PHOTO BY G LENN TR IEST
Something's
Brewing At
Zoot's
I
t's a lot of responsibility being the name-
sake of one of Detroit's most eclectic cof-
feehouses. Just ask 9-year-old Zoot. And
his dad, Dan Solomon.
"I spent too many nights sitting around
thinking of a name," said 28-year-old Solomon
about the coffeehouse he's owned, just south
of Wayne State's campus, for the past four
years. "It just seemed natural. The name's like
a tattoo or marriage — once you've done it, you
can't get rid of it. It's classic, simple."
Zoot's part Doberman, part pit bull, by the
way.
Over time, Solomon's revamping the 1887
former private residence/dress shop/real estate
office/Chinese laundry to be a homey, "grand
entertainment place."
"(Zoot's) used to be a crash site for touring
bands," reminisces Solomon. "Courtney Love
passed out in our bathtub — I'm still trying to
re-create what it was like."
To date, Zoot's has hardwood floors; rotat-
ing works from local artists on the walls; home-
baked bagels, cookies and brownies and three
new vegetarian soups daily; "every type of pop-
sicle imaginable," a tattoo-by-appointment-
only studio in the back (Solomon is an
apprentice tattoo artist); prime people-watch-
ing seats on the porch and, of course, coffee —
lots of coffee.
Zoot's attracts a diverse crowd, young and
old alike, says Solomon, who's hosted more
Zoot and Dan Solomon take a quick coffee break during mom Carole Solomon and Roy Brooks' jam session.
than 848 bands on his intimate stage, which performances at Adat Shalom, Temple Beth
backs up to Second Avenue. Zoot's program- El, Temple Israel and private parties under
ming includes Ambient Techno Night on Mon- her company name, "Music For Life." She ini-
days, Wednesday Night Film Series, Thursday tiated the Sunday Be-bop, Bagels and Schoen-
night vegetarian potluck dinners, readings, berg series at Zoot's.
discussions and lectures. Solomon even con-
"Mom was the start of it all," says Dan
ducted his first seder there in 1995, complete Solomon. "She raised me in the (jazz) clubs. I
with matzah ball soup and live music accom- owe it all to her."
paniment by the band Shiksa Goddess.
"I was the only mom who paid her kid to be
Tomorrow night, however, it's all in the fam- a musician," recalls Carole Solomon. "In fact,
ily when Solomon's mom, Carole, "Detroit's Be- Roy Brooks was Dan's first drum teacher when
bopbachiuoso pianist," takes the stage with Dan was 10 years old ... He's probably been ex-
jazz drummer and percussionist Roy Brooks posed to every piano club in the country."
and bassist Don Mayberry to make a live
"And here I always thought you took me be-
recording.
cause you didn't have a babysitter," Dan
Brooks' discography is as wide-ranging as Solomon quips.
his talents; he incorporates a drum kit, xylo-
Not a bad outcome for the "good ol' born out-
phone, steel drums, musical saw and me- law biker Jewish kid." O
chanical toys. In addition to his own recordings,
Brooks can be heard as the drummer on record-
— Julie Yolles
ings by Chet Baker, Mingus, Dollar Brand,
Dexter Gordon and more. Mayberry has toured
Vt Carole Solomon, Roy Brooks and Don
with Lena Horne and currently flies back and
Mayberry will record their live concert at
forth to New York to work with the likes of
Zoot's Coffee Saturday, June 29, at 9:30 p.m.
Wynton Marsalis (who'll also be in town to-
Tickets are $6 in advance and $10 at the
morrow night to play a concert around the cor-
door. 4470 Second Avenue, between Pren-
ner at Orchestra Hall).
tis and Canfield, in De troit, (313) 832-6621.
A classical and jazz pianist, Carole Solomon
teaches piano seven days a week, in between
.
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Adam Sandler
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Fri., 7:30 p.m.
Joe Dumars '
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Emceed by a Detroit favorite
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Mound Road and M-59,
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Fri., 7 p.m.
Miss Saigon
The helicopter descends on
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Kelly-Miller
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Circus
Temple Israel ' s
Chamber Series
An old-fashioned big-top tent
with all the trimmings for
one day only. Southfield Civic
Center, 26000 Evergreen.
(810) 354-9603.
The string quartet Concer-
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free concert under the stars
as part of the Schmier
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Walnut Lake Road, West
Bloomfield. (810) 661-5700.
Sun.,
2 & 4:30 p.m.
Sun., 7 p.m.