Detroit Grooves
Detroit Grooves is a digital workshop series for students at Detroit School of Arts to continue their connection to Detroit-based cultural arts during the pandemic. Detroit Grooves provides music students the opportunity to work with local artists from Detroit and to learn about the impact of diasporic African and Black musical cultures in the city.
Sowandé Keïta
Sowandé Keïta opens our first Detroit Grooves class with djembekan, an introductory drum solo. In this episode, Sowandé talks about the basics of djembe and dundun playing, as well as the correspondence between West African and Black American musics. He also details the legacy of West African music in Detroit, including the impact of his father, the legendary Sundiata Keïta. We had a wonderful time sharing his teachings with our students!
Our second Detroit Grooves workshop focuses on the connection between West African drumming and dance. In this episode, Sowandé Keïta is joined by his mother Empress Kahemba Keïta and Ayinde Ananda to perform dances including Lamba, and in the process, showcase the way choreography and drum rhythms interact.
Wendell Harrison & Friends
Episode three and four of Detroit Grooves focuses on the rhythmic connections between jazz music and the African diaspora. We feature legendary Detroit saxophonist Wendell Harrison, pianist and composer Pamela Wise, bassist Jaribu Shahid, and percussionist Chinelo Amen-Ra. Through their performance of samba, rumba, lamba, and kaiso, these performers highlight the multiplicity of cultures that make up the diaspora.
jessica Care moore
During our fifth and sixth Detroit Grooves workshops, poet jessica Care moore delivered an important message on the arts and artists of Detroit. Throughout our session we talked about the connections between lyrics and music, the art of writing, and how to represent yourself and your city on a global stage.
Stacey HOTWAXX Hale
Detroit’s Godmother of House joined us in episode seven of Detroit Grooves. DJ Hotwaxx has been a staple of the Detroit scene since the 1980s, and represents the city around the world and in her mixes. In this workshop, Hotwaxx shares the importance of creating your own style. This session concludes with a fifteen minute mix just for Detroit Grooves featuring her track “Freedom,” produced by Hotwaxx and Norma Jean Bell, featuring poetry by jessica Care moore.
Efe Bes
Detroit's preeminent drummer, storyteller, and philosopher Efe Bes discusses his musical history and explains the process behind his unique performance style. Bes' blend of diasporic African and African American musical styles has enlightened thousands of listeners across the city, from Olayami Dabls MBAD Museum to the historic Eastern Market. In this episode, Bes unpacks his Bes Method, plays a number of solos on his diasporic drum set and tama, and talks about the African music scene in Detroit.
Haleem "Stringz" Rasul and Mary "BGIRL MAMA" Mar
Stringz and BGIRL MAMA bring this heat in our ninth Detroit Grooves episode! The two dancers are fixtures of Detroit's Jit and breaking scenes, and have spread Detroit dance culture across the world, including Indonesia, Zimbabwe, and China. In this episode, Stringz and BGIRL MAMA discuss their individual styles, reflect on the cultural history of Detroit-derived dance scenes, and give advice for young performers. Follow along as they share basic moves from their respective styles, and stick around for a head to head battle!
Drummer B
Detroit's own Drummer B takes us behind the mix of his unique Aquaboogie style. Inspired by the work of legendary Detroit techno group Drexciya, he blends techno, funk, and soul to keep dance floors moving. In this episode, Drummer B explains his workflow and shares advice for aspiring performers. Plus, he shares a long mix of tracks to showcase his live performance techniques.
