The Detroit Jazz Festival today has announced that guitarist and composer Pat Metheny, a 20-time Grammy Award winner, will be the artist-in-residence for the four-day event over Labor Day weekend (Sept. 4-7).
“(Metheny) has been a heavyweight in the jazz world for decades and revolutionized what it means to play ‘jazz guitar,’” says Chris Collins, artistic director of the Detroit Jazz Festival. “His experimentation with sound and style — and jazz itself — truly taps into why this medium can be so moving and inspiring.”
Kansas City-born Metheny founded The Pat Metheny Group in 1977. Since then, he’s put out albums with David Bowie, Ornette Coleman, Herbie Hancock, and Steve Reich. Overall, Metheny, a close friend of Detroit Jazz Festival benefactor Gretchen Valade, has sold more than 20 million records.
During the festival, Metheny will headline the second performance of opening night, play sets with guests throughout the weekend, and participate in education initiatives. He will also reunite with jazz vibraphonist (a musical instrument within the percussion family) Gary Burton, who he started his career with. The pair will perform a quartet with Scott Colley and Antonio Sanchez. Metheny will also perform with Detroiters such as bassist Ron Carter and saxophonist Kenny Garrett.
The 36th annual Detroit Jazz Festival, produced by Paxahau Events, will be held at various locations across downtown Detroit and will include more than 100 performances.
For more information, visit detroitjazzfest.com/concerts.html.
