Thursday • 17
Faruq Z. Bey vs. Warn Defever
MUSIC
One of the most savory combinations of musical talent in this town, Warn Defever and Faruq Z. Bey, takes to the stage this week. Bey, best known for his work with the super-groovy ’70s-’80s sci-fi band, Griot Galaxy, and Defever, whose schizophrenic band, His Name is Alive, continue to defy categorization, circumvent their musical and cultural differences, and together make some of the most unpredictably cohesive and beautiful music we here at Night & Day have heard in years. At the Canterbury House, 721 E. Huron, Ann Arbor; 734-665-0606. With Japanese noise artist, Niko.
Thursday • 17
Les Georges Leningrad
MUSIC
They might call Montreal home, but nu-wave, noise-disco trio Les Georges Leningrad actually comes from a place you’d never find on a map. This band defies categorization. Is it punk? Electro? Art school-inspired masturbatory bullshit? Yes, yes and yes. But just try to take your eyes off Poney P., Mingo L’Indien and Bobo Boutin as they take the stage. Spastic, demented and deliciously entertaining, Les Georges Leningrad invades the Magic Stick in support of its 2004 LP, Sur Les Traces de Black Eskimo, on Alien8 Records. Also performing are Detroit’s equally twisted sonic-Dadaists, Tamion 12 Inch, and the Genders. A night of this much madness and dark fun doesn’t come around often enough. At 4120 Woodward Ave, Detroit; 313-833-9700.
Thurs-Sat •
17-19
Monk
THEATER
The band is wailing, and it’s time for Thelonious Monk’s solo, goes a joke. Monk stares into space, and a hipster in the crowd quietly complains to a buddy that the jazz genius isn’t playing anything. “Ah, but imagine what he’s thinking,” comes the reply. Playwright Laurence Holder has done just that, and turned imagined Monk thoughts into a one-man play about the most taciturn of musicians. The play returns to Detroit with Rome Neal again in the title role. Thursday’s show is a benefit for ailing Detroit musician Teddy Harris Jr. ($30 for play, $50 with pre-show wine tasting and buffet). Friday and Saturday shows include the pre-show goodies for $30. The Cassius Richmond Quartet plays Monk classics all three nights. SerenGeti Galleries, 2757 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-963-8099.
Saturday • 19
Jack DeJohnette Latin Project
MUSIC
The word is that they have no plans to record as a group, so it’s either see these guys live or wait — maybe forever. Drummer DeJohnette is the leader and village elder here, with a résumé that includes a stint with electric-era Miles Davis, an ongoing collaboration with Keith Jarrett and session work with such younger artists as clarinetist Don Byron, whose 2001 Latin disc, Music for Six Musicians, was an inspiration to this band. Also in the groove: percussionists Giovanni Hidalgo and Luisita Quintero, Music for Six alum Edsel Gomez on piano and frequent DeJohnette accompanist Jerome Harris on bass. Hill Auditorium, 825 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor; 800-221-1229.
Sunday • 20
Martin Luther
MUSIC
If you, like most music fans with a modicum of taste, find today’s pop music to be an endless exercise in vapidity, grab yourself a copy of Martin Luther’s new CD, Rebel Soul Music. Luther, who’s also played with the likes of the Roots and Dead Prez, will be performing songs from the new album in Birmingham this week. “My music is just soul music, but I attach ‘rebel’ to it because my music is revolutionary,” Luther says. “I want you to evolve from your day-to-day thinking that most music being played on the radio doesn’t encourage or inspire you to do.” Luther will be available for autographs after the show. Performance to begin at 2 p.m. at Borders, 34300 Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-203-0005.
Tuesday • 22
The Spook Who Sat by the Door
FILM
One of the most impassioned films of the “blaxploitation” era, 1973’s The Spook Who Sat by the Door, is the fictional tale of the first African-American man recruited by the CIA. Written by Sam Greenlee, the story revolves around Dan Freeman, a young black man who endures the racism of his fellow CIA men, and who — after five years with the agency — leaves to begin a revolution of his own. What comes sends waves of terror throughout America. Greenlee will present this movie and give a short lecture on the making of the cult classic. At 6:30 p.m. at the Akwaaba Community Center, 8045 Second Ave., Detroit; 313-871-2428.
TuesDAY • 22
Jazz Tribute to Larry Nozero
MUSIC
Saxophonist Larry Nozero has been part of myriad scenes within the ever-changing Detroit jazz world, from the Cass Corridor ’60s scene, to the Motown scene, to the swank nightclub scene, to the festival scene. Now musicians who’ve rubbed shoulders and shared mics with him on all those stages are gathering to help pay the medical bills as Nozero fights cancer. The lineup includes the Johnny Trudell Big Band, Alexander Zonjic, Dennis and Ray Tini, Matt Michaels, Dan Jordan, George Benson, Chris Collins, Paul Keller and many more. Reserved tickets required. Tax-deductible contributions through Michigan Jazz Festival, Midge Ellis, 20457 Maplewood St., Livonia; write “Larry Nozero” on check memo line. At the Louis E. Schmidt Auditorium, 20155 Middlebelt Rd., Livonia; 248-474-2720.
Wednesday • 23
Ben Hernandez: Three Years of Life at the Detroit Art Space
ART
Alas, the beloved art rock-cum-jazz venue-cum-art gallery, Detroit Art Space, is gone, but the sights and sounds that filled its halls are still very much alive thanks to the celluloid and digital documentary work of Ben Hernandez. Former DAS honcho and talent buyer, Hernandez has accumulated a collection of documentary videos and photographs during his three-year stint at the Art Space, and will show them as part of Motor City Brewing Works’ This Week in Art series. One night only. 470 W. Canfield St., Detroit; 313-832-2700.
Ongoing
Images of the Past
ART
Detroit artist Jack Summers’ latest series of collages and assemblages reflects his strict belief that the preservation of nature is key to human survival. His works, or as he refers to them, “shrines to nature,” use seeds and pods, found objects and recycled images to raise social consciousness and open the minds of art lovers. Runs through April at the Washington Street Gallery, 120 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; 734-761-2287.
Send comments to [email protected]
