The Detroit Public Library is proud to bring this groundbreaking all female jazz group to the 2012 Comerica Java & Jazz stage.  This hometown group of strong, inventive instrumentalists and vocalists, have shown themselves to be powerful and imaginative composers and arrangers in the music industry. Widely recognized for their eclectic and soulful approach to creating music, the Straight Ahead sound ranges comfortably from mainstream jazz R&B ballads, to Brazilian funk. Straight Ahead was named the finalist in the “Sony Innovators” competition in the first year they performed together. Since then, they have amassed a string of honors, including opening for the legendary Nina Simone at the Montreaux-Switzerland Jazz Festival and being nominated for a Grammy.