You know spring is right around the corner when we start talking up this year’s Detroit Jazz Festival which is now in its 39th year. It takes place, as usual, Labor Day weekend from Friday August 31 through Monday September 3, on multiple stages in downtown Detroit, including the Carhartt Amphitheater stage on Hart Plaza.

Photo by John Osler

The Dirty Dog’s Detroit Jazz Festival monthly jam sessions start up again on Monday 2/19 with new and emerging artists vying to play the festival while they audition during these weekly live opportunities.

The Detroit Jazz Festival and the Dirty Dog are excited about teaming up again for these special jam sessions designed to draw out and showcase some of the best new talent around.  These take place on the third Monday of each month from February 19 to June 18.

Saxophonist Chris Collins, who is also Detroit Jazz Festival’s Artistic Director and head of Wayne State’s Jazz Department

Photo by Jeff Dunn

Jam session partcipants are accompanied by the house band named the Detroit Jazz Festival All Stars. The leader is saxophonist Chris Collins who is not only the head of Wayne State’s Jazz department but also the Artistic Director of the Festival. The other band members are all accomplished Detroit notables who are all educators as well. See list below.

These special sessions are designed to promote Jazz to younger musicians since exposure and playing opportunities are the keys to inspiring the next generation Jazz artists. They provide opportunities to play in performance situations with some of our most esteemed and well established artists and educators.  The festival competition is open to musicians of all ages. To participate just show up at one of our upcoming jam sessions . See schedule below.

These jam sessions are the place to be for those interested in playing the Festival as Detroit Jazz Festival Artistic Director Chris Collins will be checking out the artists and Jazz Fest staff will be there to accept submissions “on the spot” from artists and ensembles to be considered for the 2018 Detroit Jazz Festival.

Jam Session House Bands: (Chris Collins in all house bands) will welcome musicians of all ages to join them on stage. They give participants the chance to play with seasoned players and educators most of whom are on the music faculties of the top universities in this area including, Wayne State, The University of Michigan, Michigan State, Oakland University and others.

Pianist Ian Finkelstein/ photo by John Osler

Mon. Feb 19 – Dwight Adams, Ian Finkelstein, Jeff Pedraz, Gayelynn McKinney
Mon. March 19 – Dwight Adams, Ian Finkelstein, Ralphe Armstrong, David Taylor

Where: The Dirty Dog Jazz Café, 97 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms, Mi., 313-882-5299

Time: 6:30 thru 9:30 (usually with a brief break in the middle)

Reminder: Artistic Director, Chris Collins will be there to check out talent; submissions can also be made at DetroitJazzFest.com.

These jam sessions are free and open to the public; seating is limited

The Dirty Dog is known all over the world as a “serious” Jazz club devoted to presenting high quality talent in a musical environment. The Dirty Dog presents a diverse blend of artists and group that represent the many different styles of Jazz performed by well known legends and new and emerging talent alike.  For a schedule of upcoming shows go to DirtyDogJazz.com.

Detroit Public Radio mainstay, Judy Adams, is a pianist, composer and musicologist who hosts a Jazz and contemporary music show on CJAM 99.1FM and guest hosts on WRCJ 90.9FM.