On Tuesday, August 28 from 6 – 7:30 p.m., the University of Michigan Detroit Center is proud to present, Music in the Key of “D”: Detroit Jazz, Then and Now. Open to the general public, this event includes complimentary admission, parking and light refreshments for all attendees.

In celebration of the Detroit Jazz Festival, this entertaining and educational panel discussion examines the city’s rich jazz heritage from its earliest beginnings to present day influences.

When jazz emerged in the 1920s, the city of Detroit quickly became one of the nation’s hottest jazz destinations, standing alongside New Orleans, Chicago, and St. Louis. As word traveled, musicians across the country relocated to Detroit in hopes to capitalize on the genre’s renown in the city. Through the 1950s, Detroit was one of America's most important jazz centers, producing legends like William McKinney, Paul Chambers and Kenny Burrell. 

Music in the Key of “D”: Detroit Jazz, Then and Now takes its audience on a historical journey of Detroit jazz through unique and rare pictures, music and personal dialogue. Presented by Lars Bjorn and Jim Gallert, this impressive collection recreates one of the greatest musical stories of the 20^th century.

About the Panelists:

Lars Bjorn is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and the author of Before Motown: A History of Jazz in Detroit, 1920-60 (University of Michigan Press, 2001). In the late 1970s, Prof. Bjorn was a board member of the Detroit Jazz Center and took part in publishing a “Detroit Jazz, Who’s Who” with Herb Boyd and Leni Sinclair. He has also published articles on jazz in sociological research journals. At the University of Michigan-Dearborn, he teaches courses on Detroit and the auto industry.

Jim Gallert is a veteran jazz broadcaster, researcher and writer. He’s produced and hosted jazz programs on WDET-FM (“Jazz Yesterday” and “Detroit Jazz Alive”) and WEMU-FM (“Swing City”). Mr. Gallert has participated in the Detroit Jazz Festival as staff writer, emcee and host of “Meet The Artist” sessions. Also at the Festival, he and Prof. Bjorn have produced and hosted presentations, panel discussions and interviews for the Jazz Talk tent. As a writer, Jim has authored numerous biographies of Detroit jazz musicians. His work appeared in Detroit and national publications and been used as CD liner notes. Much of his research was included in Before Motown.

Sean Dobbins is an award winning jazz and blues drummer and educator. Mr. Dobbins got his start as a sideman to Blue Note artist, Louis Smith. He has been the recipient of several awards and accolades including the Woody Herman Jazz Award, for outstanding musicianship, as well as the Louis Armstrong Scholarship. Mr. Dobbins has performed, toured and recorded with many of the world’s greatest jazz musicians. In 1999, Sean became the director of the Ann Arbor Public Schools Summer Jazz Program. This program was designed to help educate and inspire young artists as they begin their jazz education.

For more information on the event, contact the Detroit Center at detroitcenter@umich.edu / 313-593-3584.

The University of Michigan Detroit Center is located on the first floor of Orchestra Place, 3663 Woodward Avenue (next to Orchestra Hall).