Michigan Jazz Festival Goes Virtual

The Michigan Jazz Festival recently announced its plans for 2021. All its events will be virtual, accessible from the Festival’s website, www.michiganjazzfestival.org

The annual Spring Fundraiser will be available online Sunday, April 18. This year's fundraiser features clarinetist Dave Bennett in an intimate performance recently video-recorded at the home of Sally and Bill Bolle. Bennett’s quartet features Jeff Kressler on piano, Ed Fedewa on bass, and Pete Siers on drums.

The annual Father’s Day fundraiser will feature RJ Spangler’s Planet D Nonet in performances video-recorded around metro Detroit. The Father’s Day videos will appear online Sunday, June 20.

The 2021 Michigan Jazz Festival is adhering to the slogan “Playing It Safe;” its seven stages will be virtual. The Festival is inviting big bands, combos, vocal duos and piano soloists to submit YouTube videos of their own performances for inclusion in the virtual event. The MJF Board will select the lineup for the seven stages from its pool of applicants. Application materials and guidelines are available on the Festival website; the application deadline is May 1.

The virtual Festival will appear on the website Sunday, July 18.