2025 Live at Idlewild Line Up
(in alphabetical order)
Alexander Zonjic
In 2020, eleven years after releasing Doin’ the D, an album paying dynamic homage to the music and magic of Detroit, Alexander Zonjic got back in the throwback R&B groove with the release of another infectious, high-spirited valentine to his beloved adopted hometown. Written and produced for the veteran, multiple award-winning flutist by Pieces of a Dream keyboardist James Lloyd, “Motor City Sway” – the infectious lead single from Playing It Forward, Zonjic’s first collection on his own Hi-Falutin Music label – quickly hit the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart and was one of the most added singles on the Billboard BDS chart two weeks in a row. Ten of the eleven tracks on Playing It Forward were produced by keyboardist Jeff Lorber, who helmed the majority of sessions for Zonjic’s previous albums Reach for the Sky (2001), Seldom Blues (2004) and Doin’ The D.
A native of Windsor, Ontario (immediately across the Detroit River), Zonjic is a 15-time Detroit Music Awards winner with deep and multi-faceted ties to and influence on the city. He has been a multi-media personality since he began hosting the morning radio show at the longtime smooth jazz station WVMV in 1998 – a popular stint that ran through 2010. Since 2016, he has hosted “Alexander Zonjic from A to Z,” a weekly half hour hybrid TV show on WADL TV-38 (airing Sundays at 10 p.m., with an encore at 1:30 a.m. mixing live concert elements with special guest live interviews.
Also in 2016, Zonjic launched “Doin’ The D,” a magazine-style talk radio and music show, airing from 5-7 p.m. Sundays on WFDF 910-AM. Between in studio guests and call-ins, his mostly Detroit centric interviews have included Kenny G, Martha Reeves, former Detroit Police Chief Ike McKinnon and legendary Grammy and Emmy Award winning keyboard icon Bob James, who discovered Zonjic in 1981 when the flutist was playing in Detroit’s famous Baker’s Keyboard Lounge. James invited Zonjic to join his band on and off on tour, and the keyboardist later was a producer (along with saxophonist Kirk Whalum) on Neon, Zonjic’s first major label album (Reprise Records) in 1990. James also appeared on the flutist’s 1993 follow-up album Passion, which featured a vocal track by Angela Bofill.
Over the years, as Zonjic puts it, he has morphed from “that flute guy from Canada” into the owner of a veritable cottage industry as the artistic director and producer of more than 10 annual festival events in the region and philanthropist under the umbrella of his Hi-Falutin Music.
Believing in Gandhi’s words that the “best way to find oneself is to lose oneself in the service of others,” Zonjic and Hi-Falutin work with numerous large charity organizations in the Detroit area. They host an annual “Soup City” fundraiser for COTS (Coalition on Temporary Shelter); and have partnered on a variety of fundraisers for many years with the Children’s Foundation, including he upcoming “Derby For Kids.” Their work with Mariner’s Inn, a shelter and treatment center for the homeless in Midtown Detroit, includes a recent virtual fundraiser. Other organizations Zonjic’s organization has supported include Franklin Wright Settlements, Habitat for Humanities, Lighthouse of Oakland County, Windsor Downtown Mission, SAY Detroit and Grace Centers of Hope in Pontiac, Michigan.
Isaac Newton Project
Isaac Norris is a dynamic saxophonist and composer hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, whose vibrant blend of smooth jazz, R&B, funk, and neo-soul has captivated audiences nationwide. Known for his soulful tone and infectious grooves, Isaac’s music reflects a deep commitment to melody, improvisation, and collaboration.
Isaac’s musical journey gained significant momentum with the release of his 2020 single “Rise and Shine,” which garnered over 150,000 streams on Spotify. This success was followed by “Dancing on Air,” featuring keyboardist Nathan Mitchell, which became one of the most added tracks on Billboard reporting stations—solidifying his reputation as a rising star in the smooth jazz scene.
In 2021, Isaac released “No Shade,” a buoyant track co-written and produced with The Smooth Jazz Alley, showcasing his ability to blend contemporary jazz elements seamlessly. His latest single, “Risk Reward,” continues this trajectory, offering listeners a fresh and engaging sound.
Throughout his career, Isaac has collaborated with notable artists such as Marvin Sapp, Urban Jazz Coalition, and Debra Perry. He has also worked with esteemed producers including Lew Laing, Nathan Mitchell, Nate Harasim, Jordan Love, and Jeff Canady.
Isaac leads The Isaac Norris Project, a collective of like-minded musicians who bring diverse influences to their performances, ranging from jazz and gospel to blues and R&B. He also performs regularly with The Gravity Jazz Band, a five-piece ensemble based in West Michigan. Known for delivering sophisticated and crowd-pleasing sets, the band performs at festivals, corporate events, and upscale private gatherings throughout the region.
Isaac Norris’s music is a testament to his passion for creating shared musical experiences that inspire and uplift. His dedication to his craft and his community continues to resonate with audiences, making him a compelling artist to watch in the contemporary jazz landscape.
Kris Johnson Group
Kris Johnson is an empathetic, intelligent, and efficient trumpeter, composer, arranger, film composer, and educator based in Detroit, Michigan. Kris’s professional career is expansive for an artist so young, including: composing several musicals, including “Jim Crow’s Tears” and “Hastings Street: The Musical”; scoring films, such as the Emmy-nominated web series “King Ester”; producing successful personal projects, such as The Kris Johnson Group, and #looptherapy; and serving as the founder and director of the Paradise Theatre Big Band through the Detroit Symphony.
With contributions to 6 GRAMMY-nominated albums as a trumpeter and arranger, including the 2024 GRAMMY-winning “Basie Swings the Blues” by the Count Basie Orchestra, Kris is a recognized force in the industry. His career highlights include touring globally as a member of Endea Owens and the Cookout since 2023, and with the esteemed Count Basie Orchestra from 2008-2019 as a soloist and arranger, performing at prestigious venues like the Apollo Theater, Hollywood Bowl, the Sydney Opera House, Kennedy Center, and more. His collaborations extend to musicians like Wynton Marsalis, Tony Bennett, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Leslie Odom Jr., and Wycliffe Gordon, showcasing his versatile talent.
Currently, Kris is an Assistant Professor of Jazz Trumpet at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. His journey as an educator began with his own education at Michigan State University, where he received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Jazz Studies in 2005 and 2007, respectively. He has gone on to serve in the role of Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Utah from 2015-2019; a Project Director for Pontiac School District, leading a U.S. Department of Education Arts in Education – Model Development and Dissemination Grant from 2009-2010; as the Education and Digital Programming Manager for the Motown Museum in 2021; and as the Executive Director of the MSU Community Music School-Detroit from 2022-2024. Additionally, he has served on the teaching faculty at The Ohio State University, Detroit Symphony Orchestra Civic Youth Ensembles, and as an Artistic Liaison for JazzEd Detroit through a partnership with ArtOps and the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation.
Marion Meadows
Marion was born in West Virginia and grew up in Stamford, Connecticut. He began playing the clarinet and studying classical music at the age of nine. He started playing tenor sax in high school, and then migrated to soprano sax. His passion for various types of music led him down an eclectic musical path. He was intrigued by the styles of jazz musicians, like Stanley Turrentine, Sidney Bichet, Johnny Hodges, John Coltrane, Sonny Stitt, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Dexter Gordon, Cannonball Adderley, Coleman Hawkins, Sonny Fortune, Joe Henderson, Grover Washington and many others. After studying jazz at Rippowam High School in Stamford, CT with Anthony Truglia, Meadows attended Berklee College of Music. There he majored in arranging and composition.
He later went to the SUNY Purchase School for the Arts. During his college years he played in a number of bands including disco, R&B and various jazz ensmbles. I got a lot of sideman jobs in college, and I have always said I got my real graduate degree playing clubs, says Meadows, who perfected his craft studying with Sonny Fortune, Joe Henderson, Dave Liebman and Eddie Daniels. “Not long after I finished school, (drummer) Norman Connors recorded one of my songs, “Invitation” and then asked me to join his band. I later produced his Passion album with my colleague Jacques Burvick (Aquarium Dream).
Things just fell into place. Meadows first hit the airwaves in 1991 with “For Lovers Only”, but his career really began one day in the late ‘80s at New York’s Grand Central Station. He had been a sideman with Connors for three years, with only vague notions of eventually going solo. One day, while waiting for a train, he pulled out his horn and began playing under the huge dome. His sweet sound caught the attention of fellow traveler, producer and TV composer Jay Chattaway, who happened to be passing by on his way to the train. Chattaway was so impressed with Meadows’ sound that he hooked Meadows up with legendary keyboardist Bob James. Meadows and James collaborated on a recording that unfortunately went unreleased. The experience put him on the road to his eventual success. Meadows hooked up with numerous artists and musicians and became a well-known sideman in his own right, recording or performing over the years with Brook Benton, Eartha Kitt, Phyllis Hyman, Jean Carne, The Temptations, Michael Bolton, Angela Bofill, Will Downing, Bob Baldwin, Chuck Loeb, John Lee, among many others. In the late ‘80s, Meadows stretched his boundaries by becoming a member of a New York avant-garde band called the Aboriginal Music Society. In 1990 Meadows submitted a solo project to Steve Backer at Novus/RCA and was signed to a recording contract, thus marking the beginning of his solo career. Meadows’ first RCA release “For Lover’s Only” was a huge success and was followed by his groundbreaking “Keep it Right
There” album. He became a staple of the contemporary jazz format with his subsequent recordings, which include Body Rhythm (1994) and Forbidden Fruit (1996), Passion (1997), Another Side Of Midnight (1999), Next To You (2000), In Deep (2002), Players Club (2004), Dressed To Chill (2006), Secrets (2009) Whisper (2013) and most recently Soul Traveler, the first installment of his Soul Trilogy which now showcases his current release, Soul City” on the New York-based Shanachie Label.
Meadows is a semi-pro cyclist, graphic artist and designer. Marion received a doctorate from Wilberforce University in 2016.
Ohio Players
The Ohio Players came into musical prominence in the 1970’s as pioneers of street funk and underground R&B. After signing with Mercury Records in 1974 through 1977 The Ohio Players landed three consecutive platinum albums “Skin Tight, “Fire”, and “Honey”. Two number one singles on the billboard pop charts “Fire” and “Love Rollercoaster” and five number one R&B singles “Funky Worm”,”Fire”,”Sweet Sticky Thing”, “Love Rollercoaster,” and “Who’d She Coo”.
The Ohio Players traveled the world and produced more than a dozen albums and received 14 gold and platinum awards for their accomplishments. They have also appeared on many national television programs from Dick Clark, Don Kushner, to David Letterman. They are widely regarded as one of the most influential and innovative funk bands of all time. Their music has been sampled and covered by numerous artists, such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Salt-N-Pepa, Puff Daddy, Sound Garden, Too Short, Paul Jackson Jr., Alex Bugnon, Aaliyah, and Beyoncé just to name a few… The group has also been featured in several documentaries, books, and films, such as Standing in the Shadows of Motown, Soul Train: The Movie, Superfly.
& many more…
Currently the band consists of (10) members (3)of which are original members. James “Diamond” Williams (Drums), Billy Beck (Keyboard), Clarence Willis (Lead Guitar). One might think the band members could now sit back, and count their gold and platinum records, enjoy the memories and fade into an easy retirement. Nothing could be further from the truth.
These guys have maintained to keep busy and have been entertaining crowds of people all over the world who sing their songs and dance to the melodies and funky grooves. The summer of 2009 the group played several engagements just to mention a few. In Louisville Ky. Fourth of July with a crowd 40,000 (+) that endured the rain and stayed to listen despite the weather, Washington D.C. at the Carter Barron, Several Casino’s, and Also the Indianapolis 500 Ball, and the Indianapolis 500 Parade with over 300,000 in attendance. These dates are just a few that stick out.
The Ohio Players today are one of the few bands from the 70’s era who still currently performs all of their music using no computers or samplers to enhance their musical production. The Ohio Players are thankful for still having a large loyal fan base who come to the shows and are still enthusiastic to hear the original sounds from the 70’s.
After 50+yrs in the business this group is still setting stages on “Fire” and riding their own “Love Rollercoaster”.
Thornetta Davis
International singer, songwriter and Independent recording artist, was awarded by the Detroit Blues Society “Living Lifetime Achievement Award” and awarded a star on the Canada South Blues Museum “Walk of Fame”. In 2015 Thornetta was crowned “DETROIT’S QUEEN OF THE BLUES” in a ceremony by the Detroit Blues Society, with proclamations from the City of Detroit, County of Wayne and the State of Michigan. Thornetta has performed with and opened for Bob Seger, Blues Legends such as B.B. King, Sir Mac Rice, Ray Charles, Etta James, KoKo Taylor, Johnny Johnson, Bonnie Raitt and more. Thornetta released her first solo album SUNDAY MORNING MUSIC in 1996 on the label Subpop featuring the late keyboardist Eddie Harsh from the Black Crowes, Big Chief.
Thornetta is a ten time Blues Music Award Nominee including 2024 for best Soul/Blues Artist female and the Winner of the 2023 BLUES MUSIC AWARDS for Best Soul/Blues Artist Female. Thornetta is also winner of over 30 Detroit Music Awards. Thornetta received six 2018 DMA’s and has also won eight 2017 Detroit Music Awards for her latest album Honest Woman which include Outstanding Record Producer, Outstanding Blues Recording, Outstanding Blues Vocalist and Outstanding Live Performance. As winner of the 2017 Blues Blast Magazine Music Awards for “Best Soul/Blues Album, Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine “Coolest Blues Song” Thornetta has garnered international attention by winning 2017 1st place in the INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION (ISC) for “Best Blues Song” (I BELIEVE EVERYTHING IS GONNA BE ALRIGHT) and also receiving the prestigious French 2018 La Academie du Jazz Award for “Best Blues Album” for HONEST WOMAN.
The Ladies of ‘Straight Ahead’
Out of Detroit’s lively jazz scene, which has produced some of the best musicians in the world, comes the Grammy-nominated jazz group Straight Ahead. Straight Ahead broke new ground for women in the recording industry as the first all-woman jazz band signed to a major record label – Atlantic Records. A group of strong, inventive instrumentalists and vocalists, they have shown themselves to be powerful and imaginative composers and arrangers.
Widely recognized for their eclectic and soulful approach to creating music, the Straight Ahead sound ranges comfortably from jazz, to Latin music and jazzy hip-hop. Their live performances are a dynamic celebration of power and joy with a wide range of musical textures, moods and tempos.
Straight Ahead was introduced to the world as finalist in the “Sony Innovators” competition. A national competition recognizing exceptional performers in the jazz field. They received international exposure when they were invited to open for the legendary Nina Simone at the
Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland. Since then, they have traveled the world, including tours to Europe, the Caribbean and Australia. The ensemble has shared the concert stage with a who’s who of the music world including: Kem, Roy Ayers, George Duke, Stanley Clarke, The
Yellowjackets and Dianne Reeves.
With 5 recordings to its credit, Straight Ahead has established itself as one of jazz’s most enduring and prolific groups. Their recordings feature original compositions as well as music from diverse sources such as 70's R&B and Neo Soul.
Featuring: Alina Morr- Piano, Gayelynn McKinney- Drums, Marion Hayden- Bass, Kymberli Wright – Vocals, Ingrid Racine – Trumpet.
Will Downing
With a career that spans over 38 years and 28 albums, Will Downing is one of the most versatile and loved voices of our time. Known as The Prince of Sophisticated Soul, his repertoire consists of signature interpretations of R&B classics like “I Go Crazy”, “Wishing On A Star” and “I Try”, with original hits “A Million Ways”, “Sorry I” and the show-stopping duet with Rachelle Ferrell, “Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This”. His distinctive baritone voice has resonated in the hearts of women world-wide and carved a unique niche in the music marketplace.
With fresh melodies and lush arrangements that satisfy all musical palates, Downing continues to serve his fan base through his own Sophisticated Soul record label and sold out tour dates across the country. His latest release entitled “Luscious” was released on November 29, 2024. He also hosts his weekly radio show The Wind Down which is aired on this site and over 20 stations around the world in the USA, UK, Japan, and Spain.