Dee Dee Bridgewater's Jazz Club grand opening, WSU's Dept. of Music swings into'26 Detroit Jazz Festival

The Detroit Jazz Festival makes its annual Labor Day weekend return to Wayne State University's campus and downtown's Hart Plaza, featuring Department of Music students, faculty, and alumni, along with international artists.

Now in its 47th installment, the annual four-day Detroit Jazz Festival takes place Sept. 4-7, with audiences from around the world enjoying 40-plus hours of live jazz performances from custom soundstages in the city and the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center's state-of-the-art venue.

An exciting addition this year to the largest free premier jazz fest in the world is the inclusion and grand opening of Dee Dee Bridgewater's Jazz Club, bringing late-night performances to the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center on Wayne State University's campus.

Named after the Grammy and Tony Award-winning jazz vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, the club series' debut takes place Sept. 5 at 10:45 p.m. and will feature dynamic late-night sets designed to capture the spirit, intimacy, and spontaneity of a classic jazz club experience.

"This is a very exciting time for Wayne State Music. The opening of Dee Dee's is something we've been looking forward to for a long time," said Department of Music Chair Jeff Sposato. "Our conversations with the artist herself have guided our thinking toward making this space not only a great jazz club, but also a place for us to better connect with the community through open mic nights, performances by aspiring local artists, and so much more."

Shows will take place in conjunction and concurrent with the Detroit Jazz Hall performances (full schedule below), offering audiences an expanded late-night programming experience.

"This addition brings a unique late-night energy to the festival and the Gretchen C. Valade Center, highlighting the depth of talent within Detroit's jazz community," said Chris Collins, professor and director of jazz studies in the Department of Music and president and artistic director of the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation. "Dee Dee Bridgewater's Jazz Club offers audiences an opportunity to experience world-class jazz in an intimate setting and venue that reflects the music's roots."

The 120-seat space wraps around the stage, said Collins, "creating an enviable connectivity between artists and the audience in a cool, vibrant and creative space reflective of the spirit of its legendary namesake."

Per festival tradition, the Sept. 4 opening night will be heralded by Jazz Week @ Wayne students as players in Dr. Valade's Brass Band (named after Gretchen C. Valade 's honorary doctorate from WSU).

Leading the procession to usher in the weekend is Shannon Powell, who comes to Detroit every year (13 and counting) to teach the history and tradition of the New Orleans bands' jazz style to regional and national high school students.

Grammy-winning saxophonist, composer, and producer Joe Lovano is this year's DJF Artist-in-Residence. Known as a Titan in Jazz, Lovano is fearless in finding new modes of artistic expression.

Jazz enthusiasts can view or listen to performances for free in a number of ways, including the festival's social media channels and website; public radio and TV stations; and the DetroitJazzFest LIVE! app.

Check out below when and where WSU's Department of Music faculty, students and alumni will be featured during the four-day weekend:

Friday, Sept. 4

Carhartt Amphitheater Stage

• 6:15 p.m. - Dr. Valade's Brass Band Featuring Shannon Powell and JC Heard Jazz Week @ Wayne

Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center - Detroit Jazz Hall

• 10:45 pm. to midnight - DJF Midtown After Hours Special with Tia Fuller featuring Shamie Fuller-Royston -"Fuller Sound"

Saturday, Sept. 5

Carhartt Amphitheater Stage

• 3 to 4 p.m. - WSU jazz alumnus' Jeffrey Trent Quartet

Pyramid Stage

• 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. - Borderland Ensemble
• 8:45 to 10 p.m. - Bob James Quartet, including WSU jazz alumnus Michael Palazollo

Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center - Dee Dee Bridgewater's and Detroit Jazz Hall

• 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. - Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association High School. Showcase with Grosse Isle High School Jazz Band, Midland High School Jazz Band, University of Detroit Jazz Orchestra, Troy Athens High School Jazz Band, and Northview High School Jazz Ensemble
• 10:45 pm. to midnight - DJF Midtown After Hours Special with LoEnd Quintet at the Grand Opening of Dee Dee Bridgewater's, while Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio plays upstairs at the Detroit Jazz Hall

Sunday, Sept. 6

Carhartt Amphitheater Stage

• 3 to 4 p.m. - The Search: Echoes of the Fallen, tribute to Karim Gideon (WSU jazz alumnus who passed in 2025)

Pyramid Stage

• 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. - J.C. Heard Jazz Week @ Wayne All Stars with selected students from the 2026 Jazz Week @ Wayne program
• 8:45 to 10 p.m. - Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap

Absopure WaterFront Stage

• 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. - Wayne State University Jazz Warriors Big Band, under the direction of Professor Vincent Chandler, part of the festival's educational institutions/University Jazz performance series, and Wayne State University Advanced Vocal Jazz Quartet directed by Cayla Stus

Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center - Dee Dee Bridgewater's and Detroit Jazz Hall

• 10:45 pm. to midnight - DJF Midtown After Hours Special with LoEnd Quintet with special guests at Dee Dee Bridgewater's, while Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio plays upstairs at the Detroit Jazz Hall

Monday, Sept. 7

Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center - Detroit Jazz Hall

• 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. - Detroit Public Schools Community District Jazz Showcase plus Tottori Jazz Mission International Jam

Pyramid Stage

• 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. - Roberta Gambarini and the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra featuring several WSU Jazz alumni

Shawn Wright, communications liaison, College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts.