Faruq Z. Bey
Bey (born Jesse Davis; February 4, 1942 – June 1, 2012) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer from Detroit, Michigan. Bey was known for his work with Griot Galaxy, which played distinct compositions, often by Bey. Odd meters and polyrhythms were a frequent feature of the group's tunes, which would give way to free sections.
Also recorded as Jesse Davis
Faruq Z. Bey
- Name
- Faruq Z.
- Birth Name
- Jesse Davis
- Born
- 4 February 1942
- Birthplace
- Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Died
- 1 June 2012
- Place of death
- Detroit, Michigan
- Occupation
- Musician, poet
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Bey (born Jesse Davis; February 4, 1942 – June 1, 2012) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer from Detroit, Michigan. Bey was known for his work with Griot Galaxy, which played distinct compositions, often by Bey. Odd meters and polyrhythms were a frequent feature of the group's tunes, which would give way to free sections.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Faruq Z. Bey. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q1397234 · wikipedia · Faruq Z. Bey
In this article
Biography
Biography
Originally started in 1972, Griot Galaxy settled into its most stable line-up around 1980, when Bey was joined by saxophonists David McMurray and Anthony Holland, as well as bassist Jaribu Shahid and drummer Tani Tabbal. Griot Galaxy played at the 1983 Detroit Montreux Jazz Festival (now the Detroit Jazz Festival), and toured Europe in the mid-1980s. In the mid-1980s Bey was in a serious motorcycle accident that left him in a coma. Almost a decade passed before he returned to performing. He re-emerged with an all woodwind ensemble called The Conspiracy Winds Ensemble. He began to play in Speaking in Tongues and Hakim Jami's Street Band. He joined forces with The Northwoods Improvisers, who devoted several releases to Bey's music. His frequent collaborators, saxophonists Michael Carey and Skeeter Shelton, joined him on most of the Northwoods Improviser's recordings. He also played in Kindred, a quartet with Kennith Green, Kevin Callaway and Joel Peterson, and in Odu Afrobeat Orchestra. Among Bey's last ensembles was The Absolute Tonalist Society with Carey, Peterson and drummer Kurt Prisbe. Some of his most noted releases are Kins, Opus Krampus and Live at the DIA with Griot Galaxy, and Auzar and Ashirai Pattern with The Northwoods Improvisers. Bey published two books of poetry, Year of the Iron Sheep and Etudes in Wanton Nesses, in addition to a theoretical/aesthetic manifesto Toward a "Ratio"nal Aesthetic (1989). Bey died on June 1, 2012. He had experienced long-term health issues including emphysema.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Faruq Z. Bey • Birth Name — Jesse Davis • Born — 4 February 1942 • Birthplace — Detroit, Michigan, USA • Died — 1 June 2012 • Place of death — Detroit, Michigan • Instrument — Saxophone • Genre — Free jazz • Occupation — Musician, poet • Associated Acts — Griot Galaxy
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1942
Faruq Z. Bey was born in 1942.
2012
Faruq Z. Bey died at Detroit.
Discography
As A Leader • Atlan-tan Suite (Entropy Stereo, 2024) With Griot Galaxy • Live on WUOM 1979 (Two Rooms TR-010, 2025) • Kins (Black & White, 1982) • Live at the D.I.A. (Entropy Stereo, 1983) • The Montreux/Detroit Collection- Volume Three: Motor City Modernists (1983) • Opus Krampus (Sound Aspects, 1985) With Northwoods Improvisers • Hot House 2001 (Entropy/Codex) • 19 Moons (Entropy Stereo, 2001) • Ashirai Pattern (Entropy Stereo, 2002) • People In Sorrow (Entropy/Codex, 2003) • Auzar (Entropy Stereo, 2004) • Journey Into The Valley (Entropy Stereo, 2004) • Hymn for Tomasz Stanko (Qbico, 2005) • Rwanda (Qbico, 2005) • Hymn Book of the Anciency (Entropy/Codex, 2006) • Infa'a (Qbico, 2006) • Emerging Field (Entropy Stereo, 2009) • Emerging Field: Bonus Tracks (Entropy/Codex) • Primal Waters (Sagittarius A-Star, 2011) With His Name Is Alive • Silver Dragon (Silver Mountain, 2010) With Synchron • Synchron (Sagittarius A-Star, 2012) With Faruq Z. Bey 4et • Live at the Detroit Art Space (Sagittarius A-Star, 2012) With Phil Ranelin • Vibes From The Tribe (Tribe, 1975) With The New Chamber Jazz Quintet • Beneath Detroit: The Creative Arts Collective Concerts at The Detroit Institute Of Arts 1979-92 (Geodesic) w/ Leroy Jenkins • Live at the DIA: November 27, 1982 https: beneathdetroit.com/archives/the-new-chamber-jazz-quintet-from-nov-27th-1982-full-concert/ With M.L. Liebler • The Kurl of the Butterfly's Tongue (Detroit Radio Company, 2008) • Gasoline: The Detroit Legacy Sessions (Detroit Radio Company, 2009) With K.A.S. Serenity • Return to Rainbow Bridge (POPP, 1996) With Dr. Prof. Leonard King • Strata Nova - Historic 1977-1983 Recordings (Uuquipleu, 2012) • Later Then Is Latter Now (Uuquipleu, 2019) With Keith Vreeland • Bad Dog (2010) With The Sun Messengers • The Sun Messengers (Sun Sounds Records, 1982) With Hakim Jami & The Street Band • Volume 1 (Reparation Records) • Volume 2 (Reparation Records, 2004) With Media Jackals • Vertical Hold (Adequate Records, 1981)
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
The identifiers under which Faruq Z. Bey may be traced in institutional catalogues.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 20 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Books
39,285 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Faruk KaiserAuthor
- Faruk MyrtajAuthor
- Faruk Nafiz ÇamlıbelAuthor
- Faruk ŠehićAuthor
- Faryad ShiriAuthor
- Farzad KamangarAuthor
- Farzaneh KhojandiAuthor
- Farzaneh MilaniAuthor
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Faruq Z. Bey?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.