JEI Presents: Jazzin’ at the Vanity, in partnership with the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) and the Michigan Council of Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA)present: Jazzin’ at the Vanity.  

 Jazzin’ at the Vanity is a free two-day jazz and blues festival celebrating the musical heritage of the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood and that of Detroit’s historic Vanity Ballroom - one of the last surviving big-band era ballrooms in Detroit.   An extension of JEI’s long-standing Jazzin’ on Jefferson, Jazzin’ at the Vanity takes place Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30, 2019 on east Jefferson Avenue between Newport and Lakewood streets, in the center of the historic Jefferson Chalmers Business District. 

 The festival, which will be anchored in front of the Vanity Ballroom, will feature world class jazz and blues performances across two stages, a wide variety of local vendors, food, wine & spirits, and activities for the entire family.  A Kids Zone, will feature fun experiences including games, face painting, various arts & crafts projects and variety performers provided by Detroit Imagination Works and Detroit Circus.  

Headlining this year will be celebrated jazz bassist, Ralpe Armstrong, on Saturday, June 29 at 8:00pm and Detroit’s Queen of Blues,Thornetta Davis on Sunday, June 30 at 6:00pm. Other performers include the French jazz artist, Alexandre Saada & We Free, Marion Hayden Legacy Ensemble, James O’dell & TBone Paxton Octet, Brandon Williams Jazz Explorations, James Cloyd Group, Mahogany Jones, Aston Neighborhood Pleasure Club and more! 

 Attendees will also enjoy the creation of live art installations, designed on-site by local Detroit visual artists. These installations will be inspired by collective oral histories of the Vanity Ballroom, gathered in partnership with the Detroit Historical Societyin conjunction with their Detroit 67project, to preserve and celebrate the rich history of the Vanity Ballroom and Detroit residents who have experienced it. 

 Other festival features include a Community Conversationled by JEI’s development arm, East Jefferson Development Corporation (EJDevCo), to gather input on neighborhood needs and future development in Jefferson Chalmers. 

 Festival attendees will enjoy pottery tile making with Pewabic Pottery and DIA Away, a mobile creativity space, sponsored by the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) which provides free hands-on art experiences to people of all ages. 

Applications for food, service and craft vendors are available online at www.JazzinAtTheVanity.com and are due by Friday, May 31.  

 Volunteers are needed to assist in a variety of capacities; sign-up is open until Monday, June 17. 

 Jazzin’ at the Vanityis made possible through the generous donations and support received by the NEA, MCACA, City of Detroit, and The Grosse Pointe War Memorial. 

Festival hours of operation are Saturday, June 29, 12:00pm - 9:00pm and Sunday, June 30, 1:00pm - 7:00pm. 

For more information visit www.JazzinAtTheVanity.com or contact:

Sabrina Underwood

Marketing & Communications Manager, Jefferson East, Inc. 

sunderwood@jeffersoneast.org

(313) 261-2947