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The Detroit Jazz Festival’s 40th anniversary captures both the storied lineage and evolution of the music. The Labor Day Weekend event will feature music from all over the globe, as well as a Motor City-rich series featuring hometown and homecoming artists. The festival is also welcoming six returning Artists-in-Residence, including Regina Carter, Terence Blanchard and Joshua Redman.

The following highlights reflect a sneak preview of the performances that will run Friday to Monday. The full schedule is at www.detroitjazzfest.org.

FRIDAY

Dr. Valade’s Brass Band led by Shannon Powell 

“King of Treme” Shannon Powell returns to DJF for his fourth year leading Dr. Valade’s Brass Band, named for DJF Foundation Board of Directors Chair Gretchen Valade. The hard-swinging drummer and percussionist arrived in Detroit last month to help train young, area artists in second line and the cultural tradition of New Orleans music. More than a hallmark of his sound, depth of internal pulse and a command of generations-old phrasing is Powell’s birthright, and he plays with sincerity of sound and intention. Powell also plays with the New Orleans Jazz Masters on Saturday evening. 6 p.m. and 6:25 p.m., Pop-Up Stage

More: Why the Detroit Jazz Festival is one of the best in the US

Danilo Pérez Global Big Band featuring the DJF Orchestra

Taking to heart the words of his predecessor Dizzy Gillespie, pianist-composer and global band leader Danilo Pérez brings communities together by creating a cultural passport through his music. The Grammy Award-winning artist from Panama approaches harmony and rhythmic ideas with explosive creativity and an ear for inclusion. As part of the festival’s Latin Jazz Project, his Global Big Band engages the DJF Orchestra featuring Luciana Souza from Brazil, Miguel Zenón from Puerto Rico, Layth Sidiq from Iraq, Tareq Rantisi from Palestine and Oscar Cruz from Panama. 7 p.m., JPMorgan Chase Main Stage

SATURDAY

The Soul Rebels

Following their fall 2019 release announcement of “Poetry in Motion” (Rebelution Music Group) — the band’s first album-length recording in more than seven years — the Soul Rebels will bring their genre melting sound out of New Orleans back to Detroit for an afternoon of lyrical horn lines and deep groove. The first band ever to perform at the DJF Pop-Up Stage back in 2016, the Soul Rebels will appear at this year’s Pop-Up Stage (8:20 p.m. Friday) as well as on the Main Stage, performing their own featured set. 3:45 p.m. JPMorgan Chase Main Stage 

Sheila Jordan with the Marion Hayden Trio

A beloved global ambassador of Detroit’s musical lineage, Sheila Jordan feels most comfortable when she’s spontaneously composing dizzying bebop lines and invitational lyrics on the bandstand. Desiring a homegrown aggregation for her DJF performance, the virtuosic singer will feature a tight band that includes bassist-composer and DJF All Star Marion Hayden and her trio of Detroit-area artists. 5:45 p.m. Wayne State University Pyramid Stage

Ron Carter Quartet 

One of the music’s most consistent innovators, bassist, composer and NEA Jazz Master Ron Carter has spent the past six decades rising to challenges within his artistry and his personal expression. This year, the homegrown legend returns to Detroit with his quartet for an evening of deep-rooted music that has helped shaped multiple generations of bass players, improvisers and bandleaders. He also will perform a duo set with guitar master and fellow returning Artist-in-Residence Pat Metheny on Sunday. 7:15 p.m., Carhartt Amphitheater Stage

SUNDAY

Thornetta Davis

Singer, composer and inexhaustible bandleader Thornetta Davis receives consistent acclaim for her grounded and resonating vocals and an unfaltering internal pulse that locks in every phrase. This past year, Detroit’s venerated Queen of the Blues earned multiple Detroit Music Awards titles, including for outstanding urban artist and outstanding live performance. Davis will perform with her band of Detroit-area musicians. 5:15 p.m., Carhartt Amphitheater Stage

Kenny Garrett Quintet

Detroit native Kenny Garrett has spent the past three decades interpreting the language through his unique voice. The alto saxophone master has played with some of the music’s most enduring game-changers from Mel Lewis to Miles Davis to Q-Tip. Among only a sanctified few, Garrett has performed and recorded with Art Blakey’s fabled Jazz Messengers aggregation — as has festival Artist-in-Residence bassist and composer Stanley Clarke. 7:15 p.m., Carhartt Amphitheater Stage

Dee Dee Bridgewater and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra 

Dee Dee Bridgewater’s mic gathers no moss. This past year, the singer, composer and recently ordained NEA Jazz Master has been touring her 2017 release “Memphis…Yes, I’m Ready” (Okeh Records) with the Memphis Soulphony while preparing to bring the NOJO to Detroit to presenting music from her 2015 release “Dee Dee’s Feathers” (Okeh Records). From festival grounds, their 8 p.m. set will be simulcast across public television airwaves. 8:15 p.m., JPMorgan Chase Main Stage

MONDAY

Pat Metheny Side-Eye with James Francies and Marcus Gilmore 

An artist whose sound remains forever young, guitar hero and past DJF Artist-in-Residence Pat Metheny brings two emerging voices to his Side-Eye project on the festival main stage. Recently signed Blue Note artist, pianist-composer James Francies joins master of soundscaping, drummer-composer Marcus Gilmore as the heart and soul of Metheny’s Motor City performance. According to DJF Foundation President and Artistic Director Chris Collins, festivalgoers will enjoy a “surprise moment” during Metheny’s set. 3 p.m., JPMorgan Chase Main Stage

Shahida Nurullah and Good Company

Another rep of the festival’s Hometown Artists series, singer Shahida Nurullah over the years has embraced the gamut of styles and repertoire, performing richly diverse selections, from American Songbook standards to Eddie Daniels’ arrangement of Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons.” Sophisticated phrasing allows Nurullah to connect honestly to each lyric she delivers, as well as perform with countless Detroit masters such as bassist-composer Marion Hayden. Among Nurullah’s many collaborations, an international tour with celebrated Detroit legend, the late Geri Allen, took her across Europe with Allen’s “Open on All Sides” band. 4:15 p.m., Wayne State University Pyramid Stage

Luciana Souza’s Book of Longing featuring Chico Pinheiro and Scott Colley

Luciana Souza draws inspiration from art that’s all around her. For her most recent recording, “The Book of Longing” (Sunnyside, 2018), the Brazilian-born singer, composer, percussionist and lyricist includes poetic verse from Edna St. Vincent Millay, Emily Dickinson, Christina Rossetti and Leonard Cohen, the latter from whose repertoire her album takes its title. Souza also will perform Saturday alongside the Yellowjackets. 6:15 p.m., Absopure Water Front Stage 

Detroit International Jazz Festival

7-11 p.m. Fri. (with pop-up performances beginning at 10 a.m.), 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Sat., 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun., 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.

Downtown Detroit, with most performances at Cadillac Square and Hart Plaza

detroitjazzfest.org

Free, though there are paid VIP passes

There are also late night jam sessions Friday, Saturday and Sunday beginning at 11 p.m. at the Ambassador Ballroom at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center 

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