AUGUST 11 • 2022 | 55

The programming begins 
at 3 and 4:45 p.m. Sunday, 
Aug. 14, at the Congregation 
for Humanistic Judaism of 
Metro Detroit (formerly 
Birmingham Temple) in 
Farmington Hills, where he 
and his wife, Susan, a retired 
English teacher, are members. 
Joining Lipson as he plays 
percussion will be Marion 
Hayden (bass), Nate Winn 
(drums), Alberto Nacif 
(percussion), Michael Malis 
(piano), Terry Kimura (trom-
bone) and Rafael Leafar 
(woodwinds).

What’s more, Lipson also 
is preparing to lead a concert 
of members belonging to the 
Detroit Composers Collective 
in the annual Detroit Jazz 
Festival 2-3 p.m. Saturday, 
Sept. 3, at the Carhartt 
Amphitheater Stage in Hart 
Plaza. He last performed in 
the free festival in 1983.

MUSIC AS A 
CULTURAL GLUE
Excitement is gearing Lipson 
as he focuses on a return to 
his devotion to music. 
“I see music as a cultural 
glue that brings communities 
together,” said Lipson, who 
retired from social work in 
2010, took arranging and 
composing classes at Oakland 
Community College and 
Wayne State University and 
resumed his musical interests 
without school responsibil-
ities. 
“Music provides a connec-
tion between the present and 
past generations of our teach-
ers, mentors and ancestors. 
I want to approach jazz in a 
really meaningful way. There 
is a rich legacy of Detroit jazz 
that we can spotlight.”
Realism features music 
of Kenn Cox, Brad Felt 
and Lipson as played by 
the Detroit Composers 
Collective. It was recorded 
in two sessions, first with 
a quintet and second with 

a septet. Springwells, fin-
ished in May, features seven 
Collective members with 
the title track written by 
Detroit trombonist Vincent 
Chandler. 
The music on both instru-
mental albums as arranged 
by Lipson, features technical 
and administrative work 
completed during the pan-
demic times of isolation. 
“I was very lucky to have 
wonderful and generous 
teachers in Detroit who were 
jazz masters before social 
work and after I retired,” 
Lipson said. “I believe these 
albums are carrying on that 
Detroit tradition from one 
generation to the next. The 
albums also are an education-
al exercise because the young 
players are becoming more 
aware of the tradition.”
Lipson, who has a music 
studio in his home, had illus-
trious performance oppor-
tunities before he decided 
on the steadiness of a social 
work career. 
His performances have 
been with Dizzy Gillespie, 
Wendell Harrison and Mark 
Murphy. His local appear-
ances have included slots at 
the Ann Arbor Blues and 
Jazz Festival, Detroit Institute 
of Arts, Baker’s Keyboard 
Lounge and Cliff Bell’s, in 
addition to radio program-
ming. 

During the pandemic, 
Lipson had two outdoor con-
certs at his home, where lis-
teners could distance them-
selves from one another.
“The drums have just 
hooked me as a fun instru-
ment,” said Lipson, who also 
has studied piano. 
“During school, I couldn’t 
wait to get home and hop on 
that drum set. My parents 
were very liberal, and they 
were glad to have music in 
the house.”
Lipson founded the Detroit 
Composers Collective in 
2015 with the mission of 
archiving, performing and 
recording Detroit jazz.
“After I retired from social 
work, I was hitting as many 
jam sessions as I could,” he 
explained. “Around Detroit, 
I just knew how much unre-
corded performed music 
there was by my friends who 
were composers. I was think-
ing of getting my albums 
together, and it turned out 
to be a good thing to elevate 
Detroit music.
“I go to the piano and 
write music, and that gives 
me structure and a way to 
express my feelings and expe-
riences. 
“I can’t imagine not having 
music in my life, especially in 
regard to the people I’ve met 
and studied with and been 
mentored by.” 

COURTESY OF MARK LIPSON

Mark Lipson plays at 
Cliff Bell’s.

Details

The Realism and Springwells concert starts at 3 and 4:45 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, at the 
Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Metro Detroit (formerly Birmingham Temple), 28611 W. 12 
Mile, Farmington Hills. Pay what you can. Voluntary donation suggested at $25. chj-detroit.org/
donations-and-payments.

