Virtual Artist Salon: Allan Colding and Nova Zaii

We invite you to join us in this virtual gathering space for discovery, dialogue and the exchange of ideas.

This unique series focuses on the 2022 Kresge Artist Fellows and Gilda Awardees, featuring artists Allan Colding and Nova Zaii. A presentation about their practices will be followed by a Q&A based conversation moderated by Bridge Detroit’s Orlando P. Bailey.

This program is a collaboration between Kresge Arts in Detroit and WDET and is part of Kresge Arts in Detroit’s mission to advance and showcase the work of Kresge Artist Fellows and Gilda Awardees, provide space for growth and discovery, and further the connection between Kresge artists and the wider arts community.

[accessibility note: ASL interpretation will be provided during this event]

Ali Allan Colding is a seasoned professional jazz musician with national and international experiences, living and practicing in Detroit. He has performed at most of Detroit’s major music venues and has played with world class musicians and singers such as James “Blood” Ulmer, John Dana, Ron English, Ken Cox, Marcus Belgrave, Leon Henderson, Charles Moore, Ed Pickens, Sam Sanders, Harold and Ray McKinney, Wendell Harrison, Dorothy Ashby, Gloria Lynn, Kim Weston, Fred Anderson, Noah Howard, Faruq Z. Bey, Hakim Jami, and more. Colding received his musical education from drummers Rudy Tucich, Sr., Doug Hammond, Roy Brooks, J.C. Herd, Jimmy Allen, Ron Johnson, Danny Spencer, and George Davidson, as well as through conversations with Elvin Jones and private lessons with Robert Pangborn Sr., percussionists with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and Jack Luddingham at the Teal School of Music.

Nova Zaii is an electronic producer, drummer, and experience designer hailing from Chicago. While completing two degrees—in performing arts technology and jazz studies—at the University of Michigan, he invented a touchless instrument called the Nova Portals. He has patented and performed with the Portals around the country, including for TEDx Chicago. In 2016, he co-founded the electronic-jazz group, the JuJu Exchange, which released its debut album “Exchange” in 2017; the album reached the number one jazz album streaming position on Apple Music. He has worked with Kesswa, Vic Mensa, Prefuse 73, Derrick Hodge, Jamila Woods, Robert Hurst, Kaleigh Wilder, Marcus Elliot, Tank and the Bangas, as well as other visionary artists.