21 WED • MUSIC The Rogers Sisters — Detroit natives and current darlings of the NYC rock scene, the Rogers Sisters are in the upper echelon of the retro chic-meets-modern twist genre (think: the Yeah Yeah Yeahs). Reared by a music wonk father who schlepped them to concerts throughout most of their childhood, sisters Jennifer and Laura Rogers (along with band mate Miyuki Furtado) have made the transition from music lovers to high-energy performers as naturally as the transition from crawling to walking. Often described as Devo meets Talking Heads, the sisters are completely diggable and perfectly mod. They’re part of the new Beat Connection series at the Magic Stick (4120 Woodward, Detroit). Call 313-833-9700 for more information. DJ Zack shares the bill.
22 THU • MUSIC Marcus Belgrave All-Stars — More than a decade ago, pianist Geri Allen recorded one of her finest albums, The Nurturer, as a sort of thank-you letter and spotlight feature for trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, Why? Simple: He’d been an invaluable mentor for her and other ex-Detroiters-turned-rising stars. Saxophonist Kenny Garrett and bassist Robert Hurst III, who made the 1990 session and similarly blossomed under Belgrave’s tutelage, are on hand to hail this nurturer in his hometown. The likewise-nurtured drummer Ali Jackson rounds out the lineup. At 8 p.m. at Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward, Detroit. Call 313-576-5111 or order tickets at www.detroitsymphony.com.
24 SAT • MUSIC Douglas Ewart with the Vizitors — Multi-instrumentalist Ewart is one of those musicians who can entrance you or set you marching in your seat. An exponent of Chicago’s Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, he’s been recorded all too rarely for the last three decades. For his first Detroit visit since the ’80s, he teams up with the Motor City-Windy City group the Vizitors, led by keyboardist Kenneth Green and drummer Dushun Mosley. Kindred Souls open. At Detroit Art Space Gallery, 101 E. Baltimore Ave., Detroit. Music starts at 9:30. Call
313-664-0445 for further details. (See
metrotimes.com for an interview with Ewart covering his life from youth in Jamaica to the Chicago avant-garde.)
24 SAT • FUN FOR ALL Negro League Signing — When hitting legend Ted Williams was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966 he said, “I hope some day Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson will be voted into the Hall of Fame as symbols of the great Negro players who are not here only because they weren’t given the chance.” And though the segregation of American Major League Baseball and the Negro Leagues is an undeniable black eye for America’s beloved pastime, there’s an undeniable appreciation for the courage and grace of the Negro Leagues’ players. Mamie “Peanut” Johnson, one of only three women to play in the Negro Leagues and subject of the recent book A Strong Right Arm, comes to town for a meet and greet. At Tony Dee’s Negro League Store, 8126 W. Nine Mile Road, Oak Park. Call 248-543-3810 for more details.
