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| Trumpeter Dwight Adams |
Thursday evening, the Carr
Center hosted a concert celebrating one of Detroit’s most influential
jazz musicians: trumpeter Dwight Adams. This tribute was part of the Living Legacy
Jazz Series, created by saxophonist and
bandleader De’Sean Jones in partnership with the Carr
Center President, Oliver Ragsdale. Their vision is simple—honor Detroit
jazz musicians making lasting contributions while they’re still alive and
performing. Jones has long believed that jazz musicians deserve
recognition during their lifetimes. His commitment to this idea led to the
launch of the Living Legacy series, which has already honored jazz concert
producer Bill Foster and trombonist Vincent Chandler. Jones
seemed destined to start such an effort. I first met him as a
teenager learning jazz at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Civic
Jazz program. Even then, his talent and determination were undeniable. Today,
Jones is an accomplished musician, bandleader, father, and husband who
has performed internationally and built a reputation across multiple
genres. Currently, he leads the acclaimed Urban Art Orchestra,
a cross-genre ensemble with a growing national following. Adam’s
tribute closed the inaugural installment of the Living Legacy series. For
decades, Adams has been a cornerstone of Detroit’s jazz scene—as a sideman,
bandleader, and educator. Though he didn’t pick up the trumpet until
his pre-teen years, he developed quickly and has been swinging and
blowing since. Today, he is not only a respected
jazz statesman but also one of Stevie Wonder’s trusted
bandmates, inspiring countless young musicians. To honor Adams, some of Detroit’s
and the Midwest’s best trumpeters gathered for what was titled The Trumpet Summit.
The lineup included John Douglas, Allen Dennard, Terrell Williams, Trunino
Lowe, Jauron Perry, Russ Macklem, Will Mallard, and Aaron Janik—all musicians
who cite Adams as an influence. For two hours, they played with rawness
and sincerity as Adams sat in the front row with family, soaking in what felt
like a musical love letter to him. Though Lowe tried to coax him onstage
several times, Adams declined to play. The setlist featured some
of Adams’ favorite standards to perform, beginning with a foundation-shaking version of “Caravan” that
lasted over ten minutes. The soloing from each trumpeter was so satisfying that the concert could have stopped at that point, and surely the bulk of the audience would’ve left feeling it was time and money well spent. But the musicians—and the rhythm section led by drummer Nate
Winn and an abridged version of the Urban Art Orchestra—doubled down on the intensity, reimagining classics like “Stablemates,” “Fall,”
“Donna Lee,” and “Dolphin Dance.” One unforgettable moment was
Douglas and Dennard trading on “Stablemates.” The atmosphere recalled the
legendary trumpet summit organized by the late Marcus Belgrave at the
2004 Detroit Jazz Festival, featuring trumpeters Sean Jones, Corey
Wilkes, Dominick Farinacci, and Kris Johnson. Adams participated
in the summit, blowing his peers off the bandstand. Jones deserves credit
for keeping the tribute focused and preventing it from turning into a
run-of-the-mill jam session. Without question, the tribute was the
best concert I’ve attended this year. After two hours of music,
Adams finally took the stage to express appreciation. Visibly emotional, he
spoke eloquently about his role as a torchbearer for jazz and his commitment to
inspiring future generations. It was the most I’ve ever heard him
speak about himself—a humble man who usually lets his horn do the talking.
Adams closed by thanking many of his late mentors, like Teddy Harris Jr.,
Marcus Belgrave, and Donald Walden, before the participants returned
to the stage to end the concert with a performance of “Byrd Like.” The
Living Legacy Jazz Series is a resounding success. It reminds us of the
importance of honoring musicians while they are still here. Let’s pray Jones
and the Carr Center continue this much-needed series, celebrating trailblazers
like Foster, Chandler, and Adams.
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