Music Notes

WDET-FM will air a recording of Charles Mingus with the Jazz Workshop, recorded live at the University of Missouri, on Monday, May 12 at 3pm and 9pm, and again on Saturday the 17th at midnight. Mingus, the premier bassist and jazz composer of our time, plays highly accessible, richly textured jazz. Don't miss this one..

...In other radio news, as we reported last issue, the WCBN Sunday night guest spot is about to commence with Jesse Crawford. Bob Rudnick and John Sinclair all confirmed to fill-in in the weeks to come. Sun-staffer David Fenton's party program has been moved to Saturday nights from 7-11pm.

DETROIT SCENE: Music from local bands in the Detroit area seems to be picking up. A good deal of activity has been going down at the Red Carpet Lounge, which has featured the likes of bluesman Bob Jenkins and jam sessions with a variety of musicians, including ex-members of the Rockets and Detroit. Jim McCarty, ex of Cactus and Rockets. has been gigging with a new band called Ace High along with Rusty Day and Johnny Badanjek. Rob Tyner, ex-MC5 lead singer, has formed a new group called Robin Tyner's Fireworks.. Jim McCarty just finished some session work in Boston with the James Montgomery Band, including a tune McCarty penned himself on the forthcoming Capricorn LP.

But the main action in Detroit is the activity emanating from Strata Records. The artist-controlled company, recently joined by John Sinclair, has just released The Saturday Night Special a fine album of Detroit-based music by the Lyman Woodard Organization. The album is receiving airplay on WJZZ and a number of other stations, and will soon be followed by several other releases... By the way, Norma Bell of the Lyman Woodard Organization is currently on tour with John McLaughlin, with whom the SUN will feature an interview in our May 23 issue...Hot Flash - rumor has it the Eastown Ballroom is about to reopen.

Local musical events feature three interesting shows - The Summer Celebration on May 25 with Santana, Lynard Skynard and Peter Frampton in Ypsilanti, Tribe and the Silvertones al the Schwaben Hall May 24, and Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, Mandrill, Parliaments and the Funkadelics at Crisler May 30. No news right now on the Community Parks Program, which is currently negotiating with the city for use of Gallup Park. If you're interested in helping out the program, which needs you badly, contact Dianne Ripley at the SUN, 761-7148.

East Lansing continues to hold the edge on Ann Arbor in terms of quality musical events. Roscoe Mitchell, Malachi Favors, Joseph Jarman (all 3 of the Art Ensemble of Chicago) and a number of other musicians will perform a free jazz musical extravaganza on Saturday, May 17 at the Wonders Kiva on the MSU campus. Freddie Hubbard and Weather Report are also coming to E. Lansing. Check the calendar for details.

Let us take a moment here to plug another newspaper. The current issue of Rolling Stone features an exceptionally insightful political/economic analysis of the music industry by Ben Sidran. It's a must for people interested in how corporate economy controls culture. The new Stone also features some fine changes - ex-SUN contributor Howard Kohn (also formerly with the Detroit Free Press) is now writing for them, and Abe Peck, formerly editor of the underground Chicago Seed, is now an associate music editor.

Entry forms in the American Song Festival are available until June 3 at the EMU office of Student Life. Any songwriter may enter for the money-prize-winning competition. For more info, call Carol at 487-3045.