SKY COVINGTON’S PRESERVATION OF JAZZ MONDAY NIGHT MUSIC SERIES PRESENTS
THE VELVET VOICES OF SOUL
An Autumn Special Celebrating Jean Carne, Stephanie Mills & Patrice Rushen
Featuring Angela Davis • Karla Pace • Tralyn
Monday, October 5, 2026 Aretha’s Jazz Café 350 Madison Avenue • Detroit, Michigan
Doors Open: 6:00 PM | Showtime: 7:00 PM | Tickets: $35
DETROIT, MI — As autumn settles over Detroit, Sky Covington’s Preservation of Jazz Monday Night Music Series welcomes the season with The Velvet Voices of Soul, an elegant autumn special celebrating the music and legacies of three extraordinary women: Jean Carne, Stephanie Mills and Patrice Rushen.
Hosted by comedian Mike Bonner and curated and produced by vocalist Sky Covington, the October 5 presentation brings together three Detroit vocalists for an evening where jazz, soul and R&B meet.
ANGELA DAVIS CELEBRATES JEAN CARNE
With her sophisticated fusion of jazz and soul, Jean Carne emerged as one of the most distinctive vocalists of her generation. Her remarkable range and unmistakable phrasing can be heard on favorites including “Don’t Let It Go to Your Head” and “Closer Than Close.”
For this special presentation, Angela Davis steps into Carne’s celebrated songbook, bringing her own voice and interpretation to the music while honoring the elegance and musicianship that made Jean Carne unforgettable.
KARLA PACE CELEBRATES STEPHANIE MILLS
From her celebrated portrayal of Dorothy in Broadway’s The Wiz to a remarkable recording career, Stephanie Mills gave audiences a voice rooted in gospel, soul and unmistakable emotion.
Songs including “Never Knew Love Like This Before,” “Home,” and “I Feel Good All Over” helped establish Mills as one of the defining R&B voices of her era.
Detroit vocalist Karla Pace will celebrate that legacy with a performance honoring the power, tenderness and soul of Stephanie Mills.
TRALYN CELEBRATES PATRICE RUSHEN
Singer, composer, pianist, arranger and producer Patrice Rushen represents extraordinary musicianship across jazz, funk and R&B.
From “Forget Me Nots” to “Remind Me,” Rushen created music whose influence has continued across generations of artists, producers and listeners.
Tralyn takes the stage to celebrate Rushen’s musical legacy, bringing her own artistry, energy and soul to this beloved catalog.
🍂 THREE WOMEN. THREE DISTINCTIVE VOICES. ONE AUTUMN NIGHT.
The Velvet Voices of Soul is not about impersonation. In the tradition of The Preservation of Jazz, contemporary performers are invited to honor the music while remaining true to their own voices.
Audiences can expect an intimate evening of live music, storytelling and beloved songs as The Preservation of Jazz celebrates three women whose artistry helped bridge the worlds of jazz, soul and R&B.
«“This is what The Preservation of Jazz is about—keeping the music in front of audiences while giving our Detroit artists a stage to interpret it through their own artistry. There is something about these three women—the sophistication, the musicianship, the voices—that feels perfect for an autumn evening.”
— Sky Covington, Curator & Producer»
EVENT DETAILS
The Velvet Voices of Soul — An Autumn Special A Tribute to Jean Carne, Stephanie Mills & Patrice Rushen
Angela Davis — celebrating Jean Carne Karla Pace — celebrating Stephanie Mills Tralyn — celebrating Patrice Rushen
Hosted by: Mike Bonner Curated & Produced by: Sky Covington Presented by: The Preservation of Jazz Monday Night Music Series
Monday, October 5, 2026 Aretha’s Jazz Café 350 Madison Avenue • Detroit, Michigan
Doors: 6:00 PM Show: 7:00 PM Tickets: $35
For ticket information and reservations, visit JazzCafeDetroit.com or call 248-383-3385.
🍁 WELCOME AUTUMN WITH THE VELVET VOICES OF SOUL.
Jean Carne. Stephanie Mills. Patrice Rushen.
Three remarkable musical legacies—celebrated by three Detroit women for one special night at Aretha’s Jazz Café.
$35