Jazz’s Future / Discovering New Jazz/ the Future of Jazz is in our hands
The Detroit Jazz /Festival audience
After writing about new today’s artists and new Jazz releases the past several years in my blog “Jazz Notes” it made me think about all of the musicians on the forefront who are keeping the idiom fresh with new ideas.
Versatile Detroit Piano Virtuoso, Ian Finkelstein at the piano
at the Dirty Dog
As we’ve mentioned in previous blog articles, Jazz must stay current while preserving its heritage. By staying current, it ensures Jazz’s future by constantly infusing itself with the newest sounds being created by Jazz artists around the world. Since the beginning, Jazz has been able to avoid being stagnant, and instead, grow with the times by reflecting current culture.
This is primarily done by the up and coming new and emerging artists who are usually close to the newest sounds trends.
World-class Jazz Bassist/Virtuoso/ style-maker , Esperanza Spalding, who was an artist-in-resident at the Detroit Jazz Festival a few years back
Or it could happen at a well programmed Jazz club such as the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe and others in this area. It could also happen at a well programmed radio station. Detroit’s listener supported WRCJ 90.9FM just added many new shows….go to their website.
Detroit Drummer extraordinaire: Nate Winn
One of the best places to discover new sounds in Jazz is at well programmed Jazz festival such as the Detroit Jazz Festival which takes place annually on Labor Day weekend on various stages in downtown Detroit. Check out other Jazz festivals all over the world.
Unfortunately many of these festivals are not able to have live performances because of the various quarantines in place for our safety, due to the Coronavirus. Let’s hope things are lifted and in place soon.
Our world renowned festival has been around since 1980 and it continues to be a showcase for veteran players and classic styles as well as new trends and fresh talent. If you want to discover new Jazz this is the place. It’s free so you’re able to take in as much music as you like. You can stroll from stage to stage and get a good taste from a variety of styles whether you’re a seasoned fan or new to the music.
For more information on our festival, including the performance schedule, go to detroitjazzfest.org
Award-winning Style-maker pianist, Robert Glasper
This year’s “Artist in Residence” is the great vocalist, Dee Dee Bridgewater! Previous ones were also big names in Jazz and style-makers such as Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, Pat Metheny, Stanley Clarke and many others over the years. I love how the Dirty Dog has an annual tradition of inviting them each to perform live in the intimate setting of the Dirty Dog Jazz Café…that’s what Jazz is all about. Hope to see you there.
Detroit Jazz Festival director, Chris Collins is also the Director/Professor of Wayne State University’s Jazz Studies program with it’s excellent faculty and alumni. His job puts him in place to identify tomorrow’s Jazz leaders and style-makers.
Yes, Detroit is definitely one of the greatest music cities in the world. No shortage of talent here!
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. She made her mark at WDET 101.9FM where she was program director and daily on-air music host for more than 30 years.
