From the 1984 Metro Times Music Awards A tribute to the late, great Faruq Z. Bey, whose vision, skill and dedication raised the standard for his instrument and his genre.
Tani, and Jaribu were friends of mine in Detroit when Tani lived on Forest near Wayne State. It was really cool watching them practice, and watching Tani write for his many bands. All these cats are the gold standard of jazz.
Excellent face paint...reminds me of Art Ensmble...and so does their music. Next generation new music..? Saw these dudes live Ann Arbor...so damn great!! Just...ya don't find musicians better than these...proud they came outta Detroit...I'm a Jackson gal. Close enough! RIP Faruq Z. Bey.
I remember seeing this band for the 1st time at the 1980 Montreux-Detroit Jazz Festival (or maybe 1981; it was the first M-D Festival). I think they were in the pit at the bottom of the stairs. When "Kins" came out they played "Zenalog" on WJZZ and I RAN out to fetch a copy. Unfortunately someone else now has that copy, and another sealed one I found in the '90s at a Ferndale record store. Record Graveyard in Hamtramck found me a 3rd copy, but the vinyl is beat up. As someone else said on another GG video, this record needs to be reissued. I read in Metro Times about crates of sealed copies being put out for trash and I wanted to cry...
I saw this group many times in the 70's at a dive bar "Cobbs Corner" near Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. Great memories! Faruq Z Bey was badly injured in a motorcycle accident and, although he survived, I do not think he continued with the group much after that.
omGAWD, yah mon, Duane. Your comment was 6 years ago, and if you're still around you many know Cobb's is BACK in biz! The New Miami, Strata Concert Gallery, so much great music still in Detroit. AND not the least is the Wright Museum's venues and the DIA.
Come on with it! Yes!! Emphatically yess!! To Duane Whas: I DO remember Cobbs Corner....! And being young and old enough to think these Cats were Too Different and yet, Important for me to dig!
