The Full Story
Who are We?
Evening Star is an afro-futuristic jazz and neo-soul ensemble led by Detroit drummer Tariq Gardner, emerging from the city’s long tradition of innovation, groove, and musical adaptability.
Rooted in Detroit’s jazz lineage yet unconstrained by genre, Evening Star moves fluidly through the musical galaxies of the African Diaspora — blending jazz improvisation, neo-soul warmth, Afro-Cuban rhythm, hip-hop sensibility, and contemporary Black American music. The result is a sound that feels both expansive and grounded: cosmic in atmosphere, ancestral in spirit.
With an afro-futuristic aesthetic and a mission centered on sonic healing and positive communal experience, Evening Star prioritizes music as a transformative force. Their performances balance deep groove, improvisation, and intention — inviting audiences into an immersive listening and feeling space.
In 2025, Evening Star was named a winner of NPR Detroit’s (WDET) “Sounds Like Detroit” contest and featured in the station’s official music showcase. The band has released two projects — Gateway Drug (2023) and Vice Tape (2024), the latter featuring Detroit poet Joel “Fluent” Greene — and continues to build a national presence through touring and festival appearances.
Evening Star has performed at major festivals including the Detroit International Jazz Festival, Farm Block Festival, and Great Lakes Jazz Festival (Toledo), as well as special cultural events such as Story Fest Detroit and the Detroit Institute of Arts FJC Gala. The group has appeared at respected listening rooms including Cliff Bell’s, Blue Llama Jazz Club, and The Alluvion, among others.
The band performs primarily as a tight 4-piece touring ensemble, with the flexibility to expand up to a 7-piece configuration for festivals and special engagements.
