The Metro: Meet Sounds Like Detroit Artist Tariq Gardner & the Evening Star
Tariq Gardner leads the Evening Star, a band of longtime collaborators who blend Detroit’s jazz tradition with global rhythms and modern grooves. The band is a featured artist in WDET’s 2025 Sounds Like Detroit Music Showcase.
Tariq Gardner's Evening Star to perform at the Sounds Like Detroit Music Showcase on August 14th at Batch Brewing Company.
Tariq Gardner grew up in Detroit surrounded by music. His mother is renowned bassist Marion Hayden. Jazz was in the house and his hands from an early age.
He studied jazz and contemporary improvisation at the University of Michigan. Gardner has played everything from straight-ahead jazz to neo-soul, hip-hop, gospel, and Afro-Cuban. He’s performed at the Detroit Jazz Festival, the Cape May Jazz Festival, and with artists across the country.
He leads Evening Star, a band of longtime collaborators who blend Detroit’s jazz tradition with global rhythms and modern grooves.
The band is a featured artist in WDET’s 2025 Sounds Like Detroit Music Showcase.
Tariq Gardner joined the show to discuss his musical journey.
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