The Detroit Jazz Festival has announced its 2021 lineup—and all of its artists will be performing in front of live, in-person audiences once again.
Headliners in Detroit from September 3–6 will include Dee Dee Bridgewater (the festival’s 2021 artist in residence), Herbie Hancock, Kenny Barron, Abdullah Ibrahim, Anat Cohen, Sean Jones, Kenny Garrett, and Gregory Porter, among others.
The world’s largest free jazz festival takes place each Labor Day weekend in downtown Detroit. When the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic forced live music events across the United States to shut down last year, the festival carried on in a live-streamed format. This year it returns to a more “normal” presentation, with a revised festival footprint that will include three stages in the downtown Hart Plaza and Campus Martius areas, allowing for more open space and social distancing.
The full lineup is below. Visit the Detroit Jazz Festival’s website for more information.
Friday, Sept. 3
- 2021 Artist-in-Residence Dee Dee Bridgewater and the Woodshed Network Ladies
- Herbie Hancock
Saturday, Sept. 4
- Matthew Whitaker Quartet
- Kenny Barron
- Jerry Bergonzi Quintet
- Alicia Olatuja – “Intuition: Songs from the Minds of Women”
- Etienne Charles – Creole Soul
- David Binney Angeleno Quartet
- Omar Sosa and the Havana-Detroit Jazz Project
- Keyon Harrold presents Jazz and the Birth of Hip Hop with special guests “Elzhi,” Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Chris “Daddy” Dave
- The Summit: The Manhattan Transfer Meets Take 6
- Kurt Elling’s The Big Blind
Sunday, Sept. 5
- Michael Mayo
- Roberto Fonseca
- Dee Dee Bridgewater/Bill Charlap Duo
- Abdullah Ibrahim and the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra
- Anat Cohen Tentet
- Sean Jones: “DizzySpellz”
- Kenny Garrett
- Tribute to Dave Brubeck @100: Brubeck Brothers Quartet featuring Jerry Bergonzi, Detroit Jazz Festival Choir, and the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra
- Aziza featuring Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Lionel Loueke, and Eric Harland
- Gregory Porter
Monday, Sept. 6
- Abdullah Ibrahim: Ekaya
- Jimmy Green Quintet
- Eddie Daniels and Bob James: Exploring New Worlds
- Fly Higher: Charlie Parker @ 100
- Dee Dee Bridgewater Female Big Band
