Detroit International Jazz Festival 'Brings The World' Downtown

DETROIT (WWJ) - The 32nd annual Detroit Jazz Festival kicks off tonight in Detroit and this year's theme is "We Are Bringing You the World."

Terri Pontremoli, with the Jazz Festival, they are presenting people from all over the world who have been influenced and play jazz music in their own way.

"It's not really about presenting world music, but rather about presenting people from all over the world who have been influenced and who play our music in their own way. So, we have musicians coming from Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands, Japan and Israel."

Pontremoli, who classified jazz as "America's music," said what's really important is that Detroit is the center for all this music.

"It has influenced musicians and people all over the world and it does really fundamentally stand for freedom and democracy. It really has that ring to it."

The festival kicks off Friday at 5 p.m., and takes over several city blocks in downtown Detroit – from Hart Plaza to Campus Martius – with five stages and 100 acts over four days.

Admission is free but parking downtown could be a little tricky, although the city has extended hours on nearby garages.

For more information on the Jazz Festival, click here.