After years of being invited and not being able to make it, I’m finally here at what radio guru Bobby Jackson calls “Jazz Disneyland.” I slept just 90 minutes the night (morning, really) before coming, because I was out till very late at the Tiny Resistors gig at 55 Bar. I tell you that to excuse my early departure from the festivities tonight. But I managed to see (and tweet about) quite a lot of music. If you’d like to receive my updates as they happen, please follow me on Twitter at @jasondcrane and also the hashtag #detroitjazz. You should also follow Josh Jackson at @checkoutjazz and Mark Stryker at @Mark_Stryker.
Without further ado, here are some photos and tweets from the opening night of the 2011 Detroit Jazz Festival.
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 1 |
“Tain Watts and his drum club are rollicking and thundering here in Campus Martius park”
“Asked a security guard for directions to Campus Martius Park. He knew the part of Roman history that led to its name. Cool.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 1 |
“Tain playing some Tainpani. Sorry.”
“Two sets of vibes. Tympani. Congas. Drum set. Yes please. #detroitjazz #tainpocalypse”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 1 |
“There are A LOT of people here. And they’re happy. Jazz don’t suck.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 1 |
“Nice to see Joe Locke still has a painting of an elderly version of himself in his attic. #detroitjazz #dorianlocke”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 1 |
“This is like a dance rhythm for people with three legs of varying lengths.”
“Came all the way to #detroitjazz to hear Tain Watts play a song about a rainy day in Brooklyn.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 1 |
“Drummer Tony Allen now joining the #tainpocalypse”
“I’m a sucker for the funk. Always have been, always will be.”
“‘The drums will bring your rain man home.’ – cameraman to me, moments ago.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 1 |
“Amazing how this many percussionists can remain so unclouded. FOUR drum sets, congas, vibes. Crystal clear rhythmic intention.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 1 |
“Guy in food line to panhandler who asked for sandwich: ‘I’ll give you $2, but you gotta spread your hustle.’ #usa”
“Just ate a bucket of grease disguised as french fries. The #vegan street food is a little sparse. Although there was free hummus earlier.”
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VIDEO:
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 1 |
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 1 |
“Marvin Gaye’s Trouble Man soundtrack sounds so sweet on this summer night in Detroit.”
“Thousands of people on the streets at #detroitjazz. Still fewer jazz hats than Brooklyn.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 1 |
“Starting now at #detroitjazz: Sing The Truth! with Dianne Reeves, Angelique Kidjo and Lizz Wright.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 1 |
“Lizz Wright IS charisma.”
“If anything, I think the crowd has grown for the late set at #detroitjazz. Tons of people in the streets.”
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| From 2011 Detroit Jazz Fest Day 1 |
“Packing it in. Must sleep. 90 minutes last night. Need more tonight. Good night, #detroitjazz.”
Just awesome coverage Jason, thank you! Looking forward to more photos
Thanks, Pattye!