Jazz fest turns music rivalry into music revelry

By K. Michelle Moran
Arts & Entertainment Editor

Gas prices may be cutting into people’s travel plans, but metro Detroiters won’t have to go far to hear some great music.

The Detroit International Jazz Festival has assembled a sparkling lineup of jazz all-stars and jazz stars of tomorrow for the 28th annual Labor Day weekend festival, which takes place at Hart Plaza and elsewhere in downtown Detroit Aug. 31-Sept. 3.

This year, the festival is playfully playing up the rival Detroit and Chicago jazz festivals over the Labor Day weekend by dubbing this “The Rumble in the Great Lakes.” Featured artists include Detroit natives, such as Curtis Fuller and internationally renowned jazz violinist Regina Carter, and those with Chicago ties, including Herbie Hancock. Others on the bill include Kurt Elling, who’ll perform with the Wayne State Big Band, Rodney Whitaker, Ron Carter and eastside Detroiter and jazz great Faruq Z. Bey.

Festival organizers unveiled the lineup — and this year’s poster, by Wayne County artist Darcel Deneau — during a press conference May 9 at the Hotel Pontchartrain in downtown Detroit.

New DJF Executive Director Terri Pontremoli said their vision is to make the cultural institution more of a year-round effort, with educational and other related programs.

“We do have a new focus on education, and we’ve entered into some exciting partnerships,” Pontremoli said.

Although the focus is still jazz, organizers broadened the festival’s size and musical scope last year — a trend that continues in 2007, along with art and activities for kids. Motown greats The Miracles will celebrate their 50th anniversary with a performance, and audiences can expect to hear blues and gospel from acts like Mavis Staples as well. Carter is the artist-in-residence and will be working with student musicians.

“It has definitely become a cultural and institutional icon for Detroit and Wayne County,” said Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano.

Ficano praised Mack Avenue Records CEO Gretchen Valade of Grosse Pointe Farms — who stepped in to rescue the festival financially a couple of years ago after major sponsor Ford Motor Co. bowed out — for going “above and beyond” in her commitment to the festival and the city. Valade and Mack Avenue Records President Tom Robinson of St. Clair Shores serve on the festival’s advisory committee.

Lucius Vasser, chief administrative officer for Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, presented Carter with a proclamation from the city. Carter recently received a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship. Detroiters may not always realize it, but around the globe, he said, the jazz festival has an impressive reputation.

Local residents will be able to hear that for themselves in a couple of months.

“We’re going to have such a great time at the 2007 jazz festival,” said Linda Yohn, one of the organizers.

For more information about the jazz festival, visit www.detroitjazzfest.com.