Cliff Bell's

DeSean Jones
2021-08-20 19:30 - 2021-08-21 09:30, 2021-08-21 19:30 - 2021-08-22 09:30, 2021-08-22 19:30 - 2021-08-23 09:30, 2021-08-23 19:30 - 2021-08-24 09:30, 2021-08-24 19:30 - 2021-08-25 09:30, 2021-08-25 19:30 - 2021-08-26 09:30, 2021-08-26 19:30 - 2021-08-27 09:30, 2021-08-27 19:30 - 2021-08-28 09:30 (America/Detroit) and 12 more dates
De’Sean Jones is a Detroit based saxophonist, billboard charting recording artist and grammy nominated arranger. Over the past 20 years De’Sean has toured the world recording or performing with music Icons like Stevie Wonder, Faith Evans, along with a host of Detroit Legends; Marcus Belgrave, The Clark Sisters, Kierra Sheard and techno pioneer Mad Mike Banks of Underground Resistance.
As a bandleader & producer Jones has curated an eclectic approach that is widely viewed as progressive and undeniably rooted in the rich history of black culture. De’Sean actively pushes the boundaries of social consciousness through music in ways that are authentic, emotionally dynamic and intellectually stimulating.

All musical projects from De’Sean Jones can be accessed through his record label KNMDK Records.

Ashton Thomas w/Six Mile Strings
2021-08-21 19:30 - 23:30, 2021-08-22 19:30 - 23:30
There will be two seatings at 7:30 & 9:30pm for this performance.
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Drum Virtuoso Ashton Thomas a Lorain Ohio Native is certainly noted for his expansive musical creativity and phenomenal technique around the drum kit.

Over the course of his 20 + year career he’s actively toured all over the world, holding several recurring artist residencies in San Francisco, Iceland and the U.K. He’s also endorsed by SoulTone Cymbals and Solobeat Drum Stick with his own signature line.

In his music and performances it’s clear the influences span across many genres ranging from Gospel, R&B, Jazz and more.

Thomas’ current project the AD Collective carries a wide range of artist features, including Detroit’s own De’Sean Jones (Sax) Johnathan Muir Cotton (Bass) and Six Mile Strings in addition to a few special guests.

Ashton Thomas is currently recording his debut album which is set to release December 2021.

Michael Olatuja & Lagos Pepper Soup
2021-08-26 19:30 - 23:30, 2021-08-27 19:30 - 23:30, 2021-08-28 19:30 - 23:30
There will be two separate seatings at 7:30pm & 9:30pm for this performance.
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Michael Olatuja’s musical development has taken place across three continents, in the heart of three of the world’s greatest cities. After a childhood in Lagos absorbing the Yoruba culture of his Nigerian family, followed by teenage years performing and studying on the booming London jazz scene, Michael’s talent bloomed when he arrived in New York to study at the Manhattan School of Music. His unique breadth of talent, grounded in the strong musical traditions of his homeland, has earned him first-call status across a range of genres from pop to gospel to Broadway to top-flight jazz, and along the way he’s filled his contacts book with a impressive and eclectic range of talent. For Lagos Pepper Soup, his second solo release, Michael picked a core band of Terreon Gully, Aaron Parks and Etienne Stadwijk, and then enlisted the talents of Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves, Regina Carter, Joe Lovano, Laura Mvula, Lionel Loueke, Grégoire Maret, Becca Stevens, Brandee Younger, Robert Mitchell, Onaje Jefferson, and top studio arrangers David Metzger, Joseph Joubert and Jason Michael Webb to realise his vision of what he calls Cinematic Afrobeat – “What you hear is a blend of three major cities: it’s a celebration of life, and I wanted to make it sound like a soundtrack for a movie that hasn’t been made yet – maybe the next Black Panther movie!”Michael has integrated all of his diverse musical influences, incorporating his guests’ talents while allowing his own personality to clearly shape the overall direction. His own virtuoso melodic bass playing shines throughout – “I wanted Lagos Pepper Soup to feature my own playing, as well as songwriting and production – all my influences are here, all my favourite musicians, and I feel there’s an element of divine favour in how amazingly it’s turned out!’

Nick Hempton Trio
2021-08-29 19:30 - 23:30
There will be two separate seatings at 7:30pm & 9:30pm for this performance.
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Nick Hempton is an alto and tenor saxophonist, composer, and bandleader, producing new music in the modern/mainstream tradition. Calling New York home since 2004, he headlines clubs throughout the city, as well as concert halls and festivals around the world. Influenced by the greats of the instrument– Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt, Cannonball Adderley, etc., and informed by a youth misspent playing Rhythm & Blues and Ska in his native Australia, Hempton’s jazz is original, approachable, and always swinging.

From 2005 to 2016, Nick led The Nick Hempton Band: “an unusually sharp, cohesive unit” (David Orthmann– AAJ) performing original compositions at most of the major New York venues, as well as touring regionally and internationally. With this group, Nick released four highly praised studio albums: “Nick Hempton Band” (self-released, 2008); “The Business” (Posi-Tone, 2011); “Odd Man Out” (Posi-Tone, 2013); and in 2015, the innovative “Catch and Release” Experiment, which was recorded and released track-by- track every six weeks, before being collated for CD release. This was followed by the pared-back “Trio Stonk” (SmallsLive, 2017), recorded live at NYC’s famed Smalls Jazz Club.
In 2018, after years of flirting with the organ band format, Nick recorded his sixth album, the organ quartet outing, Night Owl. Featuring renowned guitar ace Peter Bernstein, Night Owl harkens back to the classic ‘60s organ band sound pioneered by Lou Donaldson, Jimmy Smith, Stanley Turrentine, and Dr Lonnie Smith. In the fall and winter of 2018, Nick embarked on an ambitious world tour, taking in China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada and the US, in anticipation of the album’s official release in February 2019.

Full Circle Special w/JD Allen and Nasheet Waits
2021-09-01 19:30 - 23:00
There will be two separate seatings at 7:30pm and 9:30pm for this performance.
After moving to New York City, he played with George Cables, Betty Carter, Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette, Frank Foster, Butch Morris, David Murray, and Wallace Roney. Closer to his generation, he has played with Lucian Ban, Cindy Blackman, Gerald Cleaver, Dave Douglas, Orrin Evans, Duane Eubanks, Marcus Gilmore, Russell Gunn, Winard Harper, Elisabeth Kontomanou, Meshell Ndegeocello, Jeremy Pelt, Eric Revis.[2]
Allen’s first solo album, In Search Of (Criss Cross, 1999), led to his selection as Best New Artist in Italy. In 2002, his second album was chosen a top ten album of the year by Jazziz magazine. Ten years later he was named best composer and best tenor saxophonist in the Critics’ Poll at DownBeat magazine.[2] A critic at NPR picked his album Victory (Sunnyside, 2011) for the number three spot in the top twenty albums of 2011.

JD Allen Trio w/Nasheet Waits
2021-09-02 19:30 - 23:00

Detroit Jazz Fest Weekend Feature: DeSean Jones
2021-09-03 19:30 - 2021-09-04 01:30
There will be two separate seatings at 7:30pm & 9:30pm for this performance.
Session to follow until close.
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Detroit saxophonist De’Sean Jones is a world renowned musician, well regarded for his powerhouse sound and unique approach to modern jazz and electronic music. De’Sean has been mentored by true masters of music from Detroit’s ownMarcus Belgrave and Rodney Whitaker, to saxophone giant Gary Bartz. Jones has also performed live and recorded with grammy award winning artists “The ClarkSisters” and Yolanda Adams, while sharing the stage with the likes of music IconStevie Wonder.De’Sean is an active member of the legendary electronic music collectiveUnderground Resistance. For the past 7 years Jones has been touring the world and co producing records with Techno Pioneer Mike Banks & keyboardist JonDixon.At this point in his career, Jones is focused on creating and releasing new music.As a followup to his 2011 album “De’Sean Jones Septet,” Jones continues to compose genre bending music that is both soulful while thought provoking.

Marion Hayden: Legacy
2021-09-09 19:30 - 23:30
There will be two separate seatings at 7:30pm and 9:30pm for this performance.
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Marion Hayden is one of the nation’s finest proponents of the acoustic bass. Mentored
by master trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, Hayden began performing jazz at the age of 15.
She has performed with such diverse luminaries as Bobby McFerrin, Nancy Wilson, Dee
Dee Bridgewater, Geri Allen, Regina Carter, Steve Turre, Lester Bowie, David Allen Grier,
James Carter, Dorothy Donegan, Joe Williams, Lionel Hampton, Frank Morgan, Jon
Hendricks, Hank Jones, Bobby Hutcherson, Larry Willis, Sheila Jordan, Mulgrew Miller,
Annie Ross and many others.
Her creative practice centers around her ensemble Legacy– formed in 2003, Legacy
performs original and narrative driven compositional works within the framework
of improvised music with an emphasis on diasporic music traditions.
She is a co-founder of the touring jazz ensemble Straight Ahead- the first all-woman jazz
ensemble signed to Atlantic Records.

Find out more here!
