[JPL] 29th Annual Detroit International Jazz Festival - 2008 Lineup

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Press Release
29th Annual Detroit International Jazz Festival Announces 2008 Lineup

Labor Day Weekend Classic to Celebrate the
Rich Musical Heritage of Detroit and Philadelphia

Philly Bassist Christian McBride to Serve As Guest Artist in Residence


Festival organizers today announced the lineup for the 29th annual 
Detroit International Jazz Festival, Friday, August 29 through Monday, 
September 1, at Hart Plaza on the Detroit River waterfront.

Billed as A Love Supreme: The Philly/Detroit Summit, the 2008 festival 
will celebrate the storied jazz and soul traditions of these two great 
American cities. "I enjoy the challenge of designing the festival lineup 
around a theme," says executive and artistic director Terri Pontremoli. 
Philly/Detroit, jazz, and soul will be represented on opening night, 
which features Dianne Reeves, whose new Blue Note Records CD When You 
Know gives a nod to Motown's Temptations.  A Philly/Detroit jazz tribute 
to Marvin Gaye, curated and arranged by Christian McBride, will also bow 
that evening.  McBride will present his own unique takes on Gaye's 
material with a big band of stellar Detroit-based musicians backing R&B 
vocalists Lalah Hathaway and Rahsaan Patterson.  Joining the two veteran 
singers will be up-and-coming jazz vocalist Jose James.

Throughout the weekend, legendary artists from Detroit and Philly will 
include Hank Jones, Gerald Wilson (both turning 90 this year), Barry 
Harris, Benny Golson and Jimmy Heath.  A gamut of guitar stylists will 
be showcased over three days with appearances by Stanley Jordan, Jim 
Hall, Pat Martino, Derek Trucks, Calvin Cooke, Grant Green Jr., and Mike 
Stern.  But guitars won't be the only things that slide - trombones will 
also take center stage with appearances by Robin Eubanks, Slide Hampton, 
Bonerama, Trombone Shorty and the University of Michigan Jazz Trombone 
Choir.

A battle of the bands between the Count Basie and Gerald Wilson 
Orchestras promises to leave the audience breathless by the end of the 
night.  Both bands will be on stage at the same time, along with GRAMMY 
award-winning singer Nnenna Freelon, Detroit legend Kenny Burrell, and 
other special guests (to be announced).  The Dizzy Gillespie TM All-Star 
Jazz Band, with James Moody, Jimmy Heath, and Slide Hampton, will close 
out the festival on Labor Day, along with sensational vocalist Roberta 
Gambarini.  A Saturday Night Fish Fry will feature masters of the 
Hammond B-3 with Reuben Wilson's Godfathers of Groove, Robin Eubanks + 
EB3, and Joey DeFrancesco with Karriem Riggins and Christian McBride.  A 
tribute to Alice Coltrane, led by her son Ravi, will feature jazz giants 
Charlie Haden, Jack DeJohnette, and Detroit's own Geri Allen.

Classic jazz will be served up by Kenny Barron, Ted Nash, Roy Hargrove 
and a myriad of regional artists, while new music offerings include ICP 
Orchestra, Cyro Baptista & Beat the Donkey and Matt Wilson's Arts & 
Crafts.  Alexander Zonjic will cross over Philly and Detroit with native 
Philly artists Jeff Lorber and Doc Gibbs and special guest Maysa and the 
Motor City Horns.  GRAMMY-nominated Artistry /Mack Avenue bassist Brian 
Bromberg will be joined by Philly trumpeter Randy Brecker.  Col. Bruce 
Hampton & The Quark Alliance will boast their brand of surreal funk.  
Dee Dee Sharpe will perform in a tribute to the Philly Sound and the 
achievements of R&B pioneers Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff, who are 
celebrating five decades in the music industry, along with their recent 
induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The newly located Here & Now Stage will again feature emerging talents 
such as twenty-somethings pianist Gerald Clayton, bassist Esperanza 
Spalding, The Hot Club of Detroit and the surprisingly six-foot Trombone 
Shorty. 

Detroit International Jazz Festival will continue to encourage young 
talent not only by inviting college and high school ensembles to 
showcase, but by giving them opportunities to perform with jazz 
veterans.  The Wayne State University Big Band will perform the "Book of 
Heath" with Jimmy Heath; Temple University Big Band will perform with 
Benny Golson; Michigan State University will perform the works of Thad 
Jones with trumpet legend Jon Faddis.  Other visiting schools include 
the Berklee (Boston) Jazz Ensemble, the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quartet, 
and the Juilliard Jazz Quintet.  And back by popular demand are the 
KidBop area and Arts & Scraps for the wee-boppers.
 
The Jazz Talk Tent will be full of stories, with Christian McBride, 
Jimmy Heath, Benny Golson, Barry Harris, Hank Jones, Jim Hall, Kenny 
Burrell, James Moody and Slide Hampton.  Topics will range from the B3's 
role in blues to Detroit/Philly histories, the impact of John Coltrane 
and Dizzy Gillespie, discussions of Marvin Gaye, Gamble & Huff, Motown, 
and yes, sports.

"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, MGM Casino, 
Motor City Casino, 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, including festival updates and details on how to 
become a member, visit www.detroitjazzfest.com.

National Media Contact:
Don Lucoff/DL MEDIA, 610-667-0501 don at jazzpublicity.com

Regional Media Contact:
Matt Lee, 248-931-2443 MLeibow412 at aol.com

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