DETROIT, MI (June 17, 2005) - The 2005 Michigan Jazz Festival at Schoolcraft College will feature Wayne State Department of Music faculty and students. The George Benson Quartet, Steve Carryer Trio, Matt Michaels Trio, and Dennis Tini Trio, as well as the Hot Club of Detroit will be performing on Sunday, July 17 from noon to 10:30 p.m. This year\'s event, dedicated to the late Larry Nozero, Detroit jazz musician and WSU part-time faculty member, is free of charge and will feature five stages of continuous music.

Saxophonist George Benson and guitarist Steve Carryer are both part-time faculty members for WSU Music. Matt Michaels, jazz pianist, recently retired as a full-time faculty member and as Director of WSU Jazz Studies, but will return to WSU in fall 2005 as a part-time faculty member. Following 13 years as Chair of WSU Music, jazz pianist Dennis Tini will return to the full-time faculty in fall 2006 following an administrative leave during the 2005-06 academic year. The Hot Club of Detroit, comprised of WSU Music students and recent graduates, will also be performing. All have been featured groups in the past at the Michigan Jazz Festival. The WSU Jazz Lab Band I has also performed in the past as one of the festival\'s featured big bands.

Schoolcraft College is located in Livonia on Haggerty Road between 6 and 7 Mile Roads. For a complete schedule and line-up call (248) 474-2720 or visit www.michiganjazzfestival.homestead.com.