This episode was recorded remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

About "Detroit: 20 Minutes Apart"

Detroit: Twenty Minutes Apart is a stage presentation that explores the neighborhood, family, and musical experiences of two musicians that grew up in very different neighborhoods, 20 minutes apart. One grew up in Detroit and the other in Plymouth, but they found commonality in art and music, forging a 30-year friendship.

The program includes both popular and original songs that shaped their experiences growing up in Detroit with stories woven throughout. Archival photos and film join with personal family photos to chronicle the gentrification of one neighborhood and the near-destruction of the other.

About Robert Jones

Robert B. Jones Sr. is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist celebrating the history, humor, and power of American roots Roots music. He has been featured at blues and folk venues and festivals in the US, Canada, and Europe. Robert is also a nationally recognized storyteller and published writer, contributing to essay collections and appearing at the National Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, TN. As an educator, Robert has performed his American Roots Music in Education (ARMIE) presentations for over 250,000 students over the past 30 years. He has pastored the Sweet Kingdom Missionary Baptist Church on Detroit’s East Side for 15 years. Robert is the co-founder, along with Matt Watroba, of Common Chords, a nonprofit program that builds bridges between communities using music, storytelling, and art. 

About "Highland Park: City of Ogun"

Highland Park: City of Ogun is a six-part musical composition that explores how Highland Park has changed through the lives and stories of its residents. Hayden interviewed community members during the Highland Park Music Festival, gathering the memories and narratives of different generations into a digital archive. Community memory is ephemeral; as we lose people through aging and displacement, the preservation of their stories increases in importance. Highland Park: City of Ogun preserves and protects these stories at a pivotal point in history by interweaving excerpts from these narratives as lyrics, improvisational themes, and word-scapes into a new musical composition.

About Marion Hayden

Marion Haydenis one of the nation’s finest proponents of the acoustic bass. Hayden is part of Detroit’s great jazz legacy, and was mentored by trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, pianist and composer Kenn Cox, and saxophonists Wendell Harrison, Donald Walden, and Charles Gabriel. She is co-founder of the groundbreaking women-led jazz ensemble Straight Ahead. Hayden has performed with Geri Allen, Bobby McFerrin, Regina Carter, Steve Turre, and Nancy Wilson.

As an artist, Hayden works in the areas of jazz and creative improvisation, informed by the Black music traditions of gospel, blues and R&B. Her compositions are narrative driven and include work on the poet Phyllis Wheatley, the biblical book of Ruth, and a Solo Bass Score for “Eulogy for Detroit 1967” by poet Melba Joyce Boyd. She holds teaching positions at the University of Michigan, Oakland University, Michigan State University, and the Detroit Jazz Festival.

About "Matrix X Detroit"

Matrix X Detroit showcases music, spoken word and poetry, and dance to reflect the remarkable, unstoppable, and diverse Detroit community. This hour-long performance is anchored by three new original music compositions by Pamela Wise: “Adjusting to the Grid,” “New Faces and Places,” and “A Heart of Gold.” At its core, this work addresses the inequities of the current renewal and recovery taking place in Detroit.

About Pamela Wise

Pamela Wise is a jazz pianist and composer whose signature use of polyrhythmic meters traces that of her African ancestors, with a specific focus on West Africa. Pamela’s work has been showcased in collaborations with saxophonist Dave McMurray, violinist Regina Carter, saxophonist Wendell Harrison, and vocalist Naima Shamborguer. Pamela has multiple internationally recognized albums to her credit, including Kindred Spirits (2015) Pamela’s Club (2007), Negre con Leche (2002), and Songo Festividad (1994). Her compositions have twice earned her the Creative Artist Award from ArtServe Michigan. Pamela also serves as music minister at the Shrine of the Black Madonna. She is a sought-after piano teacher and is executive director of Rebirth Inc., a nonprofit jazz performing arts organization that produces live concerts and jazz education programs.

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