Music

WCBN-FM, 89.5MHz in Ann Arbor, continues to kick'em out. Archivist/commentator John Sinclair recently played preview selections of a number of upcoming Strata Records releases as part of his Sunday night "'History of Jazz" trip this past June 1 5. Heard were tangy tastes of pianist Kenn Cox's album "Clap, Gap - The Joyful Noise," and from guitarist Ron English's "Fish Feet," as well as a tape of the Lyman Woodard Organization's funk-o-mite performance given as a warm-up act when Herbie Hancock appeared at Hill Auditorium in February. It was also a pleasure to hear ex-WABX disc jockey Jack Broderick do three hours of truly progressive programming just prior to John as that week's guest announcer on (CBN's "Free Form Fantasy." Listen for (another) ex-ABXer and current WWWW DJ, Dan Carlisle this coming Sunday, June 22 from 8-1 1 pm and for Sinclair's special on saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins Trom 1 lpm-3am. CBN will also broadcast the Sunday concerts.

Florence Ballard Chapman, former member of the Supremes, is coming out of a two-year retirement to perform at a benefit concert for Joanne Little and Inez Garcia to be held in Detroit on June 25th. Little is the North Carolina black woman who is charged with murder after killing a jail guard she claims attempted to rape her. Garcia is the woman from California who has been convicted of murdering a man she claims helped raped her. The benefit will not only feature Flo, but will also include comedienne Lily Tomlin, Gloria Steinem, and the all-woman rock band from New York, The Deadly Nightshade.

The City of Detroit has been hosting regular ethnic pow-wows this summer and one of particular interest unfolds very shortly - the Detroit Afro-American Ethnic Festival. It will be held Friday-Sunday, July 18-20 on the riverfront near Cobo Hall. In addition to the exotic wares on display and for sale, the Allied Artists Associatian of America, Inc., WDET-FM, and Strata Productions have lined up three solid days of music, music, music. Look for Tribe, the Lyman Woodard Organization, Sam Sanders and the Griot Galaxy among many fine jazz artists and for both a "Soul of Detroit" show Saturday evening focusing on Detroit area funkandbumpmakers, and a "Detroit Blues Festival" Sunday afternoon featuring Bobo Jenkins, Little Jr. Cannady, Littte Mack Collins and others. Your very own Ann Arbor SUN has been commissioned to do the program for the Festival. Hope to see you there.

Rock promotor Richard Nader's latest idea is to tour the United States with what he calls "The World's Biggest Disco Dance Party." Nader will try out his idea in the Montreal Forum on June 2Oth when at least five bands will play non-stop music for five hours. He says the entire floor of the stadium will be open for dancing.

Nader hopes that the Montreal event will prove that people want to do more at concerts than merely sit or stand and hear music.

Anita Satisfield and the Common People, Brazilian folksinger Valucha and jazz guitarist George Freeman will be joining speakers Angela Davis, Gus Hall and David Martinez at the "People's Bicentennial Festival" in Chicago on June 29. This festival, sponsored by the American Communist Party, seeks more jobs and an end to racism, not entirely unrelated goals. Tickets cost only $5, include round-trip transportation and festival admission, and are available at David's Books and Herb David Guitar Studio in Ann Arbor.

There are any number of promising new albums on the horizon. Arista has just released new albums by the 11th House featuring Larry Coryell and Alphonse Mouzon, and one by keyboards master Larry Young, his first in many ycars. Atlantic Records is releasing previously unheard material by Keith Jarrett, and new stuff from pianist Pheas Newborn. Already on the shelves are new releases from Jean-Luc Ponty, the Average White Band and Billy Cobham. Columbia is threatening with Steve Stills' first effort for that label. Warner Bros says.a new Neil Young is on the way. Gato Barbieri and Marion Brown have new albums out on Impulse. And Esther Phillips continues to record for CTI/Kudu. Blue Note is opening up their hoary old vaults. and releasing previously unheard material from Ornette Coleman, Sam Rivers, Andrew Hill, Cecil Taylor, Gil Evans and Cannonbail Adderly, Jackie McLean and previously unreleased sessions by John Coltrane with Paul Chambers, recorded around 1955.

continued on page 26