Chicago may be called "The Windy City," but it had nothing on Detroit during the Detroit Jazz Festival performances at Hart Plaza on Saturday. Cooler than normal temperatures and gusty winds had jazz fans bundled up and huddled together, but the draw of great music kept them in their seats.

There has always been a friendly rivalry between the two Midwest cities, both of which host jazz festivals on Labor Day weekend. Under the leadership of executive director Terri Pontremoli, however, Detroit's jazz festival is now a clear winner in terms of both lineup and general ambiance.

With six active stages, the challenge for festival-goers can be trying to narrow down the music choices. The draw of the national acts can be strong, but taking some time to see homegrown talent on the smaller stages can reap some solid rewards. Ann Arbor pianist and educator Ellen Rowe brought her quartet to the Mack Avenue Pyramid Stage for a rousing set of standards and originals on Saturday afternoon. Bassist Kurt Krahnke and drummer Pete Siers are an unbeatable rhythm section, and saxophonist Andrew Bishop has tremendous chops.

Another local highlight was the Detroit Tribute to Betty Carter. Led by pianist Cliff Monear with Sean Dobbins on drums and Paul Keller on bass, the concert featured three singers who showcased the many facets of the late Betty Carter's talents: Naima Shambourger, Kelly Broadway and Stephenie Monear Schindler.

A surprise for me was saxophonist Tia Fuller. Perhaps best known for her work in R&B superstar Beyoncé's band, the young saxophonist brought an R&B tinge to a hard-swinging set that showed that she's anything but one-dimensional. She credits Cannonball Adderley and John Coltrane as influences, and those are evident, but there's a freshness to her sound that leaves you wanting to hear more.

Panamanian pianist Danilo Perez brought a tremendous quartet to the Carhartt Amphitheater in the late afternoon. Showcasing songs from his new Mack Avenue Records release "Providencia," Perez was joined by rising star Rudresh Mahanthappa on saxophone, Ben Street on bass, Adam Cruz on percussion, and Roggerio Boccato on percussion.

For me, the highlight of Saturday's performances was Terence Blanchard's set in the evening. The trumpeter was joined by long-time saxophonist Brice Winston, virtuosic drummer Kendrick Scott, and relative newcomers Fabian Almazan and Joshua Crumbly on the piano and bass. There is a majesty and compassion in Terence Blanchard's playing that can bring an audience to tears. He played selections from his most recent disc, "Choices," as well as tunes from "A Tale of God's Will (A Requiem for Katrina)."

Today's Jazz Festival highlights include WSU Big Band w/ Terence Blanchard, Kenny Barron & Mulgrew Miller, Christian McBride & Benny Green, Robert Hurst, Tierney Sutton and Ledisi. You can find the complete schedule on the Detroit Jazz Festival website.

Jessica Webster writes about food and books for AnnArbor.com and hosts a jazz show on WEMU-FM. She will be at the Detroit Jazz Festival all weekend. You can follow her jazz festival updates on the WEMU Facebook page. You can reach her at JessicaWebster@AnnArbor.com.