Detroit International Jazz Festival Celebrates 33 Years of Music History

This Labor Day weekend, the city of Detroit is alive with the sound of music! As melodies of saxophones harmonize in the distance and a crescendo of trumpets echoes throughout the urban streets, this could only mean one thing for Michigan this time of year. Detroit’s 33rd Annual International Jazz Festival has finally arrived, returning to its historic city with a major bang to deliver this time around!

Join thousands in celebrating one of history’s most defining musical eras with four days of endless entertainment and fun for any jazz fan to bask in. Jam sessions, concerts, musician meet-and-greets, and so much more, this festival caters to inspiring artists and music lovers everywhere looking for the perfect experience to enjoy, learn and grow from. Adventure through this free, one-of-a-kind occasion that will have you dazzled by spectacular sounds and unique opportunities you can’t get anywhere else!

Jazz is in the Motown air. With five stages and over 100 anticipated performances, Detroit’s festival brings to its community a special, one-of-a-kind lineup with multiple Grammy-nominated and award winning artists of today’s jazz scene. Witness remarkable acts from numerous of notable musicians out there, from the infamous Sonny Rollins to Michigan State University’s Jazz Orchestra. Ensembles, trios, jazz bands and so on, the shows don’t stop, keeping those fingers snappin’ for more. Not only are attendees offered this exclusive break to revel in live tunes and free concerts, but also receive a lucky chance at meeting the performers themselves! The International Jazz Fest presents “Meet the Artists Sessions” with well-known, influential jazz players such as Gerald Wilson, David Berger, and Jon-Erik Kellso & the Ear-Regulars. Meet just some of the many musicians who have impacted jazz musical history and listen to personal stories of their rise to fame influenced by Detroit’s music scene for motivation as aspiring stars.

For Detroit’s Jazz Fest, it’s all about the music and how to get people jumping along on this rhythmic train. It’s not enough to invite famous artists for show-stopping gigs in order to move crowds and get the ball rollin’ for ambitious dreamers out there. Here, educating the community is key towards helping struggling jazz artists and spreading appreciation for this captivating genre. One of the festival’s most exciting and anticipated events is the Jazz Talk Tent, a novel opportunity combining panel discussions, artist presentations, and Q&As with several successful nation-wide musicians, broadcasters, and jazz writers of our time. The Jazz Talk Tent is a prominent feature that molds together education and recognition for the powerful influence the world of jazz has produced since its prime. Check out discussion panels such as “The Golden Age of Detroit Jazz: The 1950’s & 1960’s” where trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, bassist Dan Pliskow, trombonist Curtis Fuller, as well as other surprise guests discuss their history in Detroit’s music scene during these eras. Are you an aspiring jazz player looking for the best tips on stardom or improvement in your performance? This festival offers the ultimate bonding experience between today’s generation of players with the pros who have been running this game for years. “Mentoring–A Detroit Tradition” brings together an allying panel of mentors and mentees working together in supporting striving young artists find their paths to success, fueling the connection between fresh, new acts and leading figures of the jazz community.

The Detroit International Jazz Festival is making its 33rd year a show-stopper as one of the greatest music festivals out there. Don’t miss this captivating celebration filled with astounding music, devoted artists and full-time fun for every jazz lover to walk out in absolute awe.