Detroit Jazz Festival Labor Day

he Detroit Jazz Festival on Labor Day weekend promises a lot of great music at Hart Plaza and Campus Martius.

Opening night (Friday, September 3) will feature Take 6, with Mulgrew Miller's Trio and Tower of Power. Pianist Miller is this year's Artist In Residence; he will be featured throughout the festival in various settings.

On Saturday some of the must-see acts are Mulgrew Miller & Wingspan (including vibist Steve Nelson), Danilo Perez and his Quartet, a Detroit Tribute to Betty Carter, "Hot Pepper" with Barry Harris and Gary Smulyan, and Terence Blanchard's Quintet.

Sunday features Mulgrew Miller and Kenny Barron in a duet, Mambo Legends Orchestra, Maria Schneider Orchestra, Defenders of the Groove with Donald Harrison, Steve Turre, Eddie Henderson, and Louis Hayes, a tribute to Ray Brown with Christian McBride, Benny Green and Greg Hutchinson, Trio M with Myra Melford, Mark Dresser, and Matt Wilson.

Labor Day features Allen Toussaint, Branford Marsalis, Michael Weiss with Randy Brecker, Bobby Watson, Kurt Elling with Ernie Watts, Manhattan Transfer, Gerald Wilson, and Roy Haynes' Fountain of Youth Band. Please go online to detroitjazzfest.com for a more complete listing, or go to www.semja.org.

Our next issue of this publication will have a detailed schedule including all acts.