Over the Labor Day weekend, thousands of jazz fans will gather at Hart Plaza, Campus Martius Park and the Valade Jazz Center for the world’s largest, free jazz festival.
One Detroit contributor and American Black Journal host Stephen Henderson sits down for a conversation with Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation President & Artistic Director Chris Collins and two of this year’s festival performers, bassist Marion Hayden and drummer Louis Jones III.
Collins talks about this year’s festival lineup, the planning that goes into the event, and the importance of raising enough money to keep the festival free for all music lovers. He also discusses the legacy of the jazz festival as it quickly approaches a 50-year milestone. Hayden and Jones, both native Detroiters, talk about the joy of performing in their hometown.
Collins also unveils the official Detroit Jazz Festival poster and discusses the artist and concept behind the design.