James (Blood) Ulmer and his band Memphis Blood will perform Saturday night at the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts. Bassist, singer and songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello will also perform. / Music Hall
Jazz
It's a big weekend at Music Hall Center for the Performing
Arts with action on both the upstairs main stage and downstairs in the cozy
Jazz Café.
First up is the Afro-Cuban pianist Arturo O'Farrill, a
stalwart of the Latin-Jazz scene, who in September led a vivacious septet at
the Detroit Jazz Festival. In recent years he has led a big band in metro
Detroit on more than one occasion, once with a ballet company in tow, and has
appeared as a sideman with the Latin Jazz All Stars. This time out, he's
slimmed down to a sleek trio, which should shine an even brighter spotlight on
his skills as an improviser.
O'Farrill's most recent recording, "The Noguchi
Sessions" (Zoho), is a solo disc, so don't be surprised if he goes it
alone once or twice, too. With bassist Shawn Conley and drummer Zachery
O'Farrill. 8 and 10 p.m. Friday, Jazz Café at Music Hall, 350 Madison, Detroit.
313-887-8501. www.jazzcafedetroit.com. $30 advance, $40 door.
Saturday brings a promising double bill and collaboration
with two artists who have spent their careers assimilating a lot of strains of
African-American music into personal hybrids. Guitarist-singer James (Blood)
Ulmer's roots are in avant-garde jazz, rock and funk -- he apprenticed with
free jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman in the '70s -- but his band Memphis Blood is
about his unique take on down-home blues. Meanwhile, charismatic bassist,
singer and songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello, best known for helping to spearhead
a contemporary neo-soul, will be paying tribute to the late Nina Simone by
performing music from her latest album, "Pour une ame souveraine"
("For a sovereign soul").
Read more on: http://www.freep.com/article/20121129/COL17/311290007/1081/col
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