Faruq Z. Bey

Faruq Z. Bey is a saxophonist/composer/poet from Detroit, Michigan. He is best known for his work with the under-appreciated Griot Galaxy. Griot played hard Free Jazz with distinct compsitions, often by Bey. Odd meters and polyrythms were a frequent feature of Griot tunes, which would give way to free sections. Originally started at the end of the 60's, Griot Galaxy settled into its most stable line-up around 1980, when Bey was joined by saxophonists David McMurray and Anthony Holland, as well as bassist Jaribu Shahid and drummer Tani Tabal. Wildly popular in Detroit for a Free Jazz band (often pulling audiences of a few hundred people), Griot toured Europe in the mid-80s and was at the height of its international acclaim when Bey was in a serious motorcycle accident that left him in a coma.

Almost a decade passed before Bey returned to performing. He re-emerged with an all woodwind ensemble called The Conspiracy Winds Ensemble. He began to play in Speaking in Tongues and Hakim Jami's Street Band. He joined forces with The Northwoods Improvisers, who've largely devoted their last several releases to Bey's music. His frequent collaborators, saxophonists Michael Carey and Skeeter Shelton, join him on most of the Northwood Improviser's recordings. He also currently plays in Kindred- a quartet with Kennith Green, Kevin Callaway and Joel Peterson- and in Odu Afrobeat Orchestra. Some of his most noted releases are: "Kins", "Opus Krampus" and "Live at the DIA" with Griot Galaxy and "Auzar" and "Ashirai Pattern" with The Northwoods Improvisers.