The 2024 Detroit Jazz Festival
I was able to catch much of this year’s Detroit Jazz Festival at Hart Plaza and the JP Morgan Chase stage at Cadillac Square. There was so much going on that it took time and patience to find the best music.
One artist I had awaited eagerly was Argentinian veteran pianist Pablo Ziegler — who for years was the accompanist of Astor Piazzola, the father of the New Tango. This musical form combines jazz and the venerable tango traditions of Argentina, with touches of European classical music added. A central instrument in the New Tango is the bandoneon, roughly a downsized accordion which was masterly played by Hector Del Curto. Ziegler’s quintet also included the bass of Claudio Ragazzi. Italian vocalist Roberta Gambarini provided some warmth in the surprisingly cool weather we experienced on the last night of the festival. The tango rhythms inspired a couple of dancers to strut their stuff — an inspiring sight to be sure.
