The Detroit Jazz Festival announced its lineup including a diverse array of headlining acts for the 36th annual Labor Day Weekend Festival, taking place Sept. 4-7. The lineup is the culmination of the Festival’s commitment to bringing a diverse and unique group of jazz musicians to downtown Detroit to deliver a collection of performances that includes a Homecoming Series with Detroit natives, exciting new artists, legends and student groups all connected around special custom programming and unique musical experiences that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world.
“Detroit is a place filled with soul, culture and creativity, and we have a great legacy of jazz here. Our Festival – the world’s largest free jazz festival – truly showcases what makes our city special,” said Gretchen Valade, chair of the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation board of directors. “Being part of the Festival since its inception, it has been rewarding to watch it grow and become an event that is woven into the fabric of the Detroit and Jazz communities. We’re looking to add to its legacy with another collection of unforgettable performances this year.”
In his fourth year as Artistic Director, Chris Collins has once again curated a world-class lineup that is truly representative of the genre in all its facets starting with this year’s 2015 Artist-in-Residence Pat Metheny, presented by Absopure, who will grace all four stages throughout the weekend with sets including:
- Pat Metheny Trio with Antonio Sanchez, Scott Colley & special guest Kenny Garrett
- Pat Metheny acoustic duo with Ron Carter
- Pat Metheny Reunion with Gary Burton Quartet
- Pat Metheny, Scott Colley, Antonio Sanchez, and Danny Gottlieb with the Detroit Jazz Festival Big Band and String Orchestra, Conducted by Alan Broadbent, perform new works including the North American premiere of Metheny’s multi-movement/multi-media tribute to Eberhard Weber.
The 2015 additional acts include (in alphabetical order):
- Monty Alexander: Harlem-Kingston Express
- Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band
- Richard Bona: Mandekan Cubano
- Joanne Brackeen Quartet
- Will Calhoun Quartet w/Greg Osby
- Ron Carter Trio
- Anat Cohen Celebrando Brasil: From Rio to Minas
- Eddie Daniels jazz version of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons for Detroit with the Detroit Jazz Festival String Orchestra and original narration from Douglas Preston
- Dave Douglas Quintet
- Paquito D’Rivera Quintet
- Kenny Garrett Quintet
- Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra: Conductor Carla Bley, Bassist Steve Swallow
- Jon Irabagon Quartet
- Jungle Funk Trio
- Oliver Lake Organ Quartet
- Carmen Lundy
- Mack Ave. Superband
- Rudresh Mahanthappa “Bird Calls”
- René Marie Experiment in Truth
- Ken Peplowski Quartet
- Danilo Pérez – World premiere of his commissioned Detroit World Suite
- Ester Rada
- Arturo Sandoval
- Maria Schneider Orchestra
- The John Scofield & Joe Lovano Quartet
- Tuba Skinny
- Christian Scott Sextet
- Benny’s Threads – Inspired by the artistry of Benny Goodman, featuring new compositions by Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, spoken word from author Douglas Preston, and superstar clarinetists featuring Anat Cohen, Eddie Daniels, Paquito D’Rivera and Ken Peplowski
- Steve Turre and James Carter: Rahsaan Roland Kirk Borthday Celebration
- James “Blood” Ulmer & the Black Music Experience featuring Queen Esther
- Manuel Valera & Groove Square
