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VOLUME I, NUMBER 22
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PUBLISHED BI-WEEKLY
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SEPTEMBER 3-17, 1981
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MONTREUX: fusion. For blues lovers, there s Eddie _ Burns and Little Sonny. And if you like your jazz in a traditional vem, the well-traveled Preservation Hall Jazz Band will be tailgatin’ af the Music Hall. For those who prefer their jazz while dancing, J. C. Heard’s Dance Review should prove to be a hoofer's delight.
by Herb Boyd
s the
various
jazz
concert
series sound their final notes of the season, it is launching time for the annual jazz festivals. And the newest jamboree on the block, making its second appearance, is the Montreux-Detroit International Jazz
Though the meat of the festival will
still be centered mainly at the Detroit Plaza Hotel and the Music Hall, addi‘tional sites have been selected, and
alter an absence of many years, something other than the fluttering of pigeon wings will be heard at Grand Circus Park. The presence of local musicians will also have a greater visibility. The Montreux program committee has apparently given
Festival, which in terms of sheer size
and the caliber of artists is the festival in the city. In fact, any discussion of local jazz
festivals at all begins and ends with the Montreux-Detroit affair. For several years now, the Kool “Jazz” Festival has been reasonably successful, but its usual list of performers—and this year's line-up is no exception—falls well outside of all but the widest of jazz definitions. Even when compared with other major jazz festivals held abroad or in New York or Chicago, Montreux-Detroit is capable of holding its own. This year’s festival promises to be even more exciting with such luminaries as sassy Sarah Vaughan, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Betty Carter, Archie Shepp, Marian MacPartland, Earl (Fatha) Hines, © Marcus Belgrave and Donald Byrd, scheduled to headline some of the 26 ticketed
some attention to a nagging criticism
of last year’s festival. Promotional efforts and advertising have also been vastly improved. As the media splash for the event begins,
Montreux zerland.
beginning Friday, will feature Jukka Linkola Octet from Finland, Griot Galaxy, the Norma Jean Bell All Kenn
Cox
and
the
Jam
Band, Chet Bogan’s Wolverine Jazz
Band
and many
Swit-
3,000 fans. This is a solid indication
other outstanding
that before the festival week has run its course, 750,000 will be exposed to the sound of Montreux-Detroit. Weather permitting.
local musicians, including a fine sam-
pling of area high school bands and practically every college and university band in the state. Featuring more than 800 musi-
Whatever the overall turnout, one
thing is certain: Mentreux has found a home in Detroit. And plans are probably already underway for next years affair, In the long run, and of
cians in some 82 concerts, Montreux
will have musicians coming in from all over the world— Alexander Zonjic and Moe Koffman (Canada); Cleo Lame (England); Hugh Masakela (South Africa): Andreas Vollenweider (Switzerland); and Monty Alexander (Jamaica). There will be jazz offerings for the diehard purists
and for those caught in the throes of
festival in Geneva,
But the most rewarding pre Festival promo may have been the WDIV-TV sponsored “Go 4 Jazz” concert series. The three concerts, held in mid-August, drew nearly
family reunion,
Guerilla
looms on
badges, posters, I-shirts and TV. You can hear about it on the radio and on the street and read about it in nearly every piece of printed matter worth the ink. There is even a commemorative album from Stroh’s and CBS Records available that features two local standouts from the first festival, Lyman Woodard and Larry Reviews). Record (see Nozero Nozero, for the second year in a row, represented Detroit at this year’s
events. The free concerts,
Stars, a McKinney
Montreux-Detroit
greater
significance,
Montreux.
Detroit may be that exquisite centerpiece in the cilys scheme to attract more tourists. Montreux-Detroit II? Two weeks next time? Ah, mon a amis, it is a fait accompli. Norma Jean Bell
Photo: Barbara
Weinberg