In celebration of their 40th anniversary producing original Latin jazz, Ann Arbor’s Lunar Octet will have a special series of performances on February 8-11 at the Dirty Dog Jazz Café in Grosse Pointe Farms.
These performances in February will feature music from the Lunar Octet’s CD “Convergence,” which was recently released on Summit Records.
Those who attend the event will get a sense for the Lunar Octet’s unique approach to music, which is influenced by Cuban and Puerto Rican salsa, rock, African high-life music, and Brazilian samba.
This eclectic, high-energy music style, paired with the band’s plan to play different performances each night at the Dirty Dog Jazz Café, sets the stage for a great show that music lovers will not want to miss.
The band’s performances at the Dirty Dog Jazz Café will be dedicated to Michael G. Nastos, a former jazz journalist, radio personality on WEMU and WCBN, and teacher at the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, and Washtenaw Community College. As a friend and supporter of the Lunar Octet, Nastos also contributed the liner notes of “Convergence.”
Although the Lunar Octet’s upcoming performance will be based on a newly released CD, the group is certainly not new to the music scene.
The Lunar Octet has performed for several other audiences at local venues such as Rusty’s Jazz Cafe, the Ann Arbor Art Fair, Toledo’s City Fest, and the Columbus Art Festival.
The group has also traveled far to share their music with audiences, including a tour to the U.K. (to headline the Scarborough Jazz Festival) and two tours of California.
Some of the group’s notable accomplishments include winning the WEMU-Depot Town Jazz Competition and appearing on live television shows such as “Good Afternoon, Detroit” the “Live from Industry” series, and “Live from Montreux-Detroit.”
Jazz and music enthusiasts should take advantage of this opportunity to hear the music that has enabled The Lunar Octet to draw fans from around the globe by attending the group’s upcoming show at the Dirty Dog Jazz Café.
