Main Library – 5201 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202
Detroit has a rich history as a great jazz town, and in 2010, the tradition continues with the Comerica Java & Jazz: A Coffee House Series. Celebrating our 10th season, we invite you to come join us for this spectacular celebration from February through August at the Detroit Public Library’s Main Library. Performances are free and open to the public every third Tuesday of the month @ 6:00 p.m.
Dennis Coffey • Tuesday, April 20, 6:00 p.m.
Dennis Coffey’s career encompasses 11 solo albums and CDs, along with the theme song for the 1974 movie “Black Belt Jones.” Coffey played with the legendary Motown Studio band the Funk Brothers, where he participated on dozens of recordings for Motown Records from artist like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight. We invite you to join us as we welcome this musical legend to the Java and Jazz stage.
Thornetta Davis • Tuesday, May 18, 6:00 p.m.
Thornetta has opened for legendary blues and R&B greats such as Ray Charles, Gladys Knight, and Smokey Robinson. It’s clear that the Motor City knows just who Thornetta is and now it is time the rest of the world discovered it as well. Join us for a magical evening, we like to call Thornetta Live!
Rayse Biggs • Tuesday, June 15, 6:00 p.m.
Rayse Biggs is gifted with an unique quality and sound blended from musical greats and topped off with his own style. Rayse’s musical signature is to play the Flugle horn and trumpet simultaneously. If you haven’t witnessed this, then we invite you to come out and experience it yourself… it’s amazing what this one man can do!
Pathe Jassi • Tuesday, July 20, 6:00 p.m.Concert outside on Cass Lawn
Senegal native Pathe Jassi is one of Detroit’s most highly respected musicians. His Motor City roots run deep, preceding his emigration to the United States. Whether playing jazz and funk as a sideman, or performing world music as the leader of his own group the Pathe Jassi Trio, Jassi is placing an indelible stamp on the sound of Detroit.
Johnny O’Neal • Tuesday, August 17, 6:00 p.m.
Johnny O’Neal is a giant who casts no shadow. His appearance in the 2004 blockbuster film “Ray” soared his career to new heights. In the Hollywood film O‘Neal played the legendary Toledo jazz pianist Art Tatum. O’Neal’s music has its dynamic heartbeat in gospel and the blues, but to hear him tear a strip off a bebop tune, at an outrageous tempo, sometimes defies the laws of pianist gravity.?
