Jazz Jam Sessions in Detroit

Aretha's Jazz Cafe's Sunday evening education-themed jam has, for about a decade, served as Detroit’s hub for jazz musicians to learn their craft in a guided, safe, all-ages environment. Created and administered by Music Hall education director, Scott Gwinnell, jamming musicians of all ages are encouraged to use this experience to work on skills like collaboration, communication, improvisation, repertoire building, as well as to network and socialize with other musicians.

Wed, Nov 11, 7:30 PM EST

Langston Kitchen’s Mahogany Collective and Session

Cliff Bell's / Downtown / Map

Make a Reservation SHOWTIMES ARE AT 7:30PM & 9:30PM FOR THIS PERFORMANCE. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm. Free admittance for all Musicians participating in the jam session Born in Detroit, possessing familial roots in Harlem, and known for his big sound on the bass, Langston Marcelles Kitchen is the winner of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, Essentially Ellington Regional Best Musicianship Award, and the Detroit Jazz Festival Collegiate Combo Competition. He is a Geri Allen Fellow and jazz major at Michigan State University, under the tutelage of University Distinguished Professor of Jazz Bass and Director of Jazz Studies, Rodney Whitaker. Within a short period of time, he has begun to master his instrument and has studied under some of the most respected jazz musicians, including Robert Hurst, Xavier Davis, Sean Dobbins, and Marcus Printup and has performed with Michael Dease, Dan Wilson, Xavier Davis, Walter Blanding, and Randy Napoleon. In the words of Louis Armstrong, “To jazz, or not to jazz, there

Wed, Nov 11, 9:30 PM EST

Langston Kitchen’s Mahogany Collective and Session

Cliff Bell's / Downtown / Map

Make a Reservation SHOWTIMES ARE AT 7:30PM & 9:30PM FOR THIS PERFORMANCE. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm. Free admittance for all Musicians participating in the jam session Born in Detroit, possessing familial roots in Harlem, and known for his big sound on the bass, Langston Marcelles Kitchen is the winner of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, Essentially Ellington Regional Best Musicianship Award, and the Detroit Jazz Festival Collegiate Combo Competition. He is a Geri Allen Fellow and jazz major at Michigan State University, under the tutelage of University Distinguished Professor of Jazz Bass and Director of Jazz Studies, Rodney Whitaker. Within a short period of time, he has begun to master his instrument and has studied under some of the most respected jazz musicians, including Robert Hurst, Xavier Davis, Sean Dobbins, and Marcus Printup and has performed with Michael Dease, Dan Wilson, Xavier Davis, Walter Blanding, and Randy Napoleon. In the words of Louis Armstrong, “To jazz, or not to jazz, there

Aretha's Jazz Cafe's Sunday evening education-themed jam has, for about a decade, served as Detroit’s hub for jazz musicians to learn their craft in a guided, safe, all-ages environment. Created and administered by Music Hall education director, Scott Gwinnell, jamming musicians of all ages are encouraged to use this experience to work on skills like collaboration, communication, improvisation, repertoire building, as well as to network and socialize with other musicians.

Wed, Dec 2, 7:00 PM EST

the Swing Syndicate Jazz Lab

Cliff Bell's / Downtown / Map

Make a Reservation Schedule of performances 7:00 – 7:45 high school jazz band performance 8:15 – 9:15 Swing Syndicate Big Band performance 9:30 – 10:00 Jam session hosted by the Swing Syndicate Swing Syndicate is a 16 piece Big Band formed by Travis Cook and Mike Wiese. Both seasoned veterans of the Metro-Detroit jazz scene, Cook and Wiese wanted to play in a band that performed with power and style to make an indelible impression on the Detroit jazz scene. The resulting group is a hard-hitting combination of Metro-Detroit’s finest talent performing traditional Big Band Jazz at it’s finest. In coordination with Cliff Bell’s commitment to Jazz mentorship the Swing Syndicate will be featuring a different High School Jazz Band to perform with them every month. All performances will be followed by an open Jam Session. If you’re a local band director and would be interested in having your High School Band perform at Cliff Bell’s please reach out to Phil@cliffbells.com.