James Carter is sort of a freak of nature. He can make his saxophone yell, squawk, roll over, sit-up, and emit flames. Saturday night, Carter had to remind himself during a performance with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) that he wasn’t playing at a neighborhood club where he could let his imagination roam. Carter did an encore performance of composer Roberto Sierra’s piece Concerto For Saxophones , which premiered successfully at the DSO last year. Carter returned for three more pe

At 78, he resembled a retired linebacker. He trudged over to his piano and leaned against it. When the ovation died, Oscar Peterson, flopped down on his piano stool, and played flawlessly with only his right hand. Peterson shared a double-bill Wednesday night at Detroit’s Orchestra Hall with saxophonist Branford Marsalis. They opened the 2003 Standard Federal Paradise Jazz Series. Peterson left hand was immobile because of a stroke he stuffed a few years ago. His right hand carried the weigh

They looked like the elderly gentlemen that meet regularly at Tim Horton’s. Cornetist Tommy Saunders and a few members of his Detroit Jazz All-stars are senior citizens. They performed Wednesday night at the Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church sitting on stools. They maybe seniors, but their chops haven’t aged one bit. Saunders and his All-Stars open the 14th season of the Jazz Forum with a tribute concert to songwriter Hoagy Carmichael and cornetist Bix Beiderbecke. " Four years ago we did a prog

Marcus Belgrave believed a trumpet God blessed the 11 players who participated in his Trumpet Summit. For three afternoons, at the 24th annual Ford Detroit International Jazz Festival (FDIJF) the ensemble played as if the trumpet God had anointed their horns. "Jazz music is all about love, and the trumpet is the instrument of the Gods, and they told us to bring the music to you’ll, " Belgrave told the audience. The 67-year-old trumpeter has worked with Ray Charles, Charles Mingus, Ella

The 2003 Idlewild Jazz Festival felt like a big family reunion picnic. The festival was held at Williamson Island, in Idlewild, Michigan. (During the 1920’s, Idlewild was a popular summer resort for African-Americans. It was called the Black Eden because African-American could engaged in cultural activities. Prominent writers, musicians, artists, and scholars from the Harlem Renaissance vacationed there.) "We decided to hold the festival here because Idlewild is a jewel," Janice Jones said. L