Detroit Jazz Festival Announces 2021 Lineup

Dee Dee Bridgewater, Herbie Hancock, and Abdullah Ibrahim will be among the artists taking the stage Sept. 3-6; the event’s format (in-person or virtual) is still TBD

The Detroit Jazz Festival has announced its 2021 lineup—although it has yet to finalize a format for its presentation.

Headliners in Detroit from September 3–6 will include Dee Dee Bridgewater (the festival’s 2021 artist in residence), Herbie Hancock, Kenny Barron, Abdullah Ibrahim, Anat Cohen, Sean Jones, Kenny Garrett, and Gregory Porter, among others.

The world’s largest free jazz festival takes place each Labor Day weekend in downtown Detroit. When the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic forced live music events across the United States to shut down last year, the festival carried on in a live-streamed format.

The festival will decide by July whether the 2021 edition will be virtual or in person.

The schedule is below. Visit the Detroit Jazz Festival’s website for more information.

Friday, Sept. 3

• 2021 Artist-in-Residence Dee Dee Bridgewater and the Woodshed Network Ladies
• Herbie Hancock

Saturday, Sept. 4

• Matthew Whitaker Quartet
• Kenny Barron
• Jerry Bergonzi Quintet
• Alicia Olatuja – “Intuition: Songs from the Minds of Women”
• Etienne Charles – Creole Soul
• David Binney Angeleno Quartet
• Omar Sosa and the Havana-Detroit Jazz Project
• Keyon Harrold presents Jazz and the Birth of Hip Hop with special guests “Elzhi,” Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Chris “Daddy” Dave
• The Summit: The Manhattan Transfer Meets Take 6
• Kurt Elling’s The Big Blind

Sunday, Sept. 5

• Michael Mayo
• Roberto Fonseca
• Dee Dee Bridgewater/Bill Charlap Duo
• Abdullah Ibrahim and the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra
• Anat Cohen Tentet
• Sean Jones: “DizzySpellz”
• Kenny Garrett
• Tribute to Dave Brubeck @100: Brubeck Brothers Quartet featuring Jerry Bergonzi, Detroit Jazz Festival Choir, and the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra
• Aziza featuring Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Lionel Loueke, and Eric Harland
• Gregory Porter

Monday, Sept. 6

• Abdullah Ibrahim: Ekaya
• Jimmy Green Quintet
• Eddie Daniels and Bob James: Exploring New Worlds
• Fly Higher: Charlie Parker @ 100
• Dee Dee Bridgewater Female Big Band