Summer has proven to be a busy time for Metro Detroit’s world music guitarist, Sean Blackman.  Between a CD release party, regular gigs and his upcoming concert, In Transit: Travel The World Through Music and Dance, on September 24^th, his star still continues to steadily rise.

Back on June 17^th, Blackman had his release party in a Detroit club, Cliff Bell’s.  The place was packed, as attendees and fans congregated before his performances,which not only featured cuts off of his newest album In Transit but also included musicians that played on his album.  In Transit was the culmination of Blackman’s travels around the world and captured the sounds of Senegal, Armenia, Latin America and Brazil.  It is currently available for sale on his site http://www.seanblackman.com.

Even more ambitious than In Transit will be his September 24^th concert at Orchestra Hall. In Transit: Travel The World Through Music and Dance will be an experience where twelve musicians from four continents will provide accompaniment for seven dancers with music reminiscent of Brazil, Senegal and Armenia.  In order to bring this project to fruition, he is raising funds to bring in the dancers and musicians.  For this purpose, there is a site http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/491742758/sean-blackmans-in-transit-travel-the-world-through.  On the site, there is all the information for explaining the project and outlining the process for donating.

Between now and then, Blackman is playing plenty of gigs around the area to sate the appetite for those that love his unique musical mixture. Here is a list:

• Violao— Brazilian/jazz trio playing at Tallulah’s Wine Bar & Restaurant in Birmingham every Monday & Tuesday evening from 6:30-9:30pm that features:
  • Wayne Gerard-guitar
  • Sean Blackman-guitar
  • Rick Beamon – drums/percussion
• Zap Toro—Latin/funk/jazz sextet playing at Black Lotus Brewery in Clawson every Tuesday night 10:00-12:30pm that features:
  • Sean Blackman–guitar
  • James Simonson–bass
  • Rick Beamon–drums
  • Kris Kurzawa-guitar
  • Mark Harper–keyboards
  • Dan Schmatz-percussion
• Zap Toro at Concert Of Colors Festival in Detroit on Sunday, July 18^th from 7:00-8:15pm
• Solo performance at Armenian Fest 2010 in Royal Oak on Saturday, July 17^th from 8:00-8:30pm

So for those Sean Blackman fans out there, there are plenty of opportunities to get your fix. Keep checking Sean Blackman’s site http://www.seanblackman.com for future performances or continue checking out Mi Estilo.

Author: José A. Rodríguez

Photos: Marty Rickard