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Southeastern Michigan Jazz Association ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN SEMJA UPDATE is published monthly.  It is edited by Lars Björn and Piotr Michalowski with additional assistance from Barton Polot (production editor and Webmaster), Judy Alcock, Margot Campos, Lynn Hobbs, and Marcel Niemiec. Contact: update@semja.org

James Carter's Septet played to an enthusiastic crowd at the Carhartt Amphitheatre Stage on Labor Day. From left: Ralphe Armstrong, Leonard King, James Carter, Dwight Adams, and Perry Hughes (Gerard Gibbs and Eli Fountain are not shown).

Highlights of The Detroit Jazz Fest

BY LARS BJORN

Piano legend Barry Harris (left) was interviewed by WDET's Ed Love in the Jazz Talk Tent.

Dianne Reeves showcased her remarkable pipes on opening night at Campus Martius.

his year's Detroit Jazz Fest was one of the most successful in memory: a lot of high quality music with something for almost all tastes in jazz, enthusiastic audiences, and great weather. Here are some of the highlights of Labor Day weekend 2008.

Esperanza Spalding made a strong impression with her bass and vocal virtuosity.

SEMJA shared a booth with WEMU right on Hart Plaza. M.J. Falls and Paul Hunt (1st and 2nd from left) spent countless hours at the booth (here with WEMU Host Mary Catherine Smith on the far right).

The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band provided a rousing finale on Labor Day. Scat-singers were Roberta Gambarini, James Moody, and Greg Gisbert.

Justin Brown backed Kenny Garrett on drums.

photographs by Per Bjorn and Lars Bjorn