Raising the stakes of media “musts” for free, city-supported jazz performances, the Detroit International Jazz Festival has announced it will stream video of live and taped performances, news flashes, artist interviews and informed commentary throughout its Labor Day weekend activities, September 3 through 6. A partnership with Show Ads Network, Livestream.com and Detroit Public Television will allow DJF’s Jazz Planet stage to employ student apprentices from Specs Howard School of Media Arts to “capture behind the scenes action that can be woven into its daily streaming to the world,” according to Sheldon Neuman, President & CEO of Show Ads Network. Viewers will be encouraged to Skype, tweet and Facebook messages through detroitjazzfest.com and DJF social media outlets.
The Detroit fest, in its 31st year, includes as headliners Roy Haynes, Danilo Perez, Mulgrew Miller, Terrence Blanchard, Tia Fuller, the Yellowjackets, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Maria Schneider Orchestra, Tierney Sutton, Trio M (Matt Wilson/Mark Dresser/Myra Melford), Branford Marsalis, Allen Toussaint, Kurt Elling’s Quartet with Ernie Watts, Bobby Watson’s Horizon and Manhattan Transfer with the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra and special guest Gerald Wilson. It has not yet announced which artists’ sets will be televised.
In a related development the festival’s major “angel” Gretchen Valade has promised a 50% match to all public donations up to $250,000 towards keeping the DJF free. Ms. Valade, who established a $10 million endowment for the Detroit International Jazz Festival in 2006. Later that year she was named to the Jazz Journalists Association’s “A Team” honoring activists, advocates, altruists, aiders and abettors of jazz.
