Pete Rock pays tribute to R&B/jazz legend with an almost 40-minute mix. He’s also selling T-shirts from the tour he did with Ayers a few years ago.

(Detroit, MI) Jazz Cafe is proud to present two-time Grammy nominee and Pew Fellow, Orrin Evans and his Trio for ONE performance on Thursday, March 20th at 8PM in the cozy confines of the Jazz Cafe. Evans has been recognized as one of the most distinctive and inventive pianists of his generation. In a short span of time Orrin has earned the titles of pianist, composer, bandleader, teacher, producer and arranger. The New York Times described the pianist as “… a poised artist with an impressive template of ideas at his command,” a quality that has undoubtedly assisted in keeping Orrin at the forefront of the music scene.

The latest release by Evans, a Philadelphia native, It Was Beauty marks his 20th recording as a leader and his seventh release for the label, Criss Cross, which he began recording for at age 21. In his 20-year plus career, he’s been critically acclaimed for his imposing chops and his propulsive take on rhythm and harmony alike.

He has performed and recorded with Wallace Roney, Mos Def, Common, Pharoah Sanders, Antonio Hart, Carmen Lundy, Ralph Peterson, Jr., Ralph Bowen, The Mingus Big Band, Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton, Branford Marsalis, Gary Bartz, Eddie Henderson, Sean Jones, Tim Warfield, Ravi Coltrane, Robin Eubanks, Duane Eubanks and Dave Douglas.

Line Up:
Orrin Evans – Piano, Madison Rast – Bass and Chris Beck – Drums

Tickets are ONLY $20 and available at Music Hall Box Office or ticketmaster.com

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Trombone Shorty, Gary Clark Jr. Dr. John, Janelle Monae and Earth, Wind & Fire share the stage at last 2014 night’s NBA All Star Halftime Show.

Gil Scott-Heron is the subject of Unsung’s latest episode. Heron, who passed in 2011, is always cited as a forefather of hip-hop because of his jazz poetry that focused on America’s social weaknesses.