The
Detroit Jazz Festival, the world's largest free jazz festival, announced today
that guitarist/composer Pat Metheny will be its 2015 Artist-in-Residence.
Metheny is the latest in a long line of jazz greats to take the mantle of the
prestigious Detroit Jazz Festival Artist-In-Residence Program, which will
include different musical incarnations at this year's festival, as well as
education and mentorship activities throughout the year. The 2015 Artist-In-Residence
Program is sponsored by Absopure Water Company. Metheny has 20 Grammy® Awards
to his name and has sold more than 20 million records, including three gold
albums.
"It's
very humbling to not only be asked to perform at the Detroit Jazz Festival, but
to also serve as its Artist-in-Residence," said Metheny. "I'm honored
and look forward to my visits to Detroit, a place with such rich music history.
Getting involved with the Festival's educational programs and performing in the
heart of downtown will be a memorable experience."
Each
year the festival's Artist-in-Residence assists the Detroit Jazz Festival in
its efforts to foster an appreciation of jazz and nurture young talent,
specifically in relation to Detroit. This year, Absopure is enhancing its
festival support by sponsoring the program and helping bring such a well-known
jazz musician to the city. As the festival's ambassador, Metheny's duties
include headlining the second performance of opening night, playing
collaborative sets with special guests throughout the weekend - including
homecoming jam sessions with native Detroiters - and participating in Festival
education initiatives leading up to Labor Day Weekend performances including:
The
Pat Metheny Trio with Antonio Sanchez and Scott Colley and special guest
Detroit native, Kenny Garrett
An
intimate acoustic duo with Detroit native, Ron Carter
A
much-anticipated reunion with Gary Burton in a special quartet put together
just for this festival with Scott Colley and Antonio Sanchez
An
ambitious large ensemble, consisting of the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra and
the North American premier of Metheny's latest 30 minute suite - a tribute to
German bassist Eberhard Weber
"Metheny
is an incredible artist. He has been a heavyweight in the jazz world for
decades and revolutionized what it means to play 'jazz guitar,'" said
Chris Collins, artistic director of the Detroit Jazz Festival. "His experimentation
with sound and style--and jazz itself--truly taps into why this medium can be
so moving and inspiring. Our goal with the Artist-in-Residence program is to
connect people, to draw them in to our city and take them on unique musical
journeys, and Pat will definitely help us do that. We have some special
performances on tap that highlight his incredible musicianship and composing
ability."
"We
are thrilled to assist the festival in bringing an iconic musician to the
forefront of the Detroit Jazz Festival scene. Metheny's body of work speaks for
itself," said William Patrick, Absopure. "With his nearly universal
acclaim and unwavering commitment to artistry, he'll make a great ambassador
for the festival. To bring him to Detroit, a place very much engrained in the
roots of jazz, is special."
Metheny
was born in Kansas City and by the age of 15 was working regularly with the
best jazz musicians in the city, quickly climbing the ranks. In 1974, he burst
onto the international jazz scene in part due to his three-year stint with Gary
Burton. Since then, he's put out numerous albums and performed with greats like
Steve Reich, Ornette Coleman, Herbie Hancock and David Bowie. Metheny, who has
created compositions for solo guitar, small ensembles, electric and acoustic
instruments, ballet pieces and more, is known for continuously redefining his
sound by embracing instrument innovations and the many different sounds a
guitar can offer.
The
36th annual Detroit Jazz Festival will take place September 4 - 7, 2015. The
festival spans several city blocks in downtown Detroit - from Hart Plaza to
Campus Martius - with four stages and more than 100 performances.
No comments:
Post a Comment