Stay Informed
Get Ready for Detroit Jazz Festival Livestream Preview Event
Innovation exists at the core of artistic expression, and it carries us through changing times. This year, the Detroit Jazz Fest Foundation’s Livestream Preview Event will take on a new format as a virtual event on the evening of Wednesday, April 7. Stay tuned for more information about broadcasts and unique fan experiences. Also, follow our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages (listed in ‘Stay Connected’ section) for updates and watch encore performances on our YouTube channel.
To participate in an exclusive VIP Meet and Greet with DeeDee Bridgewater and Omar Sosa, Click HERE to Become a Jazz Guardian Today!
Omar Sosa and The Havana-Detroit Jazz Project will be performing at the Dirty Dog Jazz Café on April 8, 9, and 10. Four course prix fixe dinner, $99 per person, limited seating. For more information or to make reservations, call (313) 882-5299
Jazz From The Cellar
Catch it again! Jazz from the Cellar with special guest, pianist Cliff Monear and Detroit Jazz Fest All-Stars: Havana-Detroit Jazz Project-African Influence is also available on our YouTube channel.
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Download the Detroit Jazz Fest LIVE! App
Be the first to know about upcoming events and watch them live on the Detroit Jazz Fest LIVE! App available for mobile. Register for the app at https://live.detroitjazzfest.com/.
In honor of Women’s History Month, the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation is featuring legendary and trailblazing women artists who have entertained and inspired many with their unique sound and influence.
Legendary Artist Spotlight: Ursula Walker
Jazz Vocalist Ursula Walker has dazzled audiences for over six decades. The Detroit native began singing professionally as a child and appeared on TV and radio shows. After graduating from high school, she became a staple of Detroit’s music scene. She performed at various clubs in the area and at the Montreux-Detroit Jazz Festival multiple times. In addition, she served as the vocalist for the Detroit’s Brookside Jazz Ensemble for 21 years. Over the years, Ursula has received numerous awards and commendations including the The Aretha Franklin Award from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The award was presented to her by Aretha who was a proud peer and fan. Alongside Ursula’s love of music is a passion for supporting her community through education. She has mentored the winner of the Detroit Jazz Festival Diva Competition now known as the Youth Vocal Competition for eight years. For 47 years, Ursula has also made beautiful music with her husband acclaimed pianist Buddy Budson, another major player in Detroit jazz history.
Trailblazing Artist Spotlight: Esperanza Spalding
Esperanza Spalding is a Grammy Award-winning singer, bassist, composer, and one of most renowned artists in contemporary jazz. A self-taught violinist, she joined the Chamber Music Society of Oregon by age five and performed with the orchestra for a decade. After earning a bachelor’s degree in music at Berklee College and becoming the school’s youngest teacher, she won a Boston Jazz Society scholarship for outstanding musicianship.
Her catapult to stardom began with the release of her first and sophomore albums, Junjo (2006) and Esperanza (2008). She became known for her gift of blending jazz with Brazilian and Argentine styles while featuring lyrics in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. In 2009, she performed for President Obama three times. She has been heralded by other multitalented artists including Prince, Stevie Wonder, and Herbie Hancock all who have performed with her. The four-time Grammy Award winner received her first for best new artist in 2011, the first jazz artist to receive the award. After releasing a few other projects, she became a professor of jazz at Harvard University in 2017. Esperanza has graced the stage at the Detroit Jazz Festival in 2017 and 2018 and was a part of the Festival’s Untitled Series.
Are you a Detroit Jazz Festival donor? Have you attended the Festival as a VIP? Do you have a business making a difference in our area? We are showcasing donors on the blog and on the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation’s social media platforms. If you would like to be featured, send us an email at memberships@detroitjazzfest.org.
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