Musician. Born Jesse Davis, he was a saxophonist, best known for his work with Griot Galaxy, which played intense free style jazz with distinctive compositions. He originally formed Griot Galaxy in 1972 and recorded their first album "Vibes from the Tribe" in 1976. In the 1980s, Bey's Griot Galaxy most popular line-up included saxophonists David McMurray, Anthony Holland, bassist Jaribu Shahid and drummer Tani Tabbal. They played jazz festivals, toured Europe, plus had success with albums such as "Kins" (1981), "Motor City Modernists" (1983) and "Opus Krampus" (1984). He also performed with artist Anthony Braxton, Roscoe Mitchell, Archie Shepp and Leroy Jenkins. In the 2000s, he worked with the Northwoods Improvisers, recording extensively with the group on albums to include "Journey into the Valley" (2004), "Rwanda" (2005), "Infa'a" (2006), "Emerging Field" (2010) and "Primal Waters" (2012). He has also published two books of poetry, "Year of the Iron Sheep" and "Etudes in Wanton Nesses", in addition to a theory book "Toward a 'Ratio'nal Aesthetic" (1989). He died of emphysema at age 70.
Musician. Born Jesse Davis, he was a saxophonist, best known for his work with Griot Galaxy, which played intense free style jazz with distinctive compositions. He originally formed Griot Galaxy in 1972 and recorded their first album "Vibes from the Tribe" in 1976. In the 1980s, Bey's Griot Galaxy most popular line-up included saxophonists David McMurray, Anthony Holland, bassist Jaribu Shahid and drummer Tani Tabbal. They played jazz festivals, toured Europe, plus had success with albums such as "Kins" (1981), "Motor City Modernists" (1983) and "Opus Krampus" (1984). He also performed with artist Anthony Braxton, Roscoe Mitchell, Archie Shepp and Leroy Jenkins. In the 2000s, he worked with the Northwoods Improvisers, recording extensively with the group on albums to include "Journey into the Valley" (2004), "Rwanda" (2005), "Infa'a" (2006), "Emerging Field" (2010) and "Primal Waters" (2012). He has also published two books of poetry, "Year of the Iron Sheep" and "Etudes in Wanton Nesses", in addition to a theory book "Toward a 'Ratio'nal Aesthetic" (1989). He died of emphysema at age 70.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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