30th Anniversary of the Detroit International Jazz Festival 2009 Edition of the Labor...

30th Anniversary of the Detroit International Jazz Festival 2009 Edition of
the Labor Day Weekend Classic to Celebrate Family Jazz Dynasties and the
Detroit Jazz Legacy

Bassist, composer, arranger John Clayton to serve as artist-in-residence

DETROIT, April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, festival organizers announced the
lineup for the 30th Anniversary of the Detroit International Jazz Festival
(DJF), Friday, September 4 through Monday, September 7, in downtown Detroit.

At a challenging time in Detroit, this year's jazz celebration will serve as a
reminder of the greatness of Detroit and its musical soul. Subtitled "Keepin'
Up with the Joneses," the Detroit Jazz Fest will give a nod to Thad, Elvin and
Hank Jones, feature other great jazz families, and continue its recognition of
the richness of Detroit's jazz history. "In this case, 'keepin' up' means
'living up' to the greatness of Hank, Elvin and Thad Jones - these important
musical giants, and their incredible sense of swing," says Detroit Jazz
Festival executive director, Terri Pontremoli. "In no way is this your typical
family reunion!"

First, there are the "family guys": 91 year-old Hank Jones, the Clayton
Brothers, Dave Brubeck & sons, John & Bucky Pizzarelli, Larry & Julian
Coryell, the Heath Brothers, Pete & Juan Escovedo, and Brian Auger and his
family. Then, there are the "heirs" (musicians who represent strong family
traditions): T.S. Monk with a "tentet" performance of Monk on Monk, and
Chuchito Valdes - son and grandson of brilliant pianists Chucho and Bebo.

The homecoming of Detroit's greats brings to the stages vocalist Sheila
Jordan, known for her heartbreaking ballads and improvisational lyrics;
pianist Geri Allen in a quartet featuring tap dancer Maurice Chestnut as an
additional "voice" in the band; Louis Hayes (Cannonball Adderley's original
drummer) with his Cannonball Legacy Band; Charles McPherson, known for his
work with Mingus; the adventurous Bennie Maupin's Dolphyana - a tribute to
Eric Dolphy; drummer Karriem Riggins' Virtuoso Experience with Mulgrew Miller
and DJ Madlib; Dee Dee Bridgewater (okay Flint, close enough) with the
Michigan State University Big Band; and Marcus Belgrave's Allstar Jazz
Ensemble - a reunion of his proteges including Bob Hurst, Geri Allen and
Karriem Riggins. Last, but certainly not least, the indefatigable Gerald
Wilson, conducting his commissioned work for the festival's 30th anniversary.

Add to that a special treatment of Detroit trumpeter Donald Byrd's jazz-gospel
recording A New Perspective - which also gives a festival nod to Blue Note on
their 70th, and showcases Sean Jones and other artists from the Mack Avenue
label, led by Detroit native Rodney Whitaker. The festival will close with a
commissioned "concerto grosso" by John Clayton, written for and performed by
the Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra and the Clayton Brothers Quintet. The
Clayton Brothers will open the performance with material from their CD Brother
to Brother, which honors the amazing brother teams of the Burrells, the Heaths
and the Adderleys, to name a few. Detroit Jazz Fest and John Clayton were
awarded a prestigious grant from the Joyce Foundation for this special
project. Out of the four 2009 Joyce grant recipients in the Midwest, the
Detroit Jazz Fest was the only music organization to receive the honor.

"Not everything will be Detroit or family-centric," says Pontremoli. "We're
thrilled to have Chick Corea and his fabulous trio with Stanley (Clarke) and
Lenny (White) on opening night. And then, of course, there's Wayne Shorter
with John Patitucci, Brian Blade and Danilo Perez...it just doesn't get much
better than that!" Festival fans will also be treated to a performance by
vibraphonist Stefon Harris, and recently signed Mack Avenue artist Christian
McBride will make a return appearance with his new quintet, Inside Straight.

Other cool presentations include a 100th birthday celebration for Benny
Goodman by clarinetist extraordinaire Eddie Daniels and the WSU Big Band a;
Bottoms Up!, a "superbass" performance by John Clayton, Christian McBride and
Rodney Whitaker; and a piano tribute to Tommy Flanagan, Hank Jones, Barry
Harris and Milt Jackson by pianist Antonio Ciacca. Outside of jazz, audiences
will be treated to appearances by Irma Thomas, the soul queen of New Orleans,
Detroit's own gospel sister act, The Clark Sisters, and Motown's very own
Contours featuring Sylvester Potts.

Rising star artists in 2009 include vocalist Gretchen Parlato (2004 Thelonious
Monk award winner); Alfredo Rodriquez, the stellar pianist recently discovered
by Quincy Jones; and vocalist Jose James, who blew the audience away last year
as a special guest in the Marvin Gaye tribute.

The 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 music of Benny Goodman with clarinetist
Eddie Daniels and the Michigan State University Big Band will perform the
works of John Clayton with Dee Dee Bridgewater. Other visiting schools include
the Berklee (Boston) Jazz Ensemble, North Carolina Central University Jazz
Ensemble and the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quartet. Jazz Fest continues its
partnership with MSBOA by showcasing outstanding Michigan high school jazz
ensembles. And back by popular demand is the KidBop area for the wee-boppers
and their parents, with stories, songs and other fun activities.

The Pepsi Jazz Talk Tent will also be full of laughs and stories, with Hank
Jones, Christian McBride, Jimmy Heath, Bennie Maupin, Louis Hayes and Sheila
Jordan. Topics will range from remembering Cannonball to discussing the
genius of Elvin Jones, Eric Dolphy, Donald Byrd, and the special piano
trademark of Detroit. The tent will also feature a gallery of historic
festival photographs in honor of DJF's 30th anniversary.

"As is always the case with this festival, the musicians will be having
wonderful reunions, and the ever-hip and amazing Detroit audience will be
joining the family in their uniquely enthusiastic and respectful way."

The festival has been celebrating its 30th anniversary since February through
its series, Another Great Day in Detroit. Through collaborations with the
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Detroit Symphony
Orchestra, Wayne State University, Detroit Institute of Arts, Midsummer Nights
in Midtown, the Guardian Building, the Rowland Cafe, and area jazz clubs, the
festival is treating Detroit music lovers, showcasing Detroit musicians, and
building momentum toward Labor Day Weekend.

The Detroit International Jazz Festival is the largest free jazz festival in
North America. It has become a major tourist attraction, with 23% of its
audience coming from out of state. It has a $90M economic impact on Detroit
and showcases the city in its most positive light. The festival has received
support from the National Endowment for the Arts, Michigan Council for Arts
and Cultural Affairs (MCACA), the Joyce Foundation and the Kresge Foundation.
Major corporate sponsors include Chase, Carhartt, Absopure, Mack Avenue
Records, DTE Energy, Whole Foods, Citizens Bank, Detroit Medical Center,
Solaire, Pepsi, Comcast and Fox 2. In addition, there is a growing base of
individual support. "We are extremely grateful to have the support of these
institutions and individuals," adds Pontremoli. "They are our life blood."

Nightly after-hour jam sessions will be held at the Detroit Marriott at the
Renaissance Center, the official festival hotel.

New to the festival this year are Phase I of a Greening Program sponsored by
DTE Energy and the DJF Maiden Voyage Cruise, presented by Citizens Bank on
August 26.

For more information, including festival updates and details on how to
become a Jazz Fest guardian or member of the Rhythm Section, visit
www.detroitjazzfest.com.

SOURCE Detroit International Jazz Festival

Don Lucoff, National Publicist, +1-610-667-0501 x101, don@jazzpublicity.com;
or Matt Lee, Festival Publicist, +1-248-931-2443, mleibow412@aol.com