Bob James, Ravi Coltrane Bring Star Power to Detroit Jazz Fest’s Second Day

Bob James later brought a homegrown headliner’s presence to the JPMorganChase Stage. The pianist-composer’s refined style — shaped by acoustic jazz, orchestral writing, fusion and rhythm-and-blues-inflected instrumental music — supplied one of the evening’s most accessible and polished performances. (Photos by Montez Miller/Tell Us USA News Network)

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	The African Rhythms Alumni Quintet opened the Carhartt Amphitheater Stage’s evening programming with “Celebrating the Centennial of Dr. Randy Weston,” a tribute that connected the pianist-composer’s work to the African, Caribbean and American traditions that shaped it. (Photos by Montez Miller/Tell Us USA News Network)
	Bob James, Ravi Coltrane Bring Star Power to Detroit Jazz Fest’s Second Day Ron Carter, Bob James, Ravi Coltrane, Kurt Elling with Yellowjackets and Joe Lovano Lead Detroit Jazz Festival Lineup Claudia Lugo - Entertainment Tell Us USA News Network DETROIT - Day 2 of the 2026 Detroit Jazz Festival brought a wide-ranging Saturday program to Hart Plaza, moving from African diasporic rhythms and Detroit-rooted piano jazz to a centennial salute to John Coltrane and a late-night celebration of Weather Report. The African Rhythms Alumni Quintet opened the Carhartt Amphitheater Stage’s evening programming with “Celebrating the Centennial of Dr. Randy Weston,” a tribute that connected the pianist-composer’s work to the African, Caribbean and American traditions that shaped it. Led by saxophonist and flutist T.K. Blue, the ensemble featured percussionist Chief Baba Neil Clarke, bassist Alex Blake, trombonist Ku-umba Frank Lacy and pianist Sharp Radway. The group’s performance emphasized movement and ensemble conversation. Clarke’s percussion created a deep rhythmic base, while Blue’s horn lines and Blake’s bass gave the music both melodic lift and propulsion. Rather than treating Weston’s catalog as historical material, the quintet presented it as living music, expansive enough for the open-air setting while retaining the intricacy of a small jazz ensemble. Ravi Coltrane’s Centennial Celebration followed as one of the day’s most meaningful presentations, marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of his father, saxophone giant John Coltrane. Backed by Detroit bassist Bob Hurst, pianist David Virelles and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, Ravi Coltrane approached the music as a conversation rather than a reenactment. The quartet gave the material room to build, moving through quieter passages before opening into forceful collective improvisation. The set drew on the spiritual searching, harmonic freedom and rhythmic intensity closely associated with John Coltrane’s legacy, but it also made room for Ravi Coltrane’s own patient, measured sound on tenor saxophone. The performance felt personal without becoming sentimental, honoring a monumental figure while avoiding the stiffness of a conventional tribute. Bob James later brought a homegrown headliner’s presence to the JPMorganChase Stage. The pianist-composer’s refined style — shaped by acoustic jazz, orchestral writing, fusion and rhythm-and-blues-inflected instrumental music — supplied one of the evening’s most accessible and polished performances. James’ set offered a contrast to the more exploratory programming elsewhere on the festival grounds. His recognizable melodic themes, deliberate grooves and elegant keyboard touch worked naturally in the large festival setting, giving casual listeners an easy entry point while leaving room for the musical detail that longtime jazz fans expect. Kurt Elling and Yellowjackets closed the Carhartt Amphitheater Stage with a celebration of Weather Report, one of Saturday’s most ambitious concepts. The pairing brought Elling’s agile, expressive vocals together with Yellowjackets’ fusion precision to revisit music associated with one of jazz’s most influential electric-era groups. The performance’s appeal came from the balance between respect for Weather Report’s sound and the freedom to reshape it. Elling added lyricism and improvisational color to music often defined by its instrumental architecture, while Yellowjackets gave the arrangements clarity, drive and the kind of sophisticated ensemble feel that has defined the group’s own long career. Together, the African Rhythms Alumni Quintet, Ravi Coltrane Quartet, Bob James, and Kurt Elling with Yellowjackets captured the breadth of the Detroit Jazz Festival’s second day. Saturday’s programming moved easily between African-rooted rhythm, modern jazz improvisation, Detroit-linked melody and electric fusion, reinforcing the festival’s ability to place history and innovation on the same stages. Sunday’s lineup at the Detroit Jazz Festival features a strong mix of master improvisers, intimate vocal-piano duos, and powerhouse a cappella harmonies across the festival grounds. Co-led by 2026 Artist-In-Residence Joe Lovano and trumpeter Dave Douglas, the Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas Quintet: Sound Prints brings high-level post-bop innovation to the Carhartt Amphitheater Stage. Joined by pianist Lawrence Fields, bassist Yasushi Nakamura, and drummer Rudy Royston, the ensemble delivers open compositions driven by fluid, interactive group improvisation. Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap take the JPMorganChase Stage for an intimate duo performance. The set pairs Bridgewater’s dynamic, theatrical vocal command with Charlap’s elegant and refined approach to the Great American Songbook. Take 6 headlines the Carhartt Amphitheater Stage with a high-energy Sunday finale. The ten-time Grammy Award-winning a cappella sextet showcases their signature blend of rich jazz harmonies, gospel, R&B, and vocal percussion.