Matrix x Detroit

Matrix X Detroit showcases music, spoken word and poetry, and dance to reflect the remarkable, unstoppable, and diverse Detroit community. This hour-long performance is anchored by three new original music compositions by Pamela Wise: “Adjusting to the Grid,” “New Faces and Places,” and “A Heart of Gold.” At its core, this work addresses the inequities of the current renewal and recovery taking place in Detroit.

Following the performance, the community joins in conversation with Ted Phillips from the Detroit Housing Coalition, Monica Edmunds from the Vanguard Corporation, and Wayne County Commissioner Irma Clarke Coleman. Matrix X Detroit creates and holds space for difficult conversations and diverse perspectives. Through narrative, movement, music, and dialogue, audiences confront the impacts of displacement, question easy tropes of resiliency, and imagine more equitable horizons.

Date: November 16, 2019
Partner: Shrine of the Black Madonna
Location: 7625 Linwood St, Detroit, MI 48206
Coordinates: 42.36303, -83.10214

About the Artist

Pamela Wise is a jazz pianist and composer whose signature use of polyrhythmic meters traces that of her African ancestors, with a specific focus on West Africa. Pamela’s work has been showcased in collaborations with saxophonist Dave McMurray, violinist Regina Carter, saxophonist Wendell Harrison, and vocalist Naima Shamborguer. Pamela has multiple internationally recognized albums to her credit, including Kindred Spirits (2015) Pamela’s Club (2007), Negre con Leche (2002), and Songo Festividad (1994). Her compositions have twice earned her the Creative Artist Award from ArtServe Michigan. Pamela also serves as music minister at the Shrine of the Black Madonna. She is a sought-after piano teacher and is executive director of Rebirth Inc., a nonprofit jazz performing arts organization that produces live concerts and jazz education programs.