ntertammen

JULIE EDGAR STAFF WRITER

"He gave her some pointers
on playing the drums, not just
to play rhythmically but me-
thodically," Dewberry says. "Be-
ing able to do a set with him is
like coming full circle and keep-
ing that jazz thing flowing here
in Detroit."
The concert, at 7 p.m. tonight Straight Ahead (not pictured is saxophonist Sabrina Lamar)
at the State Theatre in down-
town Detroit, will benefit the 22-year-old Graystone Hall a huge show and a dynamic feather in our cap, certainly,"
of Fame International Jazz Sefansky says.
Straight Ahead's last recording, Dance of the Forest Rain
Museum, which is located in
on Atlantic Records, sold around 30,000 units. Their orig-
Detroit's Book Building. _
Sefansky, who took over inal compositions and arrangements blend spicy Eastern
management of Straight musical flavors with the raw power of bebop and the sweet-
Ahead last fall, has already ness of soul.
Straight Ahead is about to record its fourth CD, right
booked the quintet at festivals
and clubs from here to Cali- here in Detroit.
Dewberry, McKinney, pianist Eileen Orr, bassist Mar-
fornia. After the Olympics gig,
the group played the Birm- ion Hayden and saxophonist Sabrina Lamar comprise the
ingham Jazz and Heritage group. All are in their 30s. "We can touch people of all ages
Festival in Alabama. Later this with our music, all ages, all colors," Dewberry says. "The
month, they'll open the San possibilities are unlimited as to what we can do with this
music. We will continue to play right, good music, and just
Jose Jazz Festival.
If playing the Olympics was let it flow." El
a peak experience for the 6-
PHOTO BY CHUCK STEWART
year-old ensemble, their gig
$
Legends ofJazz presents Straight Ahead with the
next May is a coup of cosmic
Max Roach Quartet and Detroit's New Graystone Jazz
proportions. Straight Ahead will be among a venerated
Orchestra at 7 p.m. tonight at the State Theatre, 2115
host of jazz artists as they take the stage in the Salute to
Woodward, Detroit. Tickets are $30 and can be pur-
Women in Jazz festival at the Kennedy Center for the Per-
chased at the box office. A $60 ticket includes the 6 p.m.
forming Arts Center in Washington, D.C. "It's going to be
VIP reception. For more information, call (313) 963-3813.

S

traight Ahead is accustomed to bringing down the
house.
At a concert last Friday, the audience was a bit
different than the all-female quintet is used to —
15,000 Olympic athletes who have been competing for
over a week in Atlanta — but the enthusiasm was just
as rampant.
Tonight, the Detroit-based ensemble is doing its thing
again: Swinging hard with its original blend of tradi-
tional and contemporary jazz at a Legends ofJazz con-
cert with drummer Max Roach and his quartet and the
New Graystone Jazz Orchestra.
"Straight Ahead is one of the
best-kept secrets in the jazz world.
People who know of them love
them and speak glowingly about
them," says band manager Brian
Sefansky of Birmingham-based
Major Production.
That would be somebody like
trumpeter Branford Mars2lis, who
called the quintet a "monster outfit
that truly swings."
To share a ticket with Max Roach
is one of those karmic moments, on
par with playing Olympic Village.
`To get a chance to do a set with Jan legend Max Roach
Max Roach is really special," says
Cynthia Dewberry, Straight Ahead's sultry vocalist and
flautist. Drummer Gayelynn McKinney, whose father is
jazz pianist Harold McKinney, met Roach when he visit-
ed her home as a girl.

This Week's Best Bets

Dantin' in
the Street

Bobby Lewis and the Cracker
Jack Band performs amidst
food booths, kids activities
and more. Between Main
and Walnut, downtown
Rochester. (810) 656-0060.

Playscape '96

Heartlan.de Theatre Company
presents a festival of original
comedies and play readings in
repertory through Aug. 11.
Meadow Brook Theatre,
Rochester. (810) 377-3300.

Fri., Wed.
Thurs., 8 p.m.; 9
Sat., 2 & 8 p.m.;
Sun., 2 & 6:30 p.m.

147th Annual
Highland Games

Caber toss, anyone? Tradition-
al Scottish food, music and, of
course, athletic competitions
come to Grosse Pointe Shores.
Edsel and Eleanor Ford House.
(313) 8324849.

Throw That Voice

Gershwin Salute

Master ventriloquist Todd
Gale incorporates puppetry,
magic and humor to help you
find your voice (or one for your
puppet). Borders Books and
Music, Farmington Hills.
(810) 737-0110.

Neeme Jarvi conducts the
DSO's performance of Gersh-
win favorites. Meadow Brook
Music Festival, Rochester.
(810) 645-6666.

,

Fri., 1-10 p.m.

.

Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Sat., 1 p.m.

Sun., 8:30 p.m.

...,

-

_ .
t .. ,

,

,-- -

,---

.•..