DeSean Jones
2021-04-28 19:30 - 2021-04-29 09:30, 2021-04-29 19:30 - 2021-04-30 09:30, 2021-04-30 19:30 - 2021-05-01 09:30, 2021-05-01 19:30 - 2021-05-02 09:30, 2021-05-02 19:30 - 2021-05-03 09:30, 2021-05-03 19:30 - 2021-05-04 09:30, 2021-05-04 19:30 - 2021-05-05 09:30, 2021-05-05 19:30 - 2021-05-06 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.

Mike Monford & Detroit Effervescence
2021-04-29 19:30 - 23:00
There will be two seatings at 7:30pm and 9:30pm for this performance.
Tonight’s lineup:
Mike Monford- Alto Sax
Rayse Biggs- Trumpet
William Hill- piano/keyboard
Marion Hayden- bass
Alex White- drums
Native Detroiter Mike Monford got an early start on his love for music. It began at the age of four while constantly digging through his father’s jazz and R&B albums. His musical interests grew through his teen years when he absorbed himself in the hip-hop culture, and morphed into DJing at parties under the name DJ M & M. The turning point came in high school when he explored singing, but it was the saxophone that became his instrument of choice.
Mike immersed himself in private lessons with jazz legend Teddy Harris Jr., who also became his mentor, and he took in the jazz scene at some of Detroit’s best-known jazz clubs – Bomacs Lounge, Bert’s Market Place, The Bluebird, and Baker’s Keyboard Lounge. Along the way, Mike’s mentors included resident masters Ken Cox, George Goldsmith, George Davidson, Marcus Belgrave, Donald Walden, and Phil Lasley.
Fresh out of high school in 1992, Mike studied with master saxophonist Phil Lasley and also turned to his peers Dwight Adams, Cassius Richmond, Karriem Riggens, Rodney Whittaker, and James Carter.
In 1997, Mike was awarded a musical scholarship to the University of Hartford – Hartt School of Music. There, he studied with jazz great and master saxophonist Jackie McLean. He also was awarded a musical scholarship from the Societie of the Culturally Concerned, formerly known as the Bluebird Reunion, based in Detroit.

While studying at the Hartt School Conservatory, Mike traveled to New York where he found and was hired by bassist Bill Lee (filmmaker Spike Lee’s father), pianist Marc Cary, pianist Alan J. Palmer, trumpeter Raymond Williams, and bassist Hakim Jami. Not only did he perform with these greats, he also recorded with them. Mike spent some 20 years in New York honing his talents, and entrenched in the history and sounds of jazz.
Armed with his experiences as a performer, composer, and arranger, “Perseverance,” Mike Monford’s debut CD as a band leader was released in 2012. The CD features Grammy Award winning pianist Marc Cary, Tarus Mateen on bass, Steve Williams on drums, and Rayse Biggs on trumpet.
Learn more about Mike here!

Roger Jones & Higher Calling
2021-04-30 19:30 - 23:00
There will be two separate seatings at 7:30pm and 9:30pm for this performance.
Roger L. Jones II is a native of Flint Mi. Since 1989 he has worked professionally with various artists in the USA, Japan, and Turkey. Roger discovered his musical abilities when he was a youngster at church. His gospel background provided a spring board to his passion for playing jazz music. The church Greater Holy Temple COGIC where his father is pastor, was like a musical battle ground for young musicians. Roger cites his non- gospel influences as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, and McCoy Tyner. After graduating from high school, Roger attended Oberlin Conservatory in Oberlin Ohio. While attending Oberlin, Roger’s understanding and musicianship grew exponentially. Many performance opportunities were afforded, and his reputation grew. Since this time, Roger has performed and “sat in” with various musical icons associated with jazz and other musical styles. Some of these individuals include Wynton Marsalis, Joe Henderson, Wallace Roney, and JJ Johnson to name a few.
Roger has developed into a cutting-edge band leader. His band, “Roger Jones & Higher Calling” is comprised of phenomenal musicians dedicated to inventing fresh and innovative ways to approach the execution of music. Mixed with a soulful and modern approach, the music of this band is innovative, relevant to the current generation, and swings ridiculously hard. There is no doubt that Roger L. Jones II will be heralded as one of the most explosive and innovative pianists of his generation.

Roger Jones Quartet
2021-05-01 19:30 - 23:00

Allen Dennard Trio
2021-05-02 19:30 - 23:00
Allen attended the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor where he received a full ride from the university’s jazz department. From then on he obtained other pivotal opportunities that would further him in his music career. Allen has made three appearances as a sideman in the Detroit Jazz Festival, one being with the great saxophonist Wendell Harrison (2015), one being with Detroit bassist Ali Bey (2017), and lastly with the Detroit Jazz Festival All-Star Alumini Band (2019). In January 2019 Allen was chosen by the Detroit MetroTimes as one of ten artist they thought would become famous in that year. Soon after that Allen was approached with many interview requests, one being with Detroit Public Television/ PBS and the other being with Honeysuckle Magazine, a New York City based magazine company. Aside from that Allen has worked with several artist from the Detroit Music Factory label, such as Gayelynn Mckinney, De’Sean Jones and Sean Dobbins. He has also worked with Detroit saxophonist David McMurray from the Blue Note record label. Adding to that, Allen also got the opportunity to share the stage with New York based saxophonist J.D Allen, who is with HighNote Records.

In October 2018 Allen had the opportunity to work with famous R&B artist Ray J, being a member of the pit orchestra in a play that Ray J was in. In the same year Allen was chosen to be in the horn section for the MC5 reunion in Detroit, sharing the stage with musical icons such as Wayne Kramer. Following after that Allen went on to record on one of Alice Copper’s latest albums in 2019. Allen is a bandleader and has three of his own groups, the Allen Dennard Trio, the Allen Dennard Quartet and the Allen Dennard Quintet. All groups have been headliners in venues around Detroit, Metro-Detroit and the entire state of Michigan, such as Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, Cliff Bell’s, The Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, Bert’s Marketplace, The Blue Llama, The Whisky Parlor, etc. He has also been the headliner for several local festivals around Detroit, such as “Jazzin at the Vanity”, “Jazz on the Ave” and one of the more well known ones the “African World Festival” held at the Charles H. Wright Museum. The Allen Dennard Quartet has also traveled around the Midwest to areas such as Sylvania, OH. Allen’s music is a mixture of jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and funk. Allen still resides in Detroit, focusing on furthering his musical career in the local, national and international music scene.

Wendell Harrison and Tribe
2021-05-07 19:30 - 23:00, 2021-05-08 19:30 - 22:00
There will be two separate seatings at 7:30pm and 9:30pm for this performance.
In 1970, the fast paced New York and the road began taking its’ toll on Wendell. He moved to California for a short period. While resting and practicing at the Syanon Center, he met vocalist Esther Phillips and saxophonist Art Pepper. Under the direction of Greg Dykes they recorded an album (reissued on CD ) entitled The Prince Of Peace which received world wide recognition. This experience also enhanced his writing and arranging skills. Harrison headed back to Detroit in 1971. He began teaching music at a multi arts complex for youth, Metro Arts founded by Dr. Amelita Mandingo. While teaching at Metro Arts, Wendell met pianist and composer Harold McKinney and rejoined his friend Marcus Belgrave. Wendell also met trombonist Phil Ranelin who had moved to Detroit from Indianapolis. Together they formed the Tribe record label and collective. Tribe used this vehicle to convey a growing black political consciousness. The group also included drummer and composer Doug Hammond, pianist Ken Cox and trumpeter Charles Moore. They performed together live and on each others recordings and releasing them on the Tribe record label. Tribe also published a magazine, a quarterly monthly publication dedicated to musical and political revolutionaries and political issues. The magazine was published by Harrison’s company, The Harrison Association. Tribe had pretty much disbanded in 1975, but Phil Ranelin and Wendell were instrumental and getting all of the Tribe recordings reissued to various internal labels. This unique organization packed a strong musical punch on the international scene. Techno music guru Carl Craig discovered in his global travels that Tribe still was gaining popularity on the underground techno music scene internationally which was unheard of considering they haven’t performed together as Tribe in over 30 years. In 2007 Carl reproduced the Tribe group with Marcus, Wendell, Doug and Phil. They released a single on the market entitled It’s A New Day on the C2 Planet E record label and is also touring globally. The CD Tribe Rebirth is now available. Other Tribe reissues can be found on several websites including DustyGroove.com.
Find out more here!

John Barron and The Foundation Jazz Trio
2021-05-09 19:30 - 23:00
There will be 2 separate seatings at 7:30 & 9:30pm for this performance.

John Barron (bass), Phillip J. Hale (piano), Djallo Djakate (drums).

Based in Detroit, Michigan, Canadian-born bassist John Barron has performed and recorded with numerous artists in a variety of musical genres. Highlights include Bettye Lavette, Motown legends The Contours and Martha Reeves, Wayne Kramer (MC5), Odessa Harris, Jill Jack and Dennis Coffey. As a composer his music is far reaching in scope, leaning toward jazz and electronic ambient works.

Learn more HERE!

Marion Hayden & Straight Ahead
2021-05-13 19:30 - 23:00, 2021-05-14 19:30 - 23:00, 2021-05-15 19:30 - 23:00
There will be two separate seatings at 7:30 and 9:30 for this performance.
Born in Detroit, MI, a crucible of jazz, 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, 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, Vanessa Rubin, Sheila Jordan, Mulgrew Miller, Annie Ross and many others. She is a co-founder of the touring jazz ensemble Straight Ahead- the first all woman jazz ensemble signed to Atlantic Records. She is a member of the Detroit International Jazz Festival All-Star Ambassadors touring ensemble.
Widely recognized as a standard bearer of culture and artistic history, Hayden received a 2019 Art X Grant and a Creators of Culture Grant for original musical works. She was Artistic Director for a 2018 Knight Arts Foundation Grant encouraging young women in jazz. In 2016 Hayden was honored for her work as a performer and educator with the prestigious Kresge Artist Fellowship- a 1 year fellowship and grant award given an elite group of creative artists. She was the recipient of a 2016 Jazz Hero Award.- a national award given by the Jazz Journalists Association- recognizing people who have made a significant contribution through their artistry and community engagement.
Find out more here!
