Detroit Jazz Fest receives $100,000 from Knight Foundation to support DJF’s Jazz Planet, photo by Knight Foundation.

“This weekend, for me and everyone I’ve spoken with was the epitome of how a jazz festival can feel, with an entire city and international audience bringing their love and positively together with an expansive family of musicians… and it was all real jazz.” ~Jazz pianist Benny Green

The annual Detroit Internations Jazz Festival was founded in 1980. It is completely free and starts tomorrow. They say:

Voted one of the top three jazz festivals in North America in national jazz publications this year, the 32nd Detroit Jazz Festival continues to demonstrate how much jazz shines as a symbol of freedom and democracy all over the world this Labor Day weekend, Friday, Sept. 2 through Monday, Sept. 5.

Subtitled “We Bring You the World,” artists from Benin, Brazil, Cuba, Israel, Japan and the Netherlands will convene in Detroit at the world’s largest free jazz festival. Performers include: Toots Thielemans, Dave Holland, Luciana Souza, Gary Burton, Ivan Lins, Paquito D’Rivera, Angélique Kidjo, Kevin Eubanks, Vijay Iyer, Vinicius Cantuária, Joe Lovano, Mandrill, Chuck Jackson, Deacon Jones Blues Revue, Steve Wilson, U.S. Airforce Airmen of Note with Joe Locke, Anthony Wilson, Sun Ra Arkestra, Sammy Figueroa, Tony Monaco, Richie Goods, Rahsaan Patterson, Sean Jones, and Christian McBride with Ernie Andrews and the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra, this year presented by MotorCity Casino Hotel.

While artists are visiting from across the globe, some of Detroit’s own jazz artists will be coming home. The Detroit-born Dianne Reeves, Geri Allen, Regina Carter, Curtis Fuller, Robert Hurst and Karriem Riggins will prove once again that, based on the talent that comes from southeast Michigan, there must be something in the water. The festival will also recognize Detroit’s big band tradition with a J.C. Heard tribute band led by Walt Szymanski, and the music of Detroit’s Jean Goldkette played by Josh Duffee & his Orchestra.

The Detroit News reports that Jazz Fest typically draws 250,000 people and their webcasts at www.livestream.com/jazzplanettv are seen by almost three times that many!

Speaking of DJF’s Jazz Planet, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation awarded a $100,000 grant to help the festival reach a global audience. Check this photo out bigger and if you’re near the D this weekend, definitely check out Jazz Fest!!