Mos Def's Big Band to perform with Gil Scott-Heron

Looks like we'll need to add one more item to perennial Brooklyn hip-hop veteran Mos Def's resume: rapper, actor, poet, band geek. Turns out that the mighty Mos has been doing some stuff with Mos Def's Big Band on the side since last year, namely a tribute to J Dilla. And, unlike other acts who've tried their hands at this with mixed results, they actually sound really good. Their next performance is on June 28 (with special guest Gil Scott-Heron!) at the JVC Jazz Festival in New York City. The event is described as "an evening of music and spoken word with material drawn from Miles Davis, Beyoncé, James Brown, and others."

Currently, the Mos Def Big Band is only scheduled for the show in New York and one at the Kennedy Center on September 21. We'll keep our ears to the ground for you, dear reader, and let you know if anything develops.

Related links:
News: Mos Def cast as Chuck Berry in Cadillac Records
Mos Def on Myspace
Youtube: Mos Def freestyling

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