For jazz lovers in the Motor City, Jan. 30, 2026, will be a night to remember as The Cookers take the stage at the Detroit Music Hall. The septet, whose members span more than six decades of jazz history, brings a signature blend of fiery post-bop and soulful hard bop that has earned them acclaim at festivals and venues worldwide.
Founded nearly two decades ago by trumpeter David Weiss, The Cookers are as much a living tribute to jazz’s golden era as they are a modern ensemble pushing its boundaries.
“Detroit is one of the top two or three jazz cities in this country,” Weiss said in an interview with Michigan Chronicle. “Historically, it’s one of the most important cities in jazz, and the fanbase is still knowledgeable and devoted. It’s a pleasure to play there.”
The ensemble’s members include veterans who came up in the heady mid-1960s jazz scene, performing with legends like Herbie Hancock, Charles Lloyd, Max Roach, and Sonny Rollins, alongside younger players steeped in that same tradition. Weiss emphasizes that the group is committed to honoring that legacy and also to moving the music forward.
“We try to express ourselves in a certain way, to uphold the tradition while keeping it alive and evolving,” he said.
The Cookers’ upcoming Detroit concert follows a high-profile decision to withdraw from a New Year’s Eve performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
It was a choice that attracted national attention and speculation. Reports at the time suggested the withdrawal was politically motivated after the center’s building displayed the name of former President Donald Trump. Weiss, who sometimes serves as a de facto spokesperson for the band, stresses a more nuanced reasoning behind the decision.
“It was a reaction to the world we’re living in, not an overt political protest,” Weiss said. He explained that the invitation initially came through longtime staffers who had built the Kennedy Center’s jazz program over decades, including work with Billy Taylor. When those staff members were replaced, the circumstances changed.
“The symbolism became a bit too much. It wasn’t a manageable thing for us, and the timing was challenging. Our priority is to play music, not to get embroiled in political controversy,” Weiss said.
He also highlighted the age and history of the band’s older members, most of whom are in well into their 80s.
“They’ve done their work, fought their battles, and now they just want peace and quiet. They want to go out playing music, not making strong political statements,” he said. The decision, he said, reflects a desire to keep the focus on the art form that has defined their lives rather than to take sides in contemporary debates.
For fans attending the Detroit Music Hall performance, the promise is pure jazz.
The group’s press release notes their “aggressive mid-’60s spirit” and “pyrotechnic playing” that channels the energy and innovation of the era while remaining rooted in teamwork and ensemble interplay. The Cookers have graced stages from Newport to Northsea, from Jerusalem to Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in New York, and their sixth album, Look Out!, showcases their ongoing commitment to high-level musicianship and boundary-pushing compositions.
“We’ve been doing this band for 19 years, and our fans know us,” Weiss said. “They expect a certain level of intensity and passion, but our goal is always to keep moving the music forward. People come to hear the fire and the spirit that inspired the greats like Coltrane and Miles Davis, and we try to honor that every night.”
Despite the weight of history and the occasional spotlight from national controversies, Weiss says The Cookers are focused on the music itself.
“At the end of the day, we want to perform. That’s all we ever really want to do. The political climate is something we observe, but it’s not the reason we’re on stage.”
The Cookers’ Detroit performance promises to deliver that philosophy in full. Audiences can expect a set that spans fiery originals, expansive improvisation, and a palpable sense of jazz as a living, breathing art form. For Weiss and his bandmates, the city’s rich jazz heritage offers the perfect backdrop.
“Playing in Detroit, you feel the knowledge and the devotion of the audience,” Weiss said. “It reminds us why we do this. Music born from struggle, insistence on freedom, and expression — that’s what jazz has always been about. That’s what we’re bringing to the stage.”
Tickets for the concert on Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. are available through the Detroit Music Hall box office. With decades of experience, a deep respect for jazz history, and a drive to innovate, The Cookers are poised to deliver a night of music that celebrates both legacy and the living spirit of jazz.
