For one summer day, Livonia’s Schoolcraft College will become the epicenter of Michigan’s jazz scene as hundreds of musicians, educators and fans gather for the 31st annual Michigan Jazz Festival on Sunday, July 19.
The free festival will transform the college’s campus at 18600 Haggerty Road into a sprawling celebration of America’s original art form, featuring 46 performing groups selected from more than 150 auditions. From noon until 9 p.m., music will fill eight stages inside the VisTaTech Center and on the outdoor Open Air Stage, offering audiences an all-day journey through jazz’s many sounds and styles.
Festival-goers can wander from stage to stage, sampling everything from boogie-woogie piano and Latin rhythms to big band swing and classic interpretations of the Great American Songbook. The event remains one of the largest gatherings of jazz talent in the state, showcasing established performers alongside emerging artists.
The outdoor Open Air Stage will spotlight a wide range of jazz combos, while the Rathskeller Stage promises an even broader mix of ensembles and styles. Fans of jazz vocals can settle in around the popular Cabaret Stage, where many of the region’s favorite singers will take the spotlight. Elsewhere, the Presentation Stage will feature small-group performances, and the Solo Piano Room will provide a more intimate setting for audiences to experience some of the state’s most accomplished jazz pianists.
(Note: On Sunday morning, a decision will be made regarding the Open Air Stage. If the air quality index is above 200, all Open Air Stage performances will be canceled. The remainder of the festival, which takes place indoors, will continue as programmed.)
Beyond the music, the festival will delve into jazz history and its deep ties to Detroit. In the Collaborative Learning Center, the Jazz Talks series will feature conversations and presentations from George Sinnott, Mark Stryker, Rod Arroyo and Jim Gallert. The sessions will explore the evolution of jazz and its impact on Detroit and Michigan while also featuring interviews with musicians performing at the festival.
This year’s festival also marks a new chapter in the organization’s educational mission.
The Michigan Jazz Festival Board of Directors has created its first-ever educator-in-residence position, an initiative developed by board member Scott Gwinnell. The inaugural appointee is Andrew Bishop, chair of jazz and contemporaryiImprovisation and professor at the University of Michigan.
Throughout the day, Bishop will work directly with young musicians participating in the festival, leading clinics, appearing on the Future of Jazz Stage’s “Playing with the Pros” program and performing as a guest artist with the Jeff Trudell Orchestra.
The emphasis on youth continues on the Future of Jazz Stage, where college and high school ensembles will perform throughout the day. One of the festival’s highlights is scheduled for 2 p.m. on the Big Band Stage, when the Michigan Jazz Festival All-Star High School Jazz Band takes the spotlight. Made up of student musicians from across the state and led by board member Dave Jensen, the ensemble will showcase the next generation of Michigan jazz talent.
“The last two years, we’ve been trying to expand more into youth and diversity, and that’s working for us,” said Michigan Jazz Fest President Craig Strain. “There’s no doubt that this area is just filled with great pros and youth, and that’s our mission – to pull performers from that pool.”
Admission to the festival is free, and organizers note that the venue is handicapped-accessible with free parking available.
A full performance schedule and additional information can be found on the festival’s website at michiganjazzfestival.org.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Sunday’s Michigan Jazz Festival expands focus on young artists
Reporting by Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
