Drummer, Composer, Bandleader Brian Blade Named as 2024 Artist-in-Residence
DETROIT – The Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation is honored to present two-time Grammy Award-winning jazz drummer Brian Blade as its Artist-in-Residence for the 2024 Detroit Jazz Festival. Blade, a highly sought after sideman and collaborator, is also a composer and leader of Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band.
As the 2024 Artist-in-Residence, Blade will support Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation educational initiatives for students and community engagement activities across the region throughout the year. In addition, Blade will lead multiple diverse performances during the Festival on Labor Day weekend. Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band will also perform at a sneak peek for the new Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center on the campus of Wayne State University on Wednesday, April 10 during the Detroit Jazz Festival Preview Event, which will be livestreamed for free on detroitjazzfest.org. The Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center is scheduled to open to the public later in the Fall.
“Brian Blade’s career, beginning with his Gospel roots in Shreveport, Louisiana, to his ascension to becoming one of the most acclaimed jazz drummers in the country is a shining testament to his dedication and commitment to jazz and its evolutions,” said Chris Collins, president and artistic director of the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation. “His legacy and contributions to this year’s Festival will be greatly appreciated by our fans and the entire global jazz community.”
Ove the 25 years The Fellowship Band has existed, they have released seven recordings, beginning with their Fellowship debut in 1998, Perceptual in 2000, Season of Changes in 2008, Landmarks in 2014, Body and Shadow in 2017, Live from the Archives in 2022, and Kings Highway in 2023.
The Detroit Jazz Festival will be held in downtown Detroit on Aug. 30 – Sept. 2 (Labor Day weekend).
About the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation
Under the leadership of President and Artistic Director Chris Collins, the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization that presents jazz and educational workshops throughout the year. The Foundation produces the Detroit Jazz Festival, which is the signature event for the Foundation and the largest free jazz festival in the world. The Festival is also a major tourist attraction for the City of Detroit, with 26 percent of its audience coming from out of state. For more information, visit detroitjazzfest.org.
The Detroit Jazz Festival is supported by the Gretchen C. Valade Endowment for the Arts, a private foundation generously created by the late Angel of Jazz, Gretchen C. Valade. The Foundation also receives grant funding from the DTE Foundation, Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, Kresge Foundation, the Knight Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Arts Midwest and Carolyn Wanzo and the Purify Wanzo CTAA Endowment at Wayne State University. Hundreds of individuals also contribute to the Festival through membership and donations.
Major corporate partners include Rocket Mortgage, Carhartt, JPMorgan Chase, Absopure and Kia.
Media partners include Fox 2 Detroit, 760 WJR, WEMU-FM, DownBeat, WDET-FM 101.9, WRCJ 90.9 FM, Channel 22, city of Detroit’s new arts and entertainment channel; and Detroit Public Television.
For more information, visit:
Website – www.detroitjazzfest.org
Facebook — @DetroitJazzFestival
Twitter — @DetroitJazzFest
Instagram — @DetroitJazzFest
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