Faruq Z. Bey (born Jesse Davis; February 4, 1942 – June 1, 2012)[1] was an American jazzsaxophonist and composer from Detroit, Michigan. Bey was known for his work with Griot Galaxy, which played distinct compositions, often by Bey. Odd meters and polyrhythms were a frequent feature of the group's tunes, which would give way to free sections. Originally started in 1972, Griot Galaxy settled into its most stable line-up around 1980, when Bey was joined by saxophonists David McMurray and Anthony Holland, as well as bassist Jaribu Shahid and drummer Tani Tabbal. Griot Galaxy played at the 1983 Detroit Montreux Jazz Festival (now the Detroit Jazz Festival), and toured Europe in the mid-1980s.
In the mid-1980s Bey was in a serious motorcycle accident that left him in a coma.[2] Almost a decade passed before he returned to performing. He re-emerged with an all woodwind ensemble called The Conspiracy Winds Ensemble. He began to play in Speaking in Tongues and Hakim Jami's Street Band. He joined forces with The Northwoods Improvisers, who devoted several releases to Bey's music. His frequent collaborators, saxophonists Michael Carey and Skeeter Shelton, joined him on most of the Northwoods Improviser's recordings. He also played in Kindred, a quartet with Kennith Green, Kevin Callaway and Joel Peterson, and in Odu Afrobeat Orchestra. Among Bey's last ensembles was The Absolute Tonalist Society with Carey, Peterson and drummer Kurt Prisbe.
Some of his most noted releases are Kins, Opus Krampus and Live at the DIA with Griot Galaxy, and Auzar and Ashirai Pattern with The Northwoods Improvisers. Bey published two books of poetry, Year of the Iron Sheep and Etudes in Wanton Nesses, in addition to a theoretical/aesthetic manifesto Toward a "Ratio"nal Aesthetic (1989). Bey died on June 1, 2012.[3] He had experienced long-term health issues including emphysema.[3]
^Heron, W. Kim (June 25, 2003). "Musician interrupted: The story of Griot Galaxy & a renaissance for Faruq Z. Bey". Metro Times. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
^ abHeron, W. Kim (June 2, 2012). . Metro Times. Archived from the original on June 6, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
External linksedit
Faruq Z. Bey 2013-11-10 at the Wayback Machine on Detroit JazzStage
faruq, born, jesse, davis, february, 1942, june, 2012, american, jazz, saxophonist, composer, from, detroit, michigan, known, work, with, griot, galaxy, which, played, distinct, compositions, often, meters, polyrhythms, were, frequent, feature, group, tunes, w. Faruq Z Bey born Jesse Davis February 4 1942 June 1 2012 1 was an American jazz saxophonist and composer from Detroit Michigan Bey was known for his work with Griot Galaxy which played distinct compositions often by Bey Odd meters and polyrhythms were a frequent feature of the group s tunes which would give way to free sections Originally started in 1972 Griot Galaxy settled into its most stable line up around 1980 when Bey was joined by saxophonists David McMurray and Anthony Holland as well as bassist Jaribu Shahid and drummer Tani Tabbal Griot Galaxy played at the 1983 Detroit Montreux Jazz Festival now the Detroit Jazz Festival and toured Europe in the mid 1980s Faruq Z BeyBirth nameJesse DavisBorn 1942 02 04 February 4 1942Detroit Michigan USADiedJune 1 2012 2012 06 01 aged 70 Detroit MichiganGenresFree jazzOccupation s Musician poetInstrument s Saxophone In the mid 1980s Bey was in a serious motorcycle accident that left him in a coma 2 Almost a decade passed before he returned to performing He re emerged with an all woodwind ensemble called The Conspiracy Winds Ensemble He began to play in Speaking in Tongues and Hakim Jami s Street Band He joined forces with The Northwoods Improvisers who devoted several releases to Bey s music His frequent collaborators saxophonists Michael Carey and Skeeter Shelton joined him on most of the Northwoods Improviser s recordings He also played in Kindred a quartet with Kennith Green Kevin Callaway and Joel Peterson and in Odu Afrobeat Orchestra Among Bey s last ensembles was The Absolute Tonalist Society with Carey Peterson and drummer Kurt Prisbe Some of his most noted releases are Kins Opus Krampus and Live at the DIA with Griot Galaxy and Auzar and Ashirai Pattern with The Northwoods Improvisers Bey published two books of poetry Year of the Iron Sheep and Etudes in Wanton Nesses in addition to a theoretical aesthetic manifesto Toward a Ratio nal Aesthetic 1989 Bey died on June 1 2012 3 He had experienced long term health issues including emphysema 3 Discography editWith Griot Galaxy Kins Black amp White 1982 Live at the D I A Entropy Stereo 1983 The Montreux Detroit Collection Volume Three Motor City Modernists 1983 Opus Krampus Sound Aspects 1985 With Northwoods Improvisers 19 Moons Entropy Stereo 2001 Ashirai Pattern Entropy Stereo 2002 Auzar Entropy Stereo 2004 Journey Into The Valley Entropy Stereo 2004 Hymn for Tomasz Stanko Qbico 2005 Rwanda Qbico 2005 Infa a Qbico 2006 Emerging Field Entropy Stereo 2009 Primal Waters Sagittarius A Star 2011 With His Name Is Alive Detrola Track 8 Only Silver Mountain 2006 Silver Dragon Silver Mountain 2010 With Synchron Synchron Sagittarius A Star 2012 With Faruq Z Bey 4et Live at the Detroit Art Space Sagittarius A Star 2012 Faruq s Poetry Hymn Book of the Anciency Entropy Codex 2006 With Phil Ranelin Vibes From The Tribe Tribe 1975 With Leroy Jenkins Beneath Detroit The Creative Arts Collective Concerts at The Detroit Institute Of Arts 1979 92 Geodesic With M L Liebler The Kurl of the Butterfly s Tongue Detroit Radio Company 2008 Gasoline The Detroit Legacy Sessions Detroit Radio Company 2009 With K A S Serenity Return to Rainbow Bridge POPP 1996 With Dr Prof Leonard King Later Then Is Latter Now Uuquipleu 2019 With Keith Vreeland Bad Dog 2010 References edit Nastos Michael G Faruq Z Bey at AllMusic Heron W Kim June 25 2003 Musician interrupted The story of Griot Galaxy amp a renaissance for Faruq Z Bey Metro Times Retrieved August 11 2010 a b Heron W Kim June 2 2012 Detroit jazz and avant scenes lose icon in passing of Faruq Z Bey Metro Times Archived from the original on June 6 2012 Retrieved June 3 2012 External links editFaruq Z Bey Archived 2013 11 10 at the Wayback Machine on Detroit JazzStage Faruq Z Bey discography at Discogs nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Faruq Z Bey amp oldid 1216990108, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
