Detroit Jazz Festival Highlights & Schedule
29th Annual Detroit International Jazz Festival Schedule Highlights
Labor Day Weekend, August 29-September 1
Detroit Lions Legend LEM BARNEY To Introduce Jazz Fest Tribute to Marvin Gaye
What promises to be an exceptional opening night at the 29th Annual Detroit International Jazz Festival just became even more special with the announcement that Detroit Lions icon and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Lem Barney, will appear as guest emcee for the festival's tribute to the music of his dear friend Marvin Gaye.
The Philly-Detroit Marvin Gaye tribute on Friday, August 29, is being curated and arranged by renowned Philadelphia bassist Christian McBride in keeping with festival theme, A Love Supreme: The Philly/Detroit Summit. McBride will present his personalized takes on classic Gaye material with a big band of stellar Detroit-based musicians backing R&B vocalists Lalah Hathaway and Rahsaan Patterson. Joining the two veteran singers in interpreting selections from the Marvin Gaye songbook will be up-and-coming jazz vocalist Jose James.
The appearance of Lem Barney provides a personal connection to the subject of the tribute. Barney met Marvin Gaye in 1970 when the singer had a highly publicized tryout with the Detroit Lions. Marvin didn't make the team, but the two established a lifelong friendship. Barney and teammate Mel Farr were then invited by Gaye to sing on his masterpiece What's Going On.
"That was certainly a critical time in my young life, our city and the country as a whole," Lem Barney recalls. "The time was right for What's Going On. The music speaks for itself - the environment, the war in Vietnam, poverty, police brutality, Marvin covered it all"
"I was thrilled that the festival organizers asked me to participate in this tribute. It will truly be a joy. My friendship with Marvin Gaye was a brotherhood, and I will do anything to further this brother's phenomenal legacy. It is particularly gratifying that this will take place in our hometown, where Marvin's masterpiece was written and recorded."
Bassist Christian McBride, who feels that Motown is in his DNA is excited about performing this music in Detroit, the birthplace of Motown. "I love that Lem Barney will be with us for this tribute. He's a really significant living tie to Marvin, and a quintessential renaissance man - a great athlete, devoted to jazz as well as rhythm & blues, a spiritual guy. There aren't many men like him anymore." Lem Barney, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992, is an Associate Pastor at Hope United Church. He is also Director of Physician Relations and Recruitment for The Detroit Medical Center, and is involved with several charities including The Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
The complete lineup has been finalized for the 29th annual Detroit International Jazz Festival.
Here are some of the main stage highlights:
Date Time Performance Stage
8/29 7:00 - 8:15 PM Dianne Reeves Chase Main Stage
8/29 8:45 - 10:30 PM Philly/Detroit Tribute to Marvin Gaye Chase Main Stage
8/30 3:45 - 4:45 PM Philly-Detroit Summit w/ Christian
McBride, Karriem Riggins, Randy Brecker,
Geri Allen, Bootsie Barnes
Absopure Waterfront Stage
8/30 4:45 - 6:00 PM Swiss Movement Revisited: Javon Jackson
Band with Les McCann
Carhartt Amphitheatre
8/30 5:15 - 6:45 PM Dee Dee Sharp Chase Main Stage
8/30 9:00 - 10:30 PM Lalah Hathaway Chase Main Stage
8/30 9:15 - 10:45 PM The Latin Jazz All-Stars: A Tribute to
Hilton Ruiz & Mario Rivera
Carhartt Amphitheatre
8/31 1:30 - 2:45 PM Leebop: A Tribute to Lee Morgan
Absopure Waterfront Stage
8/31 2:00 - 3:00 PM Jimmy Heath & the Wayne State
University Big Band
Carhartt Amphitheatre
8/31 4:30 - 6:00 PM Ravi Coltrane's Tribute to Alice Coltrane
feat. Jack DeJohnnette, Charlie Haden
Geri Allen and Brandee Younger
Carhartt Amphitheatre
8/31 9:15 - 11:15 PM "Battle of the Big Bands" - Count Basie
Orchestra vs. Gerald Wilson Orchestra
Carhartt Amphitheatre
9/1 4:15 - 5:15 PM Temple University Jazz Band with
Benny Golson
Carhartt Amphitheatre
9/1 5:15 - 6:30 PM Barry Harris Trio Absopure Waterfront Stage
9/1 6:00 - 7:30 PM The Derek Trucks Band Chase Main Stage
9/1 6:30 - 7:45 PM James Carter Septet Carharrt Amphitheatre
9/1 7:30 - 8:45 PM The Heath Brothers Quartet with Jimmy Heath, Tootie Heath, Jeb Patton & David Wong Absopure Waterfront Stage
9/1 8:45 - 10:15 PM The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Band directed by Slide Hampton Carharrt Amphitheatre
The Philly-Detroit Marvin Gaye tribute on Friday, August 29, is being curated and arranged by renowned Philadelphia bassist Christian McBride in keeping with festival theme, A Love Supreme: The Philly/Detroit Summit. McBride will present his personalized takes on classic Gaye material with a big band of stellar Detroit-based musicians backing R&B vocalists Lalah Hathaway and Rahsaan Patterson. Joining the two veteran singers in interpreting selections from the Marvin Gaye songbook will be up-and-coming jazz vocalist Jose James.
The appearance of Lem Barney provides a personal connection to the subject of the tribute. Barney met Marvin Gaye in 1970 when the singer had a highly publicized tryout with the Detroit Lions. Marvin didn't make the team, but the two established a lifelong friendship. Barney and teammate Mel Farr were then invited by Gaye to sing on his masterpiece What's Going On.
"That was certainly a critical time in my young life, our city and the country as a whole," Lem Barney recalls. "The time was right for What's Going On. The music speaks for itself - the environment, the war in Vietnam, poverty, police brutality, Marvin covered it all"
"I was thrilled that the festival organizers asked me to participate in this tribute. It will truly be a joy. My friendship with Marvin Gaye was a brotherhood, and I will do anything to further this brother's phenomenal legacy. It is particularly gratifying that this will take place in our hometown, where Marvin's masterpiece was written and recorded."
Bassist Christian McBride, who feels that Motown is in his DNA is excited about performing this music in Detroit, the birthplace of Motown. "I love that Lem Barney will be with us for this tribute. He's a really significant living tie to Marvin, and a quintessential renaissance man - a great athlete, devoted to jazz as well as rhythm & blues, a spiritual guy. There aren't many men like him anymore." Lem Barney, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992, is an Associate Pastor at Hope United Church. He is also Director of Physician Relations and Recruitment for The Detroit Medical Center, and is involved with several charities including The Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
The complete lineup has been finalized for the 29th annual Detroit International Jazz Festival.
Here are some of the main stage highlights:
Date Time Performance Stage
8/29 7:00 - 8:15 PM Dianne Reeves Chase Main Stage
8/29 8:45 - 10:30 PM Philly/Detroit Tribute to Marvin Gaye Chase Main Stage
8/30 3:45 - 4:45 PM Philly-Detroit Summit w/ Christian
McBride, Karriem Riggins, Randy Brecker,
Geri Allen, Bootsie Barnes
Absopure Waterfront Stage
8/30 4:45 - 6:00 PM Swiss Movement Revisited: Javon Jackson
Band with Les McCann
Carhartt Amphitheatre
8/30 5:15 - 6:45 PM Dee Dee Sharp Chase Main Stage
8/30 9:00 - 10:30 PM Lalah Hathaway Chase Main Stage
8/30 9:15 - 10:45 PM The Latin Jazz All-Stars: A Tribute to
Hilton Ruiz & Mario Rivera
Carhartt Amphitheatre
8/31 1:30 - 2:45 PM Leebop: A Tribute to Lee Morgan
Absopure Waterfront Stage
8/31 2:00 - 3:00 PM Jimmy Heath & the Wayne State
University Big Band
Carhartt Amphitheatre
8/31 4:30 - 6:00 PM Ravi Coltrane's Tribute to Alice Coltrane
feat. Jack DeJohnnette, Charlie Haden
Geri Allen and Brandee Younger
Carhartt Amphitheatre
8/31 9:15 - 11:15 PM "Battle of the Big Bands" - Count Basie
Orchestra vs. Gerald Wilson Orchestra
Carhartt Amphitheatre
9/1 4:15 - 5:15 PM Temple University Jazz Band with
Benny Golson
Carhartt Amphitheatre
9/1 5:15 - 6:30 PM Barry Harris Trio Absopure Waterfront Stage
9/1 6:00 - 7:30 PM The Derek Trucks Band Chase Main Stage
9/1 6:30 - 7:45 PM James Carter Septet Carharrt Amphitheatre
9/1 7:30 - 8:45 PM The Heath Brothers Quartet with Jimmy Heath, Tootie Heath, Jeb Patton & David Wong Absopure Waterfront Stage
9/1 8:45 - 10:15 PM The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Band directed by Slide Hampton Carharrt Amphitheatre
"Detroit International Jazz Festival was voted one of the top five festivals in the U.S. in the January 2008 JazzTimes Reader's Poll," says Pontremoli. "The musicians will be having wonderful reunions, and the great Detroit audience, which always amazes me, will play a huge role in the brotherly love vibe."
Detroit International Jazz Festival is now the largest, free jazz festival in North America, attracting upwards of 750,000 people. It has become a major tourist attraction, with 25% of its audience coming from out of state. The festival has a significant economic impact on Detroit and showcases the city in the most positive light. The festival has received support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the NEA Jazz Masters, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA), and the Kresge Foundation. Major corporate sponsors include Chase, Mack Avenue Records, Carhartt and Absopure. The Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center is the official hotel of the 29th Annual Detroit International Jazz Festival.
Detroit International Jazz Festival is now the largest, free jazz festival in North America, attracting upwards of 750,000 people. It has become a major tourist attraction, with 25% of its audience coming from out of state. The festival has a significant economic impact on Detroit and showcases the city in the most positive light. The festival has received support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the NEA Jazz Masters, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA), and the Kresge Foundation. Major corporate sponsors include Chase, Mack Avenue Records, Carhartt and Absopure. The Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center is the official hotel of the 29th Annual Detroit International Jazz Festival.
For more information and the complete 2008 Detroit International Jazz Festival schedule, visit www.detroitjazzfest.com
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