The Detroit Jazz Hall, a 325-seat venue with VIP seating options, is one of two venues in the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center. Image Credit: Wayne State University
The Department of Music is set to debut its cutting-edge performance venue this fall with the grand opening of the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center. The center will host a spectacular reception today, August 29, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., culminating in special performances from 7 to 9 p.m., simulcast in Campus Martius Park, creating a vibrant community watch party.
Scheduled performers include the Brandee Younger Trio with a Tribute to Wayne State alumna Dorothy Ashby, Dee Dee Bridgewater with the Wayne State Jazz Legacy Big Band, the Alvin Waddles Trio, Cliff Monear Duo, and the Wayne State Jazz Vocal Quartet.
Chris Collins, professor, and director of jazz studies at Wayne State University’s Department of Music and president and artistic director of the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation, recalls a time he visited Japan to play a concert, greeted by fans wearing homemade T-shirts with Gretchen C. Valade’s face emblazoned upon them.
“Her name is recognized around the world. And once people see what we did in respect to Gretchen, they will want to be a part of this,” Collins said.
Dean Hasan Elahi of the College of Fine, Performing, and Communication Arts emphasizes that the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center will improve Wayne State University’s Department of Music and the local community. Additionally, it will serve as a state-of-the-art venue for music performances, livestreaming, and recording, welcoming national and international jazz artists.
Gretchen C. Valade, Image Credit: Wayne State University
“This will provide a unique opportunity for the university to continue its contribution to the rich musical legacy of our city and widen its impact for current and future generations,” Elahi said.
Detroit lost a true champion of jazz with the passing of Gretchen C. Valade on December 30, 2022, at the age of 97. Throughout her life, she dedicated herself to preserving and promoting the city’s jazz culture, leaving an indelible mark on the community. Valade’s impact extended through her leadership as the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation Board of Directors chair and her ownership of Grosse Pointe’s Dirty Dog Jazz Café and the renowned Mack Avenue Music Group record label, which has a national presence.
Valade not only advanced the musical endeavors of numerous Detroit and international jazz artists but also composed her own songs, some of which have been performed by Shirley Horn and other musicians. Her generous contribution of $9.5 million to Wayne State University showcases her commitment to securing a lasting legacy for jazz in Detroit through her leadership and support.
Dr. Jeffrey Sposato, the chair of the Department of Music, enthusiastically states that the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center will significantly enhance Wayne State University’s capacity to attract highly talented students who are passionate about a wide range of musical disciplines, such as jazz performance, music business, and music technology.
“And this wonderful new performance space will contribute greatly to our mission of serving as Detroit’s Music Department by providing our community with access to professional-quality performances not only in jazz but also everything from classical to hip-hop,” Sposato said.
Located at the corner of Cass Avenue and Hancock Street on Wayne State’s campus, the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center houses two venues — the Detroit Jazz Hall and Dee Dee Bridgewater’s. The Detroit Jazz Hall, a 325-seat venue with VIP seating options, is designed acoustically and logistically for jazz in all its forms and well-suited for other creative and interdisciplinary activations.
The Detroit Jazz Hall, a 325-seat venue with VIP seating options, is one of two venues in the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center. It is specifically designed acoustically and logistically for jazz in all its forms and well-suited for other creative and interdisciplinary activations.
The second venue is Dee Dee Bridgewater’s, a hip, jazz club-style venue that embodies the intimacy, vibe, and unparalleled listening experience of the traditional environment in which the jazz language has evolved and continues to be propagated. The 120-seat space wraps around the stage.
“Creating an enviable connectivity between artists and the audience in a cool, vibrant, and creative space reflective of the spirit of its legendary namesake,” Collins said.
Dee Dee Bridgewater expressed her deep appreciation, “It’s a huge honor that our beloved Gretchen Valade saw a specialness in me, in my work championing young musicians and elevating the importance and stature of women in jazz.”
“She is our angel and heroine, bringing harmony to all things jazz-related, including heralding the Detroit Jazz Festival through her sponsorship and creating the jazz label Mack Avenue Records, my new musical home. May Dee Dee Bridgewater’s be a space that fosters creativity and equality, with abundant spirituality — a safe space for all who enter its domain,” Bridgewater said.
In addition to the historic memorabilia from the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation, the venue will boast overflow capacity and the Detroit Jazz Festival Café, providing visitors with an immersive jazz experience.
“It is an investment in jazz, music education, and the future of jazz at Wayne State, and forever links the Jazz Festival Foundation with a home on campus,” said Collins, the Valade Endowed Chair in Jazz at WSU.
“Due to her singular commitment, Gretchen has rightfully been dubbed the ‘Angel of Jazz’ by the global jazz community. Her passion, commitment, and vision are, in and of itself, a legacy.”