SEMJA, Southeastern Michigan Jazz Association

04/06/2026

The history of jazz in lower Manhattan. Check out the map!
Link: https://jazzmap.villagepreservation.org/

04/05/2026

Michigan Jazz Festival - Free - July 19, 2026. Schedule here:

The 31st Annual Michigan Jazz Festival 2026 SCHEDULE | Sunday, July 19, 2026, Noon to 9:15 pm Open Air Stage Noon Alonso Umaña Quartet1:30 Hughes Smith Quintet3:15 Orquesta RITMO Project4:45 Mr B and the Sharp Nine6:15 Andrew Rathbun Quartet7:45 Aguankó Presentation Stage 12:30 Dave Kosmyna’s Ne...

03/24/2026

Tomorrow! at DetroitJazzFest.org

03/21/2026

Thursdays are new!

Listen this Sunday at noon for "Live with C #" (classical version!) and then Thursday night 3/26 at 7pm for "Live with C #" (jazz version!).

03/21/2026

Joe Lovano has been named the 2026 Detroit Jazz Festival Artist in Residence.

Coltrane opened the door to infinity in that sanctuary of sounds and souls that is jazz. Check out my interview with La Verità about the

03/02/2026

Lars Bjorn, co-author of "Before Motown: A History of Jazz in Detroit, 1920-60" and long time SEMJA president, receives this year's Ron Brooks Award concert.

12/09/2025

Launch Day!
"The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit" is now officially streaming on Prime Video! Roberta, Dan, and I hope all of you will find time to watch the film and to tell your family and friends about it.
Here are a couple tips for finding the film easily:
If you are using the Prime Video app on your television or other device, type the film’s title into the search function or use your voice-activated remote to call it up. If you are watching on your computer or phone, here’s a direct link: https://tinyurl.com/f36t6x35
Feel free to write a brief review on the Prime Video site should the spirit move you. Otherwise, please enjoy this entertaining, deep dive into a one-of-a-kind jazz legacy and a one-of-a-kind city.
Roberta Friedman, producer
Daniel Loewenthal, director and producer
Mark Stryker, writer and producer

The story of Detroit's innovative and influential jazz musicians, set within the city's dramatic rise and fall as an industrial power and highlighting the landmark creativity and impact of its resilient African American community.

10/18/2025

The Gilmore Piano Festival is a treasure; as is Sullivan Fortner.

The inaugural Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist and Young Jazz Artist awards were presented this past week at a ceremony in New York. The recipients will perform at the 2026 Gilmore Piano Festival.

07/28/2025

We are pleased to share the news that vocal student Kyla DeBoes received SEMJA’s 2025 Lou Smith Scholarship.

Kyla, a graduating senior in the Detroit Public Schools, was a participant in last week’s Detroit Vocal Jazz Workshop. Although she had little prior interest in jazz, she embraced the week’s jazz curriculum, enthusiastically taking notes, participating in activities, and making “jazz friends.” She plans to add jazz classes to her schedule this fall at Oakland University. The cost of Kyla’s Detroit Vocal Jazz Workshop tuition was covered by SEMJA’s scholarship.

Pictured below is Workshop director Scott Gwinnell presenting the award certificate to Kyla (photograph by Jeff Dunn).

07/11/2025

DJF lineup: Be there, or be square:

IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 10, 2025 CONTACT: Detroit Jazz Festival Media Team [email protected] (313) 530-7860 2025 Full Lineup, Schedule Announced – 4 Stages of Free Jazz throughout Labor Day Weekend DETROIT – The Detroit Jazz Festival, the world’s largest (and best) free jazz festiva...

03/13/2025

The Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation announced pianist, composer and artist Jason Moran as the Artist in Residence for the 2025 Detroit Jazz Festival, which will be held in downtown Detroit Aug. 29 - Sept. 1.

He will also perform at the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center on Tuesday, April 15 during the festival's preview event.