.

“As
is always the case with this festival, the musicians will be having
wonderful reunions, and the ever-hip and amazing Detroit audience will
be joining the family in their uniquely enthusiastic and respectful
way.”

The
festival has been celebrating its 30th anniversary since February
through its series, Another Great Day in Detroit.  Through
collaborations with the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American
History, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Wayne State University,
Detroit Institute of Arts, Midsummer Nights in Midtown, the Guardian
Building, the Rowland Café, and area jazz clubs, the festival is
treating Detroit music lovers, showcasing Detroit musicians, and
building momentum toward Labor Day Weekend.

The
Detroit International Jazz Festival is the largest free jazz festival
in North America. It has become a major tourist attraction, with 23% of
its audience coming from out of state.  It has a $90M economic impact
on Detroit and showcases the city in its most positive light.  The
festival has received support from the National Endowment for the Arts,
Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA), the Joyce
Foundation and the Kresge Foundation. Major corporate sponsors include
Chase, Carhartt, Absopure, Mack Avenue Records, DTE Energy, Whole
Foods, Citizens Bank, Detroit Medical Center, Solaire, Pepsi, Comcast
and Fox 2.  In addition, there is a growing base of individual support.
“We are extremely grateful to have the support of these institutions
and individuals,” adds Pontremoli. “They are our life blood.”

Nightly after-hour jam sessions will be held at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, the official festival hotel.

New
to the festival this year are Phase I of a Greening Program sponsored
by DTE Energy and the DJF Maiden Voyage Cruise, presented by Citizens
Bank on August 26. 

For
more information, including festival updates and details on how
to become a Jazz Fest guardian or member of the Rhythm Section, visit www.detroitjazzfest.com.