Detroit Jazz Musicians

JamesJazz · March 8th, 2003, 11:43 AM

Hello,

I'm a new guy to the forum.
I've researched Detroit jazz musicians for nearly thirty years. Much of my research went into "Before Motown: A History Of Jazz In Detroit, 1920 - 1960", by Lars Bjorn with Jim Gallert.

Lars and I interviewed over 100 musicians and those interviews, coupled with Lars' desk research of black Detroit newspapers, form the backbone of B Motown.

In addition to the well known names we tried to bring to light the excellent musicians who, for various reasons, didn't receive the accolades of their better known colleagues.

We realize there is much we do not know but we are continuing to interview and document the Detroit jazz scene.

If anyone has comments about Detroit music, please feel free to post them. If you have a question, I'll do my best to at least point you in the direction of an answer.

One of our current projects is to issue some extremely rare recordings (both commercial and private) of Detroit jazz.

BFrank · March 8th, 2003, 12:51 PM

Certainly the Jones brothers have to be at the top of the list of important jazz musicians from Motown. Those three have always represented class, dedication and creativity.

vibes · March 8th, 2003, 12:54 PM

Kenny Burrell, Yusef Lateef and Curtis Fuller have got to be up there too. All wonderful musicians!

WestCoast Ghost · March 8th, 2003, 12:56 PM

James,
I interviewed you and Lars for my community radio show in Bloomington, Indiana. Thanks again for all of your time and assistance! I'm looking forward to snapping up your guys' Detroit compilation when it hits the street. To others on the board, BEFORE MOTOWN is a fascinating, worthy read even if you're not from the Midwest; the Detroit jazz scene was so vibrant, and the book is so well-rounded in its approach to the history of the city as well as the music, that any jazz fan will enjoy it. Highly recommended.

clandy44 · March 8th, 2003, 12:56 PM

All of the above and Kenny Clarke, who had never had a bad outing to my ears. Way too many high quality jazzers from Detroit considering its population.

Cali · March 8th, 2003, 01:12 PM

Thanks for this thread. I've compiled a list of Detroit jazz musicians and the length is astounding. I'll certainly pick up your book(s).

JamesJazz · March 8th, 2003, 01:40 PM

Hey Ghost, I remember our interview very well. It was big fun.
Glad you're posting here.

clandy, I wish Detroit could claim the wonderful Klook but unfortunately Pittsburgh has that honor.

Elvin Jones influenced many Detroit drummers years before he played with Trane. He was in the house band at the Blue Bird Inn in the early 1950s along with Thad and Billy Mitchell (B Mitch) who led the group. If you listen to the four sides the group recorded in 1952-53 (NOT 1948, as discographies generally list), you can recognize Elvin at work.

WestCoast Ghost · March 8th, 2003, 01:42 PM

James,
A number of us on the old Blue Note board had been wondering what was up with the live album James Carter recorded at Baker's Keyboard Lounge (name right?). He's signed with Sony now, but we can't seem to get confirmation on whether or not WEA's ever going to release the Detroit date. Have you heard anything?

JamesJazz · March 8th, 2003, 01:50 PM

Ref. James Carter, yeah actually I saw James a few months ago. He was at Baker's with his organ group (Leonard King, dms & Gerald Gibbs, B3).
That CD is still 'in production', there are a few cuts that must be re-mixed with other musicians and there is a scheduling problem. Probably the CBS thing isn't helping either.

SEK · March 8th, 2003, 05:30 PM

Let's not overlook one of James Carter's teachers, the great saxophonist, Faruq Z. Bey. Faruq was one of the founders of Griot Galaxy and is still quite active. Players from Chicago get more press and attention, but I think that Faruq's playing and writing is easily as fine and deep as anyone's. He has a gift for poetry as well.

I look forward, within the next couple of months, to the release of an album (on Michigan's Entropy Stereo Recordings label) that Faruq recently recorded with Mike Carey (flute and tenor sax) and a group of creative musicians based in central Michigan that I've enjoyed for over two decades, the Northwoods Improvisers.

gregk · March 8th, 2003, 05:33 PM

As a recent transplant to the metro Detroit area, I will be eagerly awaiting anything you can issue of local jazz talent

JamesJazz · March 8th, 2003, 05:37 PM

Yeah you right, SEK, Farouk is a fine musician. Griot Galaxy...an original blend of Sun Ra and AACM. Farouk's arrangements were striking and original.
Remember Farouk's radio show, "Met-Ezzthetics"? on WDET?

JamesJazz · March 8th, 2003, 05:43 PM

Welcome to the area, Greg!

In Ann Arbor, you've got two solid jazz clubs: Firefly and Bird Of Paradise. And many talented musicians.
In Detroit, it's Baker's on 8 mile at Livernois (one of the world's oldest jazz clubs). They feature jazz Tuesday-Sunday.
www.Bakerskeyboard.com contains their schedule.

Bert's Marketplace on Russell Street in Eastern Market is a real jazz joint. They have music on Thurs/Fri/Sat eve.

What era of jazz are you interested in?

gregk · March 8th, 2003, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JamesJazz
Welcome to the area, Greg!

In Ann Arbor, you've got two solid jazz clubs: Firefly and Bird Of Paradise. And many talented musicians.
In Detroit, it's Baker's on 8 mile at Livernois (one of the world's oldest jazz clubs). They feature jazz Tuesday-Sunday.
www.Bakerskeyboard.com contains their schedule.

Bert's Marketplace on Russell Street in Eastern Market is a real jazz joint. They have music on Thurs/Fri/Sat eve.

What era of jazz are you interested in?

Hey James, actually by "recent" I meant I moved here in 2000. I absolutely love Ann Arbor, and you're right about those 2 clubs here. Also the Michigan Theater has had some good names come through; I saw Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and both those guys together over the last 2 years, and I saw Keith Jarrett at Hill Auditorium. I think what I'm interested in the most lately has been Keith Jarrett, but my tastes fluctuate. I haven't been to Detroit for too many live shows but I intend to. I think what I like most about this area is the variety of live music going on every night, all over metro Detroit. Would you recommend WDET? I typically only listen to WEMU, NPR from Ypsi, which occasionally plays jazz.

JamesJazz · March 8th, 2003, 05:58 PM

Greg,

I'd recommend WDET specifically for Ed Love (M-F eves), Kim Heron (Sun 7-10 pm), and John Penny (Sun 3-5 pm).
WEMU is excellent too, but I'm biased because I worked at both stations (WDET 1972-93, WEMU 1995-97).

March 8th, 2003, 11:43 AM	#1
JamesJazz Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Detroit Posts: 55	Detroit Jazz Musicians Hello, I'm a new guy to the forum. I've researched Detroit jazz musicians for nearly thirty years. Much of my research went into "Before Motown: A History Of Jazz In Detroit, 1920 - 1960", by Lars Bjorn with Jim Gallert. Lars and I interviewed over 100 musicians and those interviews, coupled with Lars' desk research of black Detroit newspapers, form the backbone of B Motown. In addition to the well known names we tried to bring to light the excellent musicians who, for various reasons, didn't receive the accolades of their better known colleagues. We realize there is much we do not know but we are continuing to interview and document the Detroit jazz scene. If anyone has comments about Detroit music, please feel free to post them. If you have a question, I'll do my best to at least point you in the direction of an answer. One of our current projects is to issue some extremely rare recordings (both commercial and private) of Detroit jazz.

March 8th, 2003, 12:51 PM	#2
BFrank User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NoCal Posts: 1,047	Certainly the Jones brothers have to be at the top of the list of important jazz musicians from Motown. Those three have always represented class, dedication and creativity. __________________ Hip To It!

March 8th, 2003, 12:56 PM	#4
WestCoast Ghost Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: ether Posts: 737	James, I interviewed you and Lars for my community radio show in Bloomington, Indiana. Thanks again for all of your time and assistance! I'm looking forward to snapping up your guys' Detroit compilation when it hits the street. To others on the board, BEFORE MOTOWN is a fascinating, worthy read even if you're not from the Midwest; the Detroit jazz scene was so vibrant, and the book is so well-rounded in its approach to the history of the city as well as the music, that any jazz fan will enjoy it. Highly recommended. __________________ David Brent Johnson Night Lights Saturdays 11:05 p.m. WFIU 103.7 FM Bloomington, IN www.nightlights.indiana.edu

March 8th, 2003, 01:42 PM	#8
WestCoast Ghost Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: ether Posts: 737	James, A number of us on the old Blue Note board had been wondering what was up with the live album James Carter recorded at Baker's Keyboard Lounge (name right?). He's signed with Sony now, but we can't seem to get confirmation on whether or not WEA's ever going to release the Detroit date. Have you heard anything? __________________ David Brent Johnson Night Lights Saturdays 11:05 p.m. WFIU 103.7 FM Bloomington, IN www.nightlights.indiana.edu

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March 8th, 2003, 12:54 PM	#3
vibes Model Citizen Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: south of hell Posts: 172	Kenny Burrell, Yusef Lateef and Curtis Fuller have got to be up there too. All wonderful musicians!

March 8th, 2003, 12:56 PM	#5
clandy44 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Washington DC-MD Posts: 100	All of the above and Kenny Clarke, who had never had a bad outing to my ears. Way too many high quality jazzers from Detroit considering its population.

March 8th, 2003, 01:12 PM	#6
Cali Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: L.A. Posts: 353	Thanks for this thread. I've compiled a list of Detroit jazz musicians and the length is astounding. I'll certainly pick up your book(s).

March 8th, 2003, 01:40 PM	#7
JamesJazz Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Detroit Posts: 55	Hey Ghost, I remember our interview very well. It was big fun. Glad you're posting here. clandy, I wish Detroit could claim the wonderful Klook but unfortunately Pittsburgh has that honor. Elvin Jones influenced many Detroit drummers years before he played with Trane. He was in the house band at the Blue Bird Inn in the early 1950s along with Thad and Billy Mitchell (B Mitch) who led the group. If you listen to the four sides the group recorded in 1952-53 (NOT 1948, as discographies generally list), you can recognize Elvin at work.

March 8th, 2003, 01:50 PM	#9
JamesJazz Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Detroit Posts: 55	Ref. James Carter, yeah actually I saw James a few months ago. He was at Baker's with his organ group (Leonard King, dms & Gerald Gibbs, B3). That CD is still 'in production', there are a few cuts that must be re-mixed with other musicians and there is a scheduling problem. Probably the CBS thing isn't helping either.

March 8th, 2003, 05:30 PM	#10
SEK Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd, Michigan Posts: 44	Let's not overlook one of James Carter's teachers, the great saxophonist, Faruq Z. Bey. Faruq was one of the founders of Griot Galaxy and is still quite active. Players from Chicago get more press and attention, but I think that Faruq's playing and writing is easily as fine and deep as anyone's. He has a gift for poetry as well. I look forward, within the next couple of months, to the release of an album (on Michigan's Entropy Stereo Recordings label) that Faruq recently recorded with Mike Carey (flute and tenor sax) and a group of creative musicians based in central Michigan that I've enjoyed for over two decades, the Northwoods Improvisers.

March 8th, 2003, 05:33 PM	#11
gregk Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 542	As a recent transplant to the metro Detroit area, I will be eagerly awaiting anything you can issue of local jazz talent

March 8th, 2003, 05:37 PM	#12
JamesJazz Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Detroit Posts: 55	Yeah you right, SEK, Farouk is a fine musician. Griot Galaxy...an original blend of Sun Ra and AACM. Farouk's arrangements were striking and original. Remember Farouk's radio show, "Met-Ezzthetics"? on WDET?

March 8th, 2003, 05:43 PM	#13
JamesJazz Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Detroit Posts: 55	Welcome to the area, Greg! In Ann Arbor, you've got two solid jazz clubs: Firefly and Bird Of Paradise. And many talented musicians. In Detroit, it's Baker's on 8 mile at Livernois (one of the world's oldest jazz clubs). They feature jazz Tuesday-Sunday. www.Bakerskeyboard.com contains their schedule. Bert's Marketplace on Russell Street in Eastern Market is a real jazz joint. They have music on Thurs/Fri/Sat eve. What era of jazz are you interested in?

March 8th, 2003, 05:58 PM	#15
JamesJazz Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Detroit Posts: 55	Greg, I'd recommend WDET specifically for Ed Love (M-F eves), Kim Heron (Sun 7-10 pm), and John Penny (Sun 3-5 pm). WEMU is excellent too, but I'm biased because I worked at both stations (WDET 1972-93, WEMU 1995-97).