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Faruq Z. Bey

Musician interrupted
The story of Griot Galaxy & a renaissance for Faruq Z. Bey

by W. Kim Heron (June 2003)

He’d gone to see saxophonists John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders the year before at a place on Dexter called the Drome Lounge, and their wail was like nothing he’d ever experienced before: magnificent, powerful, polyrhythmic, polytonal, polychromatic, emotional, form-shattering … the purest music he’d ever experienced before or since.

And when the word went out that Coltrane had died on a Monday in July - or gotten so heavy he’d fallen off the planet, as some wags would have it - it was only fitting to call for a memorial party. A dozen or so fans worshipfully played records and made music through Saturday night at the cramped apartment on Chicago Boulevard where he lived with his wife. Around daybreak came the sound of cars speeding away from Lord knew what, and being reckless guys, they went to check out the commotion and soon found themselves at the epicenter of the brewing Detroit rebellion of 1967. It was a revelation:

“The people who were rioting in the street, they moved like one mind. It was almost like a hive of insects moves. It was like a wave; it just moved, but that whole episode put me in a frame of mind of thinking about our position here as a - quote - subculture, and how to deal with that. And since music was always an interest of mine and seeing how our music defined itself and our relationship to the greater environment as well … ”

The issues all seemed intertwined.

A couple days later with the riot still raging he became the owner of his first saxophone, a Martin tenor, for the uncharacteristically low price of $80.

Asked whether, in the parlance of the time, the saxophone had been “liberated,” he laughs dryly. “I got it during the riot,” he repeats.

Asked whether this all seemed prophetic - Coltrane dying, the memorial, the riot, the saxophone - his eyes widen as if it’s obvious. He laughs again: “It was significant, I’ll put it that way.”

Life seemed to take on a new seriousness. “Before that I was just floating and having fun doing what was expected of me by the culture at large and the tradition and yadda yadda,” he says.

Within a few years, Jesse Davis would have new names. He would become Malik Z. Bey then Faruq Z. Bey. His marriage would dissolve, as would two more during the ’70s. He’d become part of an artistic, spiritualist, pan-African political milieu; he’d eventually become a sort of poster boy for that set. He’d read his poetry to rapt listeners, pontificate on the meaning of life and culture, play in more bands and jams than anyone can be expected to keep track of. He’d impress a lot of folks as brilliant and charismatic; he’d attract talent like a magnet. He’d garner a rep as a ladies’ man. He’d live wildly, nearly die, watch much of what he’d worked for unravel, and slowly recover.

And roughly two decades after its demise, one of his bands, arguably the best jazz band to never make it out of Detroit, just may be on the verge of getting its due...

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752
Profile

Faruq Z. Bey

Read "Faruq Z. Bey" reviewed by Wilbur MacKenzie


Throughout the history of jazz, Detroit has produced world-class jazz artists, iconic individualists and ubiquitous sidemen alike. Many have moved to New York or other cities to pursue their career. A handful of great artists remained in Detroit, keeping the creative energy alive there (and consequently Detroit continues to produce incredible talent). One artist who has remained in Detroit over the decades, overcoming social and personal disaster to continue his creative pursuits, is saxophonist and composer Faruq Z. Bey.

334
Album Review

Faruq Z. Bey with the Northwood Improvisers: Journey into the Valley

Read "Journey into the Valley" reviewed by Clifford Allen


Though in the jazz world, Detroit and southern Michigan often get the most credit for producing Hahd bop talents like Kenny Burrell, Tommy Flanagan and the brothers Jones, there has long been a slow-burning fire of free improvisation and creative music tapping into the Motor City's pulse. Reedmen Faruq Z. Bey and Skeeter Shelton, both onetime co-leaders of the Griot Galaxy, are longtime members of the region's new music community. A somewhat younger set (but not by much) are the ...

251
Album Review

Faruq Z. Bey and the Northwoods Improvisers: Auzar

Read "Auzar" reviewed by Rex  Butters


Detroit saxophonist Faruq Z. Bey's third Entropy release finds him returning to a three-horn lineup for the first time since his days with Griot Galaxy. Working a stylistic vein that would have fit '60's Impulse! with their bass-driven, Afro-centric, imaginative ardent songs to the sacred, Bey and the Northwoods Improvisers work from compositions, cues, and inspiration. The group sound, captured live, shows an enthusiastic unit capable of infectious grooves and driving without hands.

Mike Johnston introduces “Gemini with a lurking ...

127
Album Review

Faruq Z. Bey with the Northwoods Improvisers: Auzar

Read "Auzar" reviewed by Paul Olson


Detroit saxophonist Faruq Z. Bey's third release with the Northwoods Improvisers, Auzar , may be their best collaboration yet; certainly, it benefits from the addition of fellow Detroiters Mike Carey (on bass clarinet and tenor sax) and Skeeter Shelton (on tenor). These three are ably supported by the core Improvisers lineup of Mike Gilmore on vibes and marimba, Mike Johnston on bass, and Nick Ashton on drums. Auzar was recorded live at Central Michigan University in March of 2004 at ...

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141

Festival

The 3rd Annual Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music

The 3rd Annual Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music

Source: JazzStage Productions

Bohemian National Home and New Detroit Sounds is proud to present The 3rd Annual Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music on May 30 & 31 at Bohemian National Home in Detroit. This two day festival showcases the finest in free jazz, improvisation and new music from around the world and right here in Detroit. In addition, we'll have food available from two Detroit culinary institutions, Slows Bar BQ and Avalon International Breads, as well as a CD mart from Stormy ...

179

Performance / Tour

Faruq Z. Bey with Northwoods Improvisers Featuring; Mike Carey and Skeeter Shelton at Cliff Bell's

Faruq Z. Bey with Northwoods Improvisers  Featuring; Mike Carey and Skeeter Shelton at Cliff Bell's

Source: JazzStage Productions

Faruq Z. Bey, a founding member of Griot Galaxy, a band referred to as 'the best band that never left Detroit', has been active on the Detroit music scene as a performer since the early 1970s. He started his career as a professional musician in 1960. Since then he has performed with Abdullah Ibrahim, Leroy Jenkins, Roscoe Mitchell, Anthony Braxton, Roy Brooks, and Archie Shepp. Northwoods Improvisers first came together in 1976. Early versions of the band played totally collective ...

148

Radio

Saxophonist/Poet Faruq Z. Bey on the DJS Jazz Spotlite Channel

Saxophonist/Poet Faruq Z. Bey on the DJS Jazz Spotlite Channel

Source: JazzStage Productions

Saxophonist/Poet Faruq Z. Bey is the featured artist on the DJS Jazz Spotlite Channel. A founding member of Griot Galaxy, a band referred to as 'the best band that never left Detroit', Bey has been active on the Detroit music scene as a performer since the early 1970s. He started his career as a professional musician in 1960. Since then he has performed with Abdullah Ibrahim, Leroy Jenkins, Roscoe Mitchell, Anthony Braxton, Roy Brooks, and Archie Shepp. This Spotlite is ...

111

Technology

Detroit saxophonist Faruq Z. Bey to appear on Detroit JazzStage Monthly Podcast

Detroit saxophonist Faruq Z. Bey to appear on Detroit JazzStage Monthly Podcast

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Detroit saxophonist Faruq Z. Bey to appear on Detroit JazzStage!

Legendary saxophonist/composer/poet and philosopher Faruq Z. Bey joins Rodney Reeves and Jim Gallert for an hour to discuss music, life and art on the October edition of Detroit JazzStage. A founding member of Griot Galaxy, a band referred to as 'the best band that never left Detroit', Bey has been active on the Detroit music scene as a performer since the early 1970s. Tune in to Detroit JazzStage at during ...

145

Recording

Entropy Stereo Releases Faruq Z. Bey's 19 Moons

Entropy Stereo Releases Faruq Z. Bey's 19 Moons

Source: All About Jazz

Faruq Z. Bey is no stranger to the creative music form. On 19 Moons, he is joined by veteran jazz group the Northwoods Improvisers in a very natural match of thoughtfulness and creativity. Faruq Z. Bey founded the seminal Detroit jazz group Griot Galaxy. Griot Galaxy was on the vanguard of challenging music throughout the 1970s and 1980s earning them much international acclaim. Faruq is currently in the group Speaking in Tongues and appears on a new release as a ...

Marc Beaudin, poet
poet / spoken word

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Primal Waters

Entropy Stereo Recordings
2012

buy

Emerging Field

Entropy Stereo Recordings
2010

buy

Journey into the...

Entropy Stereo
2009

buy

Untitled

Entropy Stereo Recordings
2006

buy

Auzar

Entropy Stereo
2005

buy

Auzar

Entropy Stereo Recordings
2004

buy

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