Saxophonist Faruq Z Bey Passes Away...

Saxophonist Faruq Z Bey Passes Away... I just received an email that he died last night. I will post details as I get them...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faruq_Z._Bey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqWzgrVzb1Q

OMG I am stunned!
Please, post more news when you hear. I just forwarded your wikipedia link to my Facebook page.

Detroit jazz and avant scenes lose icon in the passing of Faruq Z. Bey

June 2, 2012
By W. Kim Heron

Faruq Z. Bey, local legend and icon of avant garde music in Detroit, has died after years of emphysema and other ailments. A friend who spoke to Bey regularly last heard from him Thursday and was unable to reach him on Friday. Her concerns lead to other friends entering his residence with police on Saturday and finding that he had died. He was around 70 years old.

Bey was the leader of the group Griot Galaxy, a sprawling group into which dozens of musicians fell in and out between 1972 and the time it stabilized mid-decade and slowly distilled to a classic quintet around 1980. With saxophonists Bey, Tony Holland and David McMurray, drummer Tani Tabbal and bassist Jaribu Shahid, the group donned silver face paint and African garb, dubbing themselves a science fiction band.

The name harkened to the African traditional bearers of tradition and history, on one hand, and … the reaches of space and the future, on the other.

More: http://blogs.metrotimes.com/index.ph...f-faruq-z-bey/

Here's a link to the interview done with Faruq in 2006 on Detroit JazzStage.
Faruq always offered insightful comments/observations on a wide variety of topics, and "Griot Galaxy" was a really high Octane group that energized all who heard them...Faruk was a fine saxophonist with a brilliant, musical mind. He was able to continue his explorations even after a horrible motorcycle accident [[think that was around 1980?). The last several years saw him carry a small Oxygen tank, but he could always blow...the amazing Mr Bey....his partnership with the equally creative M.L. Liebler produced some great art.
He also produced/hosted a very interesting program on WDET back in the 80's - "Mett-Ezzthetics".


http://lberns.com/jazzstage/2006/10/...s-faruq-z-bey/

A great energetic talent and a very nice person. Thanks for sharing your light with us Faruq. RIP