Jazz fest will go global

Detroit Free Press

DETROIT

Jazz has turned increasingly global in the past 15 years as artists have emerged from everywhere, often marrying native musical languages with jazz improvisation.

Announced Thursday, the theme of the 32nd annual Detroit International Jazz Festival — “We Bring You the World” — honors this global melting pot. The festival, which takes place Sept. 2-5 in downtown Detroit, also announced that drummer Jeff (Tain) Watts will be the 2011 artist-in-residence.

The Labor Day weekend event is the country’s largest free jazz festival.

“Jazz has influenced music all over the world, and world music has influenced jazz, so we’re going to celebrate all of that,” said festival director Terri Pontremoli.

British bassist Dave Holland, Brazilian singer-songwriter Ivan Lins, Benin-born singer Angelique Kidjo and Indian-American pianist Vijay Iyer are among the performers with international roots.