Jazz Festival Blog

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Category: Music

Get some "Energy" for a good cause

I'll admit I'm not big on the "smooth jazz" genre. To me, it's not jazz; it's mostly syrupy R&B without the Screamy-Mimi histrionics. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just not jazz. So I didn't take much notice of the press release that crossed my desk about an upcoming performance by Fourplay in Dearborn. I was somewhat familiar with them, but took a moment to go check out some tracks from their most recent release, "Energy," and it got me grooving. Good stuff.

You can go check 'em out live this Saturday at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, for a good cause. The show will benefit the Don Bosco Hall in Detroit, a charitable place that helps youths develop life skills though recreation, counseling, and developmental programs. Tickets are $50-$125.

And thanks to Ashley at Marx Layne for calling my attention to the event.

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Category: Music

A new place for the jazz jammers

So it was a late Sunday night, Monday morning actually, when a plethora of jazz lovers said goodbye to the beloved Eastside hole-in-the-wall known as Your Place Lounge. Yeah, I wrote about it right below this here post, so no need to describe the joint, especially since it is no more.

It sounds cliche, but it really was a Who's Who of jazz players crammed in there this past weekend. Nearly everyone showed up with an instrument, a Real Book or a favorite tune they wanted to sing. I decided not to even attempt to sit in when I saw that keyboardists Chris Codish and Phillip Hale were both in the house, and they play circles around me. Besides, organizer/drummer R.J. Spangler was almost frantic, scrambling to try to fit in the dozens of players without any hurt feelings.

Being a school night, I had to duck out around 1:30 a.m. and get myself to bed, and the music was going strong. (I wouldn't be surprised if they're still jamming in there.)

The silver lining is that the jazz open-mic night isn't going away. It's moving a few blocks south, to a regular Sunday night slot at the equally beloved Cadieux Cafe. So there won't be any lack of good music on my side of town. Whew.

Category: Music

One music club says farewell, one says hello

* Say it ain't so! The hole-in-the-wall jazz gem of the eastside, Your Place Lounge, is bidding us farewell. Sunday will be its last night of live music, with guitarist Perry Hughes, keysman Chris Codish, trumpeter James O'Donnell and R.J. Spangler on drums. I have to admit I haven't hung out at this tiny East Warren hotspot nearly enough, and now I'm kicking myself repeatedly for it. Never a cover charge, cheap drinks, an awesome bartender and some of the best impromptu jams to be heard in this town. Get there before it's gone for good.

* On the opposite side of town, and completely opposite on the music spectrum, a new - well, sort of - rock joint is opening this weekend just west of downtown. Blondie's, a revival of the legendary '80s metal den of the same name, is ready to bring the noise to a grungy stretch of West Fort Street. Send More Cops, 60 Second Crush, Syrant and One Click Gorilla will blow the doors open this Friday for a piddly $5. Could this be the beginning of a new era - or purely nostalgia for the Gen-Xers who grew up flipping their heavily-sprayed hair to the likes of Seduce and Sweet Teaze? We'll see. Bring earplugs.

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Derek Trucks ...Derek Trucks...Derek Trucks...

Oh sure, I knew about Derek Trucks, the former child prodigy guitarist who's on the road with what, two or three bands at a time? I saw him on a tour with Eric Clapton, and was more than impressed at the way he slid into Duane Allman's role, playing slide guitar in Clapton's band. I love the Allman Brothers and the energy Trucks brought to the group. I'd even heard some of the freer, jazzier things he's done on CD with his own Derek Trucks band. But I was still bowled over by Trucks Monday evening, at the Chase Stage. What a closer for me at the Detroit Jazz Festival, to watch Trucks go from playing jazz -- a John Coltrane-inspired "My Favorite Things" -- to the Southern funk of "Key to the Highway" (from Clapton's "Layla" album). I love that Trucks tours with a cryptically smiling percussionist, Count M'Butu, garbed in African prints and adding a mysterious glamor to the proceedings. Drummer Yonrico Scott, a Detroit native, spoke to the crowd several times; a good thing because Trucks doesn't, he looks so deeply absorbed in his music that nothing could rouse him. Don't ever miss Trucks when he comes to town, whatever the band he's with, but most especially with his own, "progressive roots" band. The beauty of his playing, especially his tone, has got to be heard live.

Dizzy, and dazzled

The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band capped off the festival's Carhartt lineup with a late Monday night show that had listeners overflowing from the concert bowl and onto Hart Plaza. No problem hearing the band out there. It rocks.

Led by Slide Hampton, one of Dizzy's old band partners, this polished troupe perpetuates the music and style of the great bebop trumpeter and flugelhorn player, who died in 1993. Among the highlights was a Dizzy original, and one of his biggest hits, "Con Alma," which generously showcased the breadth and depth of talent in a very appealing band.

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Lem Barney, Duke Fakir and Christian McBride talk Marvin Gaye

Former Detroit Lion Lem Barney and founding Four Top Duke Fakir joined artist in residence Christian McBride at a discussion of the great Marvin Gaye at the Jazz Talk Tent at the Detroit Jazz Festival Monday afternoon.

Duke was a witty raconteur, telling insider stories about Marvin and his collaborations with the Four Tops' Obie Benson on "What's Going On."

A scratch golfer himself, Duke told how suave singer Billy Eckstine, a "golf hustler," would win money from Marvin out on the golf course, repeatedly.

Lem Barney, a personal friend of Marvin's, drew laughs when he described the singer's unsuccessful attempt to try out for the Detroit Lions in the late '60s.

After the talk, when a fan said Lem looked so trim he could play for the Lions today, the Hall of Fame cornerback retorted, "I could, but the difference is, if someone hit me like that today I'd have to shoot them."

Christian McBride opened the discussion up when he talked about Marvin Gaye's strong jazz influences, asking Lem and Duke to comment.

I was honored to moderate, and to hear the stories.

More downtown cuisine

For those like me who dashed downtown without coffee, the Rowland Cafe in the Guardian Building is another Detroit gem. The Illy coffee beats Starbucks hands down (not to kick the Seattle giant when it's sort of down), and you could duck into the air conditioned calm of the Guardian and have some coffee, fruit or a quick sandwich while checking your email thanks to the wi-fi.

Food musings

I echo my colleague's sentiments, the Dirty Dog has been a lifesaver for a hungry scribe over this weekend. We don't have access to the VIP food, but the Dirty Dog offered just-right portions of some unusual dishes, and some funky ones.

The "Dirty Dog" hot dog definitely wouldn't be on the menu in Grosse Pointe, but it was a perfect Jazzfest dish, with a moderate amount of chili, chopped peppers and onions, just enough to give it some dash.

And just for buying a drink and/or food, you'd get to sit in the blessed shade of the red Dirty Dog tent, where you could view the acts on the Chase Stage out of that old devil sun.

Obama, the Tigers and all that jazz

Some folks in the Labor Day festival crowd must have enjoyed a very full day. Crisp new Obama T-shirts doubtless found their owners this morning when the presidential hopeful spoke at Hart Plaza, and the many hats bearing the English D served as reminders the hated New York Yankees had invaded Comerica Park in the afternoon. Now, milling about the stages, they all were simply jazz lovers. Even Yankee fans would have found a welcome here. Probably.

Kickin' at the Dog

Finally, I found a few minutes to sample the cuisine -- believe it, the word applies -- at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe's festival outpost. It's just a long tent with tiny tables, but the fare is a delectable combination of dishes from the cafe's Grosse Pointe Farms menu and several down-home items concocted especially for this event. I had no idea what chicken pot pie could be.

I didn't see Dirty Dog owner Gretchen Valade, but I raised my diet soda to her health. Valade is also the owner of Mack Avenue Records and the godmother -- meaning principal backer -- of this festival. Tie a bow around it. The admission-free Detroit International Jazz Festival is a very special gift to southeastern Michigan.