The Grand Hotel Gets Jazzy

Aug. 27, 2015

Music has been a part of Mackinac Island's Grand Hotel since the early days, according to Ken Heyward, the hotel's managing director.

“We’ve always at least had a bandleader and, of course, dancing in the Terrace Room,” he said.

The hotel started doing extra-special jazz events during their 100th anniversary celebration 28 years ago – even though it's hard to believe they're that old – and their big Labor Day Jazz Weekend is the latest to draw the music-loving crowds.

LABOR DAY EXTRAS

Since the hotel was bustling along just fine during the Jazz Age, this genre of music is a particularly good fit for the property, dovetailing nicely with the hotel's upscale period décor and historical architecture.

Whether or not you choose to stay at the Grand during Jazz Weekend (there are packages available), there’s plenty of music to hear, inspired by the end of summer.

“We picked Labor Day weekend to hold this event because it's just one of those weird holidays where we felt we wanted to create an extra reason for people to come here to the Grand,” Heyward said.

Heyward – whose personal music tastes run more toward “toe-tapping stuff like John Pizzarelli” – explained they try to blend a lot of different musical genres into the basic jazz format, so that every guest can enjoy a diverse weekend experience.

“We do different music every year, but not an overall theme – more like a mix of styles,” he said.

FRIDAY FESTIVITIES

On Friday, a lot of the Grand’s guests are en route, “So we’ve tried having more technically serious performers, but we've found that something more peppy is best for Friday night,” Heyward explained.

Enter Arturo Sandoval on Friday evening, opening the weekend with his performance at the Grand Hotel Theater. Cuban jazz trumpeter Sandoval is a national treasure; the 10-time Grammy Award winner and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom is a remarkably versatile musician who’s collaborated with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie to Frank Sinatra, and Celine Dion to Justin Timberlake.

“He’s played here before and he really gets the crowd involved, it’s very energetic,” Heyward said.

Also on Friday night, you’ll be able to catch a set by Tuck and Patti at The Jockey Club at The Grand Stand across from the hotel; the American folk-jazz duo is performing all three nights during Jazz Weekend.

Paul Keller, longtime standup string bass player from Detroit, will also be performing throughout the weekend at the hotel's Cupola Bar. His performances start well after the dinner hour (around 11pm), so if you love late-night jazz, you won't want to miss his casually-cool shows.

SATURDAY VARIETY

More big names are on the roster for Saturday. The Grand Hotel Tea Garden will bloom into sound with a performance from the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, who add bebop and funk to the traditional Big Easy brass band genre through both revamped classic tunes and their own grooving Louisiana originals.

“They’re a New Orleans legend with such a big sound,” Heyward said, “and it's just so cool to hear them outdoors, in a big venue like this.”

Saturday afternoon also features the ballroom dancing tunes of Alex Graham and the Grand Hotel Orchestra, a longstanding tradition at the hotel.

Saturday night will add a little cabaret to the jazz lineup in the Grand Hotel Theater, with a performance from Jane Monheit, the Concord Records vocalist whose most notable recordings have included collaborations with Michael Buble and the aforementioned Pizzarelli.

SUMMER SUNDAY

How does the Grand Hotel start a Sunday morning? Well, if it’s Jazz Weekend, they start with a special gospel performance right on the porch.

Then, as morning turns to afternoon, the focus returns to the Tea Garden with Grammy winners New York Voices. This quartet of pros – all of whom have their own solo careers in addition to the group – has released seven studio albums to date, all a complex blend of American jazz seasoned with classical, pop and R&B influences.

“They’re kind of like the Manhattan Transfer,” Heyward explained. “They put on such an impressive vocal performance.”

Saturday and Sunday will also include a visit from D.C.’s Paul Anthony, best known for his work for Sirius Satellite Radio's All Jazz channel. Anthony will offer Q&A sessions with some of the performing artists, direct from the hotel.

“This is all such a great way to cap off the summer,” Heyward said. “If you like music and want to hear as much music as you possibly can, then you have no excuse for not being here!”

The Grand Hotel’s 2015 Labor Day Jazz Weekend takes place Friday, Sept. 4 through Monday, Sept. 7 on Mackinac Island. For day tickets, weekend packages and more information, visit grandhotel.com or call 1-800-33-GRAND.