DETROIT (WXYZ) — The Detroit Jazz Festival is a free jazz festival held every year during Labor Day Weekend at Hart Plaza and Campus Martius Park.
This year's festival will take place August 30 – September 2, and it will bring back pioneer bass virtuoso Stanley Clarke as the 2019 Artist-in-Residence. Clark's scheduled sets in 2014 and 2017 were cancelled due to inclement weather. Quicken Loans also returns as the presenting sponsor of the world's largest (and best) free jazz festival. The company has held its presenting sponsorship status since 2016.
Highlight performances for this year's Festival include Clarke's sets focused on his highly successful "School Days" album and a 'Boyz in the Hood' world premiere with the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra. Also, former Artists-in-Residence Ron Carter, Pat Metheny, Joshua Redman, Danilio Pérez and Terence Blanchard will take a stage for the Festival.
Here is a partial listing of this year's Festival lineup:
Friday, Aug. 30
o Danilio Pérez's Global Big Band featuring the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra and Guests
o Artist-in-Residence: Stanley Clarke - Back-to- 'School Days'
o The Soul Rebels
o Dr. Valade's Brass Band led by New Orleans legend, Shannon Powell
Saturday, Aug. 31
o Macy Gray
o Ron Carter Quartet
o Yellowjackets with Luciana Souza
o Danilo Pérez's Global Messengers
o Joe Lovano Nonet
o Untitled Artist: Cameron Graves with the Detroit Jazz Festival Generations Alumni Band
o Sheila Jordan
o The Soul Rebels
o ELEW
Sunday, Sept. 1
o Artist-in-Residence: Stanley Clarke - A night of jazz with the Stanley Clarke Band
o Kenny Garrett Quintet
o Terence Blanchard - AB2 - Art Blakey Project
o Dee Dee Bridgewater and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra
o Pat Metheny Ron Carter Duo
o John Pizzarelli Trio
o Untitled Artist: Cameron Graves
o Connie Han
o Red Baraat
o Veronica Swift
o Thornetta Davis
Monday, Sept. 2
o Artist-in-Residence: Stanley Clarke - 'Boyz in the Hood' featuring the Detroit Jazz Festival String Orchestra
o Pat Metheny: Side Eye
o Chucho Valdés - Jazz Batá
o Still Dreaming with Joshua Redman, Ron Miles, Scott Colley and Dave King
o Luciana Souza's Book of Longing featuring Chico Pinheiro and Scott Colley
o Marialy Pacheco
o The Four Freshmen and 5 Trombones
o Michael Jellick Sextet
For the full festival schedule, as well as artists bios and photos, visit http://www.detroitjazzfest.org/
