Results for "Detroit"

In Circuses and Carnivals, Sideshows Brought Black Music To The Heartland

by Arthur R George
May 30, 2026

Black musicians in circus and carnival sideshow bands from the late 1800s well into the Twentieth Century brought ragtime and what would become jazz and rhythm and blues to white audiences deep into Midwest agricultural regions. Trumpeter Lester Bowie, later known for the avant-garde Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), ...

Aris Chalin

Born: May 17, 2001

Aris Chalin is an award-winning jazz pianist and keyboardist at Western Michigan University. He has performed with the renowned vocal jazz ensemble "Gold Company" at WMU since 2021. He has performed and played alongside world-class jazz musicians, such as in masterclasses and guest artist vists from Chris Potter, Dave Holland, säje, Christian McBride, Johnaye Kendrick, Jesus Molina, and the Emmet Cohen Trio. Aris is based in Kalamazoo MI, and travels around Michigan to perform in different venues around the area. He has performed at venues such as the NAMM 2023 show, Hill Auditorium, Blue LLama Jazz Club, Cliff Bells, and the North American International Auto Show COBO Center in Detroit. 

Disaster Relief

Active since: 2018

Disaster Relief is a joyful jazz-funk ensemble designed to remedy the negative vibes in the world today. Led by Ann Arbor, Michigan based guitarist/composer/producer Darrin James, the ensemble boasts a big horn section and showcases many rising stars of the Michigan and Detroit music scenes.  They have a reputation for exciting live performances that balance tightly composed arrangements with open, free improvisation, always with a deep danceable groove and loads of soul. 

Ignition of the Ages: Sonny Sharrock’s Seismic Siege of the Detroit State Theatre

by Dave Kaufman
February 12, 2026

Sonny Sharrock was a singular force in music, a brilliant and volcanic guitarist who bridged the jagged divide between the visceral power of Jimi Hendrix and the spiritual depth of John Coltrane. In 1991, he released his masterpiece, “Ask the Ages," a record that remains a high-water mark of modern jazz. Tragically, it would serve as ...

Deblon Jackson

Hailing from the vibrant musical landscape of Detroit, Deblon Jackson is a classically trained dynamic jazz flautist and veteran Flautist of the United States Air Force Band whose soulful sound and innovative approach have made her a standout voice in contemporary jazz. Blending classic jazz influences with smooth grooves, R&B undertones, and a touch of funk.  A classically trained musician  with a deep love for improvisation she received her Bachelors of Music Education from The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.  Deblon draws inspiration from jazz greats like Hubert Laws and Herbie Mann, while also carving out her own distinct sonic identity. Her performances are marked by warm, expressive tones and fluid melodies that resonate across generations.  Deblon has performed at premier jazz venues and festivals across the country, sharing the stage with Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and many of the industry's most respected artists. As an artist, she continues to push creative boundaries, crafting music that bridges genres and invites audiences on a journey of sound and spirit.  

Dave McMurray Hears Himself In All Of Detroit's Music

by John Chacona
January 19, 2026

Saxophonist and composer Dave McMurray has much of the celebrated history of Detroit music in his memory and under his fingers. Now 70, and with four acclaimed releases on the storied Blue Note label, he is arguably at the pinnacle of a long and remarkably varied career. All the strands of that career are ...

Craig Taborn: When Kabuya Dances

by John Chacona
December 14, 2025

With every passing year, the genius of the late Geri Allen increasingly comes into focus. “When Kabuya Dances" has all the hallmarks of her style: memorable melodies, a sophisticated approach to rhythm and formal audacity. Allen had left Detroit for Howard University shortly before Craig Taborn arrived at the University of Michigan, but he might have ...

Jordan Anderson

Introducing: The Russ Macklem Detroit Quintet

by Vincent Chandler
October 23, 2025

What do these musicians have in common: Wardell Gray, Joe Henderson, Yusef Lateef, Thad, Elvin, and Hank Jones, Betty Carter, Howard McGhee and Marcus Belgrave? They are all legendary jazz musicians from Detroit who were born elsewhere. Some were raised in Detroit, while others moved there later in their lives. This phenomenon dates to the Great ...

Stanley Clarke Band at The Carver

by Katchie Cartwright
October 18, 2025

Stanley Clarke The Carver Community Cultural Center / Jo Long Theatre The New Season 2025/26 San Antonio, TX October 11, 2025 A capacity crowd at The Carver's Jo Long Theatre celebrated the opening of San Antonio's 2025 season on October 11 with a high-spirited set from Stanley Clarke ...