Detroit Jazz Festival unveils 2024 lineup of performers
The Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation on Wednesday announced the artist lineup for the 2024 Detroit Jazz Festival (DJF), which will be held in downtown Detroit on Labor Day weekend. As always, this festival will remain free to attend, and is, in fact, the world’s largest jazz festival that offers free entry.
Drummer, composer and bandleader Brian Blade was previously named the festival’s 2024 Artist-in-Residence; he and his Fellowship Band will headline the festival.
Details were revealed in an invite-only preview event Wednesday evening, featuring a performance by Blade and The Fellowship Band, as well as the One-World Jazz Orchestra, a collaboration between the Berklee Global Jazz Institute and Wayne State University’s jazz program.
The event also served as a sneak peek at the new Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center on the campus of Wayne State. It’s scheduled to open to the public this fall.
“This year’s lineup reflects a very dynamic and eclectic combination of next generation and legacy jazz musicians who reflect the diverse tapestry of jazz and its evolutions,” said Chris Collins, president and artistic director of the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation. “We look forward to their energy and craftsmanship on our stages and seeing our faithful jazz fans in downtown Detroit on Labor Day weekend.”
The Detroit Jazz Festival will be held in downtown Detroit, Aug. 30-Sept. 2. Here’s a list of this year’s lineup, with more local artists to be announced later:
2024 Artist-In-Residence Brian Blade Billy Childs Quartet, special guest Sean Jones
Cameron Graves
Carmen Lundy
Charlie Sepulveda and The Turnaround Plus Special Guest
Chief Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott) Christian McBride
Ghost-Note
Isaiah J. Thompson Quartet
James “Blood” Ulmer Music Revelation Ensemble
Joshua Redman Group featuring Gabrielle Cavassa “Where Are We” Tour
Kyle Eastwood, Eastwood Symphonic Marquis Hill: Composers Collective Melanie Charles
Mimi Fox Organ Trio
Monty Alexander D-Day
Nate Smith
Pablo Ziegler Quintet featuring Roberta Gambarini
The Bad Plus
The Vibraphone Summit: Warren Wolf, Joe Locke, Jason Marsalis and Chien Chien Lu
“Translinear Light:” The Music of Alice Coltrane featuring Ravi Coltrane with special guest Brandee Younger
Zig Zag Power Trio: Vernon Reid, Melvin Gibbs, Will Calhoun