Chick Corea named Jazz Fest’s 2018 Artist-in-Residence

This year’s Detroit Jazz Festival’s Artist-in-Residence is celebrated pianist and composer Chick Corea.

The 22-time Grammy Award winner will perform multiple times throughout the free festival, which is Aug. 31-Sept. 3 in downtown Detroit. He’s expect to play with his Akoustic Band, Elektrick Band and with his sextet.

“Having performed at the Detroit Jazz Festival in the past, I know and admire the phenomenal collection of talent the Festival brings to Detroit,” Corea said in a press release. “I am excited to take on a larger role during and in the months leading up to Festival as the Artist-in-Residence and showcase the depth of the genre through my broad range of performances and educational outreach.”

Besides all his Grammy nods – he’s the fourth most-nominated artist in Grammy history – Corea is also the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master and a DownBeat Hall of Famer.

In the past few years, musicians such as Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, Pat Metheny and Joshua Redman have been named the festival’s Artist-in-Residence.

For those who can’t attend the Labor Day weekend music event, organizers have again launched a live streaming service for mobile devices and desktop. Learn more at detroitjazzfest.org.

mbaetens@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @melodybaetens