Jazz king Wendell Harrison & Tribe will bring their rich sounds to a free concert in
Palmer Park on Sunday, Aug. 18, from 4-7pm as part of a summer of art and music created by People for Palmer Park.
Wendell Harrison & Tribe with opening act: Say Less featuring Louis Jones & Jordan Anderson
Wendell Harrison is known for his high-energy and expressive playing across a range of idioms, as well as his commitment to Detroit’s music community, and his influence on the development and documentation of jazz. The legendary, celebrated saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, educator was the 2018 Kresge Eminent Artist.
Born in Detroit in 1942, Harrison spent substantial time in NY in the 60s, before returning to his hometown in 1970. Over the course of a career of prolific accomplishments, he has worked with a wide range of notable musicians, among them Grant Green, Lou Rawls, Sun Ra, Eddie Harris, James Carter, and Carl Craig.
In 1972, Harrison and trombonist Phil Ranelin co-founded Tribe, a collective that produced jazz recordings and concerts. Tribe also published a magazine that explored topics including economic injustice, school busing, abortion, and police brutality.
Harrison has made more than 20 recordings as a bandleader and appears on dozens more. In 1993, he was named a Jazz Master by Arts Midwest, and in the mid-90s he toured internationally with the Michigan Jazz Masters. Harrison continues as a leader on his own label, Wenha Records, and has taught in Detroit high schools for more than a decade and has mentored and inspired countless musicians.
Harrison was the 10th artist to receive the Kresge Eminent Artist Award, joining a group of individuals who each exhibit a lifetime of exceptional creative work and professional achievement, unmistakable impact on their art form, generously sharing their talent and expertise, and critical contributions to the vibrancy of Detroit’s cultural environment.
The free Earth Tones concerts feature jazz and improvisational music connected
to the sounds of nature through artistic intuition. They take place on the steps
the historic Palmer Park Log Cabin, just off Woodward Avenue in Palmer Park.
This is the second annual Earth Tones free outdoor concert series, a jazz and
improvisational music series connecting music-making and the sounds of nature
through artistic intuition. Each concert features two Detroit-area ensembles
including an emerging artist/group and an established artist.
Later this summer, on September 15, harpist, singer & filmmaker Ahya Simone
with opening ensemble, the William Sun Wang Quartet will perform.
Earth Tones is a part of People for Palmer Park's Log Cabin Sundays program
which hosts free art-making, storytelling, weaving, spinning, dancing, healing,
music, food, and a myriad of family-friendly creative programs in the park.
Thanks to Detroit Regional Chamber's NeighborHUB grant, PFPP's arts & culture
team was able to fund 2 year’s worth of summertime events around the
aspiration of making Palmer Park’s log cabin a center for community art and
music. With renewed support, we hope to continue to develop these offerings in
summers to come!
More information at Eventbrite and our Arts & Culture page.
For more information on Wendell Harrison, visit his webpage.
Palmer Park on Sunday, Aug. 18, from 4-7pm as part of a summer of art and music created by People for Palmer Park.
Wendell Harrison & Tribe with opening act: Say Less featuring Louis Jones & Jordan Anderson
Wendell Harrison is known for his high-energy and expressive playing across a range of idioms, as well as his commitment to Detroit’s music community, and his influence on the development and documentation of jazz. The legendary, celebrated saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, educator was the 2018 Kresge Eminent Artist.
Born in Detroit in 1942, Harrison spent substantial time in NY in the 60s, before returning to his hometown in 1970. Over the course of a career of prolific accomplishments, he has worked with a wide range of notable musicians, among them Grant Green, Lou Rawls, Sun Ra, Eddie Harris, James Carter, and Carl Craig.
In 1972, Harrison and trombonist Phil Ranelin co-founded Tribe, a collective that produced jazz recordings and concerts. Tribe also published a magazine that explored topics including economic injustice, school busing, abortion, and police brutality.
Harrison has made more than 20 recordings as a bandleader and appears on dozens more. In 1993, he was named a Jazz Master by Arts Midwest, and in the mid-90s he toured internationally with the Michigan Jazz Masters. Harrison continues as a leader on his own label, Wenha Records, and has taught in Detroit high schools for more than a decade and has mentored and inspired countless musicians.
Harrison was the 10th artist to receive the Kresge Eminent Artist Award, joining a group of individuals who each exhibit a lifetime of exceptional creative work and professional achievement, unmistakable impact on their art form, generously sharing their talent and expertise, and critical contributions to the vibrancy of Detroit’s cultural environment.
The free Earth Tones concerts feature jazz and improvisational music connected
to the sounds of nature through artistic intuition. They take place on the steps
the historic Palmer Park Log Cabin, just off Woodward Avenue in Palmer Park.
This is the second annual Earth Tones free outdoor concert series, a jazz and
improvisational music series connecting music-making and the sounds of nature
through artistic intuition. Each concert features two Detroit-area ensembles
including an emerging artist/group and an established artist.
Later this summer, on September 15, harpist, singer & filmmaker Ahya Simone
with opening ensemble, the William Sun Wang Quartet will perform.
Earth Tones is a part of People for Palmer Park's Log Cabin Sundays program
which hosts free art-making, storytelling, weaving, spinning, dancing, healing,
music, food, and a myriad of family-friendly creative programs in the park.
Thanks to Detroit Regional Chamber's NeighborHUB grant, PFPP's arts & culture
team was able to fund 2 year’s worth of summertime events around the
aspiration of making Palmer Park’s log cabin a center for community art and
music. With renewed support, we hope to continue to develop these offerings in
summers to come!
More information at Eventbrite and our Arts & Culture page.
For more information on Wendell Harrison, visit his webpage.
