Skip to content

PRESS RELEASES

Detroit Jazz Festival Announces “The Detroit Jazz Festival Curtis Fuller National Jazz Trombone/Low Brass Competition”

Submissions Now Being Accepted for
Detroit Jazz Festival’s 2018 National Jazz
Instrumental Competition

2018 Festival Seeking Outstanding
Trombonists, Tubists, and Baritonists

The Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation is accepting submissions for its annual National Jazz Instrumental Competition – this year open to trombonists, tubists and baritonists, 35-years-old and younger. This is the eighth consecutive year the Festival is hosting an instrumental competition in an effort to give up-and-coming, outstanding musicians the opportunity to win a performance slot at the Detroit Jazz Festival during Labor Day weekend.

In keeping with the tradition of honoring a jazz legacy in conjunction with the competition, this year’s competition — The Detroit Jazz Festival Curtis Fuller National Jazz Trombone/Low Brass Competition — is in honor of Curtis Fuller’s lifetime of artistry and leadership. In order to be considered for the competition, the work of submitting artists must reflect the commitment to tradition and search for originality that are tenants of Fuller’s virtuosity.

Fuller, a trombonist, composer and bandleader, who was born in Detroit, has made a significant impact on the genre over the course of his more than 60-year career. He attended Cass Technical High School and Wayne State University, and went on to be a member of impressive collaborations, including becoming a founding member of Jazztet with Art Farmer and Benny Golson in the beginning of Fuller’s career, followed by joining Jazz Messengers, and later working closely with John Coltrane. 

“With a rich history as one of the brightest lights in the Detroit story, and as a brilliant trombonist that has given so much to our beloved genre, Curtis Fuller is the perfect artist to center this year’s instrumental competition,” said Chris Collins, president and artistic director of the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation. “This competition is just one aspect of our Festival programming that stays true to the genre’s roots and it continues to grow in interest and the level of submissions each year. We hope to receive an even more powerful group of submissions in 2018.”

The Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation is accepting submissions for its annual National Jazz Instrumental Competition – this year open to trombonists, tubists and baritonists, 35-years-old and younger. This is the eighth consecutive year the Festival is hosting an instrumental competition in an effort to give up-and-coming, outstanding musicians the opportunity to win a performance slot at the Detroit Jazz Festival during Labor Day weekend.

In keeping with the tradition of honoring a jazz legacy in conjunction with the competition, this year’s competition — The Detroit Jazz Festival Curtis Fuller National Jazz Trombone/Low Brass Competition — is in honor of Curtis Fuller’s lifetime of artistry and leadership. In order to be considered for the competition, the work of submitting artists must reflect the commitment to tradition and search for originality that are tenants of Fuller’s virtuosity.

Fuller, a trombonist, composer and bandleader, who was born in Detroit, has made a significant impact on the genre over the course of his more than 60-year career. He attended Cass Technical High School and Wayne State University, and went on to be a member of impressive collaborations, including becoming a founding member of Jazztet with Art Farmer and Benny Golson in the beginning of Fuller’s career, followed by joining Jazz Messengers, and later working closely with John Coltrane. 

“With a rich history as one of the brightest lights in the Detroit story, and as a brilliant trombonist that has given so much to our beloved genre, Curtis Fuller is the perfect artist to center this year’s instrumental competition,” said Chris Collins, president and artistic director of the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation. “This competition is just one aspect of our Festival programming that stays true to the genre’s roots and it continues to grow in interest and the level of submissions each year. We hope to receive an even more powerful group of submissions in 2018.”

To be considered for the competition, applicants must:

  • Submit up to three tracks featuring solo work with any size ensemble by July 9, 2018
  • Be 35-years-old or younger as of Aug. 3, 2018
  • Participate in the semi-finals in Detroit (if selected as a finalist), scheduled Aug. 2 and 3
  • Be available to perform at the 2018 Detroit Jazz Festival presented by Quicken Loans

Each submission is reviewed and judged based on level of artistry, musicality, interaction and excellence, by Collins and a select group of professional musicians. The grand prize recipient will receive:

  • $2,000
  • A performance slot at the Festival on Saturday, Sept. 1, on the JPMorgan Chase Main Stage
  • Acknowledgements in the Festival’s program and on its website
  • VIP status during Labor Day weekend

Two runner-ups will each receive $500.

Submissions are accepted at http://www.detroitjazzfest.org/artist-submissions/ or can be sent via mail (with attention to 2018 National Instrumental Competition) to the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation at 19908 Harper Avenue, Harper Woods, MI 48225.

Past winners of the instrumental competition include Zach Adleman, Cole Davis, Tal Yahalom, Theodore Davis, Theo Croker and more.

For jazz fans unable to attend the 39th Annual Detroit Jazz Festival presented by Quicken Loans, which runs Aug. 31 through Sept. 3, 2018 in downtown Detroit, they can still listen to the winner’s performance (among the dozens of other performances taking place across four stages) via Detroit Jazz Fest LIVE! For just $10, jazz enthusiasts can livestream performances from all four stages, all four days via their smartphone, tablet or desktop. Additionally, the livestreaming service features select performances throughout the year from the Foundation’s year-round initiatives, Festival schedules, maps and more. Jazz enthusiasts that purchased Detroit Jazz Fest LIVE! for the 2017 Festival, will need to repurchase the livestream service for 2018. Register for the livestream at https://live.detroitjazzfest.org.

About the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation

The Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization that presents jazz and educational workshops throughout the year. The Foundation supports the Detroit Jazz Festival, which is the largest free jazz festival in the world and a major tourist attraction for the City of Detroit, with 26 percent of its audience coming from out of state.

The Foundation receives grant funding from the Kresge Foundation, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Erb Family Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts to support education programs, community engagement activities and Festival operations. Hundreds of individuals also contribute to the Festival through Rhythm Section memberships and annual Guardian contributions.

Major corporate partners include Quicken Loans, JPMorgan Chase & Co., DTE Energy Foundation, Ford Motor Company, Carhartt, Inc., Mack Avenue Records, Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, Bedrock and Comcast Cable. Additional partners include Absopure, AMTECH International, Andiamo, Bingham Legal Group, Central Michigan University, Cliff Bell’s, Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, Detroit Saxophone Center, Digital Planet, Domino’s, Downtown Detroit Partnership, George Johnson & Company, Giffels Webster, Greektown Casino-Hotel, Lyft, Metro Cars, MGM Grand Detroit, Oakland University, Pepsi, Rocket Fiber, Stella Artois, Steinway Piano Gallery of Detroit, St. John Providence, Wayne State University, Whole Foods Market and Woodward Gallery. Media partners include Fox 2, WJR, WEMU-FM, DownBeat, JazzTimes, Metro Times, WDET, WRCJ and Detroit Public Television. The Greening of the Festival is supported by a generous grant from the DTE Energy Foundation.

For more information on The Detroit Jazz Festival, please visit:

DetroitJazzFest.org | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter