Results for "Detroit"

Detroit Jazz Festival 2026: A Gathering in a Great Jazz City

by Paul Rauch
September 15, 2026

Detroit Jazz Festival 2026 Hart Plaza Detroit, MI September 4-7, 2026 Thursday evening is when artists, media and event staffers begin to file into the Detroit Marriott, arriving from points around the globe. The common purpose is the 47th annual Detroit Jazz Festival, an annual tradition on Labor Day weekend. The ...

John Coltrane in Detroit: A Brief History

by Paul Rauch
September 8, 2026

When the calendar turned to 2026, a spirit of celebration was sparked in the jazz community. It marked one hundred years from the birth dates of two jazz titans in John Coltrane and Miles Davis. Coltrane departed us in 1967 from cancer, a life of barely more than forty years that changed the course of jazz. ...

Austin Di Pietro

Louis Hayes at Jazz Alley

by Paul Rauch
June 26, 2026

Louis HayesJazz Alley Seattle WA June 23, 2026  At eighty-nine years old, the fact that drummer Louis Hayes is still touring as a bandleader is remarkable in itself. The fact that he is still playing so well, and playing with great energy is downright inspiring. With the sun burning bright, ...

James Blood Ulmer: February 8, 1940 - June 3, 2026

June 8, 2026

With deep sorrow and profound love, we announce the passing of James Blood Ulmer, a boldly innovative guitarist, singer, composer, and beloved family member. James died peacefully on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the age of 86. Born on February 8, 1940, the eldest of eight children, Blood grew up in rural, deeply segregated St. Matthews, ...

In Circuses and Carnivals, Sideshows Brought Black Music To The Heartland

by Arthur R George
May 30, 2026

Black musicians in circus and carnival sideshow bands from the late 1800s well into the Twentieth Century brought ragtime and what would become jazz and rhythm and blues to white audiences deep into Midwest agricultural regions. Trumpeter Lester Bowie, later known for the avant-garde Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), ...

Aris Chalin

Born: May 17, 2001

Aris Chalin is an award-winning jazz pianist and keyboardist at Western Michigan University. He has performed with the renowned vocal jazz ensemble "Gold Company" at WMU since 2021. He has performed and played alongside world-class jazz musicians, such as in masterclasses and guest artist vists from Chris Potter, Dave Holland, säje, Christian McBride, Johnaye Kendrick, Jesus Molina, and the Emmet Cohen Trio. Aris is based in Kalamazoo MI, and travels around Michigan to perform in different venues around the area. He has performed at venues such as the NAMM 2023 show, Hill Auditorium, Blue LLama Jazz Club, Cliff Bells, and the North American International Auto Show COBO Center in Detroit. 

Disaster Relief

Active since: 2018

Disaster Relief is a joyful jazz-funk ensemble designed to remedy the negative vibes in the world today. Led by Ann Arbor, Michigan based guitarist/composer/producer Darrin James, the ensemble boasts a big horn section and showcases many rising stars of the Michigan and Detroit music scenes.  They have a reputation for exciting live performances that balance tightly composed arrangements with open, free improvisation, always with a deep danceable groove and loads of soul. 

Ignition of the Ages: Sonny Sharrock’s Seismic Siege of the Detroit State Theatre

by Dave Kaufman
February 12, 2026

Sonny Sharrock was a singular force in music, a brilliant and volcanic guitarist who bridged the jagged divide between the visceral power of Jimi Hendrix and the spiritual depth of John Coltrane. In 1991, he released his masterpiece, “Ask the Ages," a record that remains a high-water mark of modern jazz. Tragically, it would serve as ...

Deblon Jackson

Hailing from the vibrant musical landscape of Detroit, Deblon Jackson is a classically trained dynamic jazz flautist and veteran Flautist of the United States Air Force Band whose soulful sound and innovative approach have made her a standout voice in contemporary jazz. Blending classic jazz influences with smooth grooves, R&B undertones, and a touch of funk.  A classically trained musician  with a deep love for improvisation she received her Bachelors of Music Education from The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.  Deblon draws inspiration from jazz greats like Hubert Laws and Herbie Mann, while also carving out her own distinct sonic identity. Her performances are marked by warm, expressive tones and fluid melodies that resonate across generations.  Deblon has performed at premier jazz venues and festivals across the country, sharing the stage with Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and many of the industry's most respected artists. As an artist, she continues to push creative boundaries, crafting music that bridges genres and invites audiences on a journey of sound and spirit.