Welcome to the 47th Annual Detroit Jazz Festival
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Full Schedule
FRIDAY, SEPT. 4
HART PLAZA
CARHARTT AMPHITHEATER STAGE
6:15–6:25 p.m. Dr. Valade’s Brass Band Featuring Shannon Powell
7:00–8:15 p.m. Miles Electric Band
9:15–10:15 p.m. 2026 Artist-In-Residence Joe Lovano’s Paramount Quartet, featuring Julian Lage, Asante Sante Debriano, Will Calhoun
GRETCHEN C. VALADE JAZZ CENTER WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
DETROIT JAZZ HALL (Entrance on Hancock) Doors 9:30 p.m.
10:45 p.m.– 12:00 a.m. – Tia Fuller featuring Shamie Fuller-Royston “Fuller Sound” (Midtown After Hours Special)
SATURDAY, SEPT. 5
HART PLAZA
CARHARTT AMPHITHEATER STAGE
1:15–2:15 p.m. Collegiate Combo Winner LoEnd Quintet
3:00–4:00 p.m. Jeffrey Trent
4:45–6:00 p.m. AFRICAN RHYTHMS ALUMNI QUINTET “Celebrating the Centennial of Dr. Randy Weston”
- T.K. Blue saxophone/flute/musical director;
- Chief Baba Neil Clarke – percussion;
- Alex Blake – bass;
- Ku-umba Frank Lacy – trombone;
- Sharp Radway – piano
7:00–8:15 p.m. Ravi Coltrane Quartet: Centennial Celebration
9:15–10:30 p.m. Kurt Elling & Yellowjackets Celebrate Weather Report
JPMORGANCHASE STAGE
3:15–4:15 p.m. Borderland Ensemble
5:00–6:00 p.m. Skylar Tang
6:45–8:00 p.m. Jill Opal & The Bill Meyer Group
8:45–10:00 p.m. Bob James
WATERFRONT STAGE
2:30–3:45 p.m. University of Michigan Jazz Ensemble directed by Professor Kris Johnson and University of Michigan Jazz Trombone Ensemble directed by Professor Dennis Wilson
4:45–6:00 p.m. Vermilion Field (Takatsuki Jazz Street Representative Band)
7:00–8:15 p.m. Cyrille Aimée
9:00–10:15 p.m. Artemis
GRETCHEN C. VALADE JAZZ CENTER WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
DETROIT JAZZ HALL (Entrance on Hancock)
Doors 10:30 a.m. / 3:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Break / No Programming / Doors 9:30 p.m.
(Midtown After Hours Special)
11:30 a.m.– High School Showcase – Grosse Ile High School Jazz
2:30 p.m. Band, Midland High School Jazz Band, University of Detroit Jazz Orchestra, Troy Athens High School Jazz Band, Northview High School Jazz Ensemble
10:45 p.m.– 12:00 a.m. – Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio
DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER’s (Entrance on Cass Ave.) Doors 9:30 p.m.
(Midtown After Hours Special)
10:45 p.m.– 12:00 a.m. – LoEnd Quintet featuring guest vocalists
SUNDAY, SEPT. 6
HART PLAZA
CARHARTT AMPHITHEATER STAGE
1:15–2:15 p.m. Downbeat Blindfold Test with Special Guest Joe Lovano
3:00–4:00 p.m. The Search: Echoes of the Fallen, tribute to Karim Gideon
4:45–6:00 p.m. Gabrielle Cavassa
7:00–8:15 p.m. 2026 Artist-In-Residence Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas Quintet: Sound Prints Featuring: Lawrence Fields, Yasushi Nakamura and Rudy Royston
9:15–10:30 p.m. Take 6
JPMORGANCHASE STAGE
1:15–2:15 p.m. J.C. Heard JazzWeek All Stars featuring the 2026 Youth Jazz Vocal Competition Winner Ava Noecker
3:15–4:15 p.m. Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet
4:45–6:00 p.m. Catherine Russell
6:45–8:00 p.m. Sequoia “REDWOOD” Snyder and INNER KNOWING
8:45–10:00 p.m. Dee Dee Bridgewater with Bill Charlap
WATERFRONT STAGE
1:45–2:45 p.m. Wayne State University “Jazz Warriors” Big Band directed by Professor Vincent Chandler and Wayne State University Advanced Vocal Jazz Quartet directed by Cayla Stus
3:30–4:40 p.m. Luca Ciarla solOrkestra
5:20–6:30 p.m. 2026 Legacy Artist: Jaribu Shahid Salute to the AACM
7:15–8:25 p.m. Instant Alter featuring Natasha Agrama Clarke and Emilio Modeste
9:10–10:25 p.m. Vijay Iyer Trio with special guest, Adam O’Farrill
GRETCHEN C. VALADE JAZZ CENTER WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
DETROIT JAZZ HALL (Entrance on Hancock) Doors 10:30 a.m
*3:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Break / No Programming / Doors 9:30 p.m.
(Midtown After Hours Special)
11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.– High School Showcase – Taylor High School Jazz Band, Utica High School Jazz Band, Jackson Northwest High School Jazz Band, Northville High School Jazz Ensemble, Meridian High School Jazz Ensemble
10:45 p.m.– 12:00 a.m.– Nduduzo Makhathini (Midtown After Hours Special)
DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER’s (Entrance on Cass Ave.) Doors 9:30 p.m.
10:45 p.m.– 12:00 a.m.–LoEnd Quintet featuring guest vocalists
MONDAY, SEPT. 7
HART PLAZA
CARHARTT AMPHITHEATER STAGE
2:00–3:10 p.m. Himiko Kikuchi Tottori Young Lions Trio
4:00–5:10 p.m. Cindy Blackman Santana
6:00–7:30 p.m. Coltrane 100 – 2026 Artist-In-Residence Joe Lovano, Melissa Aldana, Nduduzo Makathini, Linda May Han Oh, Jeff “Tain” Watts Both Directions at Once
JPMORGANCHASE STAGE
1:45–2:45 p.m. Teiku
3:30–4:45 p.m. Roberta Gambarini and the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra
5:15–6:30 p.m. Joey Alexander Trio
WATERFRONT STAGE
1:00–2:00 p.m. Michigan State University Jazz Orchestra| ”The Bebop Spartans” directed by Professor Rodney Whitaker
3:00–4:15 p.m. The Django Festival Allstars Featuring Samson Schmitt, Ludovic Beier, Pierre Blanchard with Special Guest Grace Kelly
5:00–6:15 p.m. Ron Carter & Foursight
GRETCHEN C. VALADE JAZZ CENTER WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
DETROIT JAZZ HALL (Entrance on Hancock) Doors 10:30 a.m.
11:30 a.m.– Detroit Public Schools Community District Jazz
2:30 p.m. Showcase + Tottori Jazz Mission International Jam
