Quite a few changes were part of the 47th annual Detroit Jazz Festival over Labor Day weekend at Detroit’s Hart Plaza — notably that it was held only there, with a third stage along the venue’s riverfront east side in lieu of the previous spot near Campus Martius Park.
What remained the same, however, was the high standard of performances that took place over the course of four days. With 39 performances at Hart Plaza (three featuring Artist-in-Residence Joe Lovano), others at the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center and its Dee Dee Bridgewater’s club downstairs, and jam sessions at Cliff Bell’s, Detroit was truly Jazz City, showcasing legends, luminaries, up-and-comers and brand new arrivals. The weather was near-perfect each day, sunny and not too hot, and fans trooped in from around the word — or watched via livestreams.
So much goes on each year that it’s impossible to check out everything. But with this year’s installment in the books, these were our favorite DJF moments…
47th annual Detroit Jazz Festival Artist-in-Residence Joe Lovano, left, visits with Grammy Award-winning Oak Park native Don Was during the 47th annual Detroit Jazz Festival at Hart Plaza (Photo by Charlie Hunt)
Saturday, Sept 5
* African Rhythms Alumni Quintet, “Celebrating the Centennial of Dr Randy Weston,” Carhartt Amphitheater Stage
The African Rhythms Alumni Quintet, led by also saxophonist T.K. Blue, took Detroit Jazz Fest listeners on a sweeping jazz safari to honor the centennial of the inspirational pianist Randy Weston. Opening with “Weston’s signature composition “High Fly, “the adventurously flowing set included “Anu Anu,” “The Shrine,” “Portrait of Patsy J” and “The Gathering,” which featured upright bassist Alex Blake pounding out notes from the strings with his hand, fingers, arm and fist.
Detroit Jazz Fest gets off to hot start at Hart Plaza
Trombonist Frank Lacy’s fluid, booming, fat and sassy notes on his horn was a vibrant sound and sight show in itself — filled with enthralling trills, slurs and anything-goes ingenuity.
* Cyrille Aimee, Waterfront Stage
Animated, stylish and athletic, Aimee was a showstopper.
She led a crisp tight band that propelled her as she danced seemingly in a trance, buoyed by the syncopations and rhythms. She sang carefree and upbeat songs in French, Portuguese, Spanish and English, obviously enjoying every moment.
That translated to the audience, which was swept away and charmed by her delectable vibe. Twice she coaxed fans to sing along, first to the Spanish lyrics of “After I’m Gone Away;” that didn’t go well, but an English rendition of Joe Cocker’s “You Are So Beautiful,” which Aimee suggested fans “sing it for someone you love,” worked out splendidly.
* Bob James, JPMorgan Chase Stage
Legions of pianist James’ fans arrived early and packed the JP Morgan Chase Stage seating and standing areas forcing authorities to seal off access to latecomers. The riverfront setting suited James; “Welcome, friends on both sides of the Detroit River,” the 87-year-old said during one break.
Pianist Bob James performs Saturday, Sept. 5 at the 47th annual Detroit Jazz Festival (Photo by Charlie Hunt)
“This city represents for me the greatest aspect of the music of freedom.” His quartet rolled through hits such as “Choose Me,” “Feel Like Making Love,” “Night Goddess” and “Domino.” Ukrainian saxophonist Andrey Chmut was highlighted throughout, and the encore “Angela (Theme from ‘Taxi’)” was the alluring hit song everyone anticipated, with James taking a sparkling piano solo.
Sunday, Sept 6
* Gabriele Cavassa, Carhartt Amphitheater Stage
Italian-American singer Cavassa charmed and captivated the Detroit Jazz Festival two years ago as part of tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman’ band.
This year she was the bold bandleader, touring in support of her new Blue Note album “Diavola” — whose co-producer and label president, Oak Park native Don Was, watched from side stage. Cavassa delivered one surprise after another, using her stunningly unique and stylized vocals to reinvent familiar pop songs such as “Prisoner of Love,” “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” — which she sang into a telephone –, and Barry Manilow’s “Could it Be Magic.” In another twist, Cavassa delivered intriguing and complex storytelling by pairing “Angelo” (sung in Italian) with the “Diavola’s” diabolical title composition. She gave generous freedom to accompanists electric guitarist Gabriel Schnider, bassist Lex Warshawsky and drummer Eric Harland — all this from a songstress who favors love songs like “Be My Love” and her own sensual composition “Bossy Nova.”
* Dee Dee Bridgewater with Bill Charlap, JPMorgan Chase Stage
Fint-raised jazz diva Bridgewater lit-up the Detroit/Windsor night skyline with playful banter and joyful improvising in a duet setting with longtime pianist Charlap.
Dee Dee Bridgewater and pianist Bill Charlap perform Sunday, Sept. 6 during the 47th annual Detroit Jazz Festival at Hart Plaza (Photo by Charlie Hunt).
Bridgewater was especially endearing on one of her favorite standards, “Sometimes I’m Happy (Sometimes I’m Blue),” to which she slyly added the lyric “When I’m in Detroit, I’m happy with you.” Earlier in the day she christened her namesake jazz club, which opened during the festival weekend at Wayne State University in the lower level of the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center.
* Instant Alter, Waterfront Stage
Instant Alter, an adrenaline-fueled quartet spawned from the legendary bassist Stanley Clarke’s band, played new-era hyper-fusion rock-tinged jazz.
The band Instant Alter performs Sunday, Sept. 6 during the 47th annual Detroit Jazz Festival at Hart Plaza (Photo by Charlie Hunt)
Jointly led by saxophone prodigy Emilio Modeste (who also performed on Monday in Cindy Blackman Santana’ band) and singer Natasha Agrama Clarke (Stanley’s niece), it was a rock act with incredible jazz chops. Notably, the troupe added two gritty Detroit-bred showmen — electric bassist Brandon Rose, whose thumb-popping and slap bass techniques exploded off the stage in tandem with electric violinist, Evan Garr. Together, the instrumentalists out-dueled each other with flashy, astonishing and rapid-fire solos.
* Vijay Iyer Trio with special guest Adam O’Farrill, Waterfront Stage
In his opening remarks, precise and cerebral pianist Iyer praised the Detroit Jazz Festival for its commitment to presenting “real” jazz. Some might call Iyer’s jazz style avant-garde, as it is meant for intent listening. But if avant-garde jazz can be accessible, his is it. On Sunday, Iyer played original music from throughout his varied career- a modernist mix of acoustic jazz that forges a new path. Apropos for a visit to Michigan, the clear highlight was an inspirational rendition of his composition dedicated to the “Children of Flint.” Special guest trumpeter Adam O’Farrell added a wide range of coloration, using processed sounds and assorted mutes.
Monday, Sept 7
* Himiko Kikuchi Totori Yung Lions Trio, Carhartt Amphitheater Stage
The Japanese pianist and composer brought a couple of players who indeed roared behind her, provided an exciting early afternoon hour that culminated with an inspired pairing of Oscar Peterson’s “Hymn to Freedom” and her own “Look You Back.”
* Cindy Blackman Santana, Carhartt Amphitheater Stage
The hot dynamics for the drummer and bandleader’s quintet on stage were matched, late-show, by some side-stage drama as the troupe pushed is performance five minutes past its assigned stop time, causing visible consternation among the production crew.
Cindy Blackman Santana performs Monday, Sept. 7 during the 47th annual Detroit Jazz Festival at Hart Plaza (Photo by Charlie Hunt)
But you’d be hard pressed to find anybody in the crowd who minded, however, as Santana and this version of her group — which she said was performing together publicly for the first time — fired through 75-minutes of ferocious fusion, focusing in particular on her latest album “Coherence.” Santana — who performed during June with husband Carlos Santana’s band at the Pine Knob Music Theatre — raised the proverbial bar herself with a solo after “Rashaan’s Ride,” showcasing bassist Rashaan Carter, which in turn led into the heavy, blues-flavored “Sunday.”
* Ron Carter & Foresight, Waterfront Stage
“A tear in my eyes; this is that special of a set,” Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation President and Artistic Director Chris Collins said as he introduced the legendary double bassist Ron Carter, promising that “You’re going to tell people you were here for this one.” At 89-years-old, Ferndale native and previous Artist-in-Residence Carter — always dapper and gentlemanly — led his quartet Foresight through a majestic jazz masterclass.
Ferndale native Ron Carter performs Monday, Sept. 7 during the 47th annual Detroit Jazz Festival at Hart Plaza (Photo by Charlie Hunt)
He and his long-standing partners — pianist Renee Rosnes, saxophonist Jimmy Greene and drummer Payton Crossley — expertly weaved non-stop for over an hour through a beguiling repertoire of Carter originals, standards and jazz classics, heavily favoring tunes by Miles Davis. With Cindy Blackman Santana looking on after her performance just before, Carter proudly reminisced about growing up in Detroit, going to Belle Isle and graduating from Cass Tech High in 1953.
* Coltrane 100: Both Directions at Once, Carhartt Amphitheater Stage
John Coltrane is low-hanging fruit for a jazz festival — even moreso when it’s the 100th anniversary of his birthday.
Lovano did the occasion proud, however, assembling an all-star group — fellow saxophonist Melissa Aldana, pianist Nduduzo Makathini, bassist Linda May Han Oh and force-of-nature drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts to play a selection of Trane pieces, kicking off with “Locomotion” but peaking with an improvised, avant gardesque “Sound Creating in E” improvisation that led into a lusty treatment of the “A Love Supreme” suite’s opening movement, “Acknowledgement,” with Lovano and Aldana intertwining their parts, culminating in a Watts solo that segued the troupe into McCoy Tyner’s “You Taught My Heart to Sing.” There was more to follow, but that segment was nevertheless a case study in ensemble brilliance and a perfect way to end the festival.
Bassist Linda May Han Oh, left, saxophonist Mellisa Aldana, drummer Jeff “Tane” Watts and Artist-in-Residence Joe Lovano pay tribute to John Coltrane’s centennial on Monday, Sept. 7, at the 47th annual Detroit Jazz Festival. (Photo by Charlie Hunt)