
Zo! & Tall Black Guy
(featuring Debórah Bond)
Friday July 16, 2025
The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre
2600 Atwater St, Detroit, MI 48207-4418
Doors: 6:30p | Show: 7:30p
By Chris Campbell
On the latest edition of Liner Notes, we explore “Abstractions,” a 2021 collaboration between two of the most revered producers in modern soul, funk, and hip-hop: Zo! and Tall Black Guy.

On the latest edition of The Progressive Underground‘s Liner Notes, we explore “Abstractions,” a collaboration between two of the most revered producers in modern soul, funk, and hip-hop: Zo! and Tall Black Guy.
Metro Detroit-born Lorenzo “Zo!” Ferguson and Tall Black Guy, aka Terrel Wallace, took different paths to arrive at their shared groove-centric vision. Zo!, a multi-instrumentalist, came up playing jazz and classical before transitioning into the vibrant world of progressive soul and funk, producing for The Foreign Exchange and spearheading several solo projects. Tall Black Guy, known for his masterful beat-making, honed his skills through crate-digging and sampling, becoming a staple in the underground hip-hop and soul circuit.
Though they had admired each other’s work from afar, their creative paths finally converged through the Foreign Exchange Music family, an independent label founded by Phonte and Nicolay. Their shared love for deeply rooted soul, lush arrangements, and head-nodding rhythms made their collaboration inevitable.
“Abstractions,” released in 2021, is the product of this synergy — a sonic journey through jazz, R&B, and hip-hop, infused with their mutual respect for craftsmanship and storytelling. Let’s explore the album track by track.
Pick out your city.
Connect with your people.
Buy those tickets.
Come rock with ya folks!
2026 DATES
Feb 26 in Urbana, IL (Krannert Center for the Performing Arts) • Mar 14 in Hyattsville, MD (Publick Playhouse) • Apr 03 in New York City, NY (Cafe Wha?) • Apr 12 in Birmingham, UK (Hare and Hounds) • Apr 13 in London, UK (The Jazz Cafe) • Apr 19 in Atlanta, GA (City Winery)
2025 DATES
Feb 17 in Pittsburgh, PA (City Winery) • Feb 19 in Philadelphia, PA (The Loft at City Winery) • Mar 14 in Cincinnati, OH (The Redmoor) • Mar 27 in Atlanta, GA (City Winery) • Apr 17 in Charlotte, NC (Victoria Yards @ Charlotte SHOUT!) • Jun 05 in Columbia, MD (Columbia Lakefront Stage @ Capital Jazz Fest Kickoff) • Jun 19 in Washington, D.C. (Union Market – The Plaza) • Jul 04 in St. Louis, MO (City Winery) • Jul 05 in Chicago, IL (City Winery) • Jul 16 in Detroit, MI (The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre) • Aug 08 in Baltimore, MD (M&T Bank Exchange at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center @ Culture, Community & Cause) • Aug 14 in Las Vegas, NV (The Space) • Aug 15 in Phoenix, AZ (The Archwood at Eastlake) • Aug 17 in Los Angeles, CA (Lodge Room) • Aug 23 in Waterbury, CT (SOUFEST @ Silas Bronson Library Park) • Sep 18 in Dallas, TX (Sandaga 813) • Oct 04 in Durham, NC (Missy Lane’s Block Party)• Oct 25 in Johannesburg, South Africa (TrevTober) • Nov 16 in Oakland, CA (Yoshi’s)
Zo! x Tall Black Guy x Debórah Bond
“Just The Three Of Us” Performances
Jun 06 in Columbia, SC (SoulHaus) Performance + Exclusive Talkback
Zo! & Tall Black Guy
Abstractions Album Trailer
Video by Digife
City footage captured by LaDarrel “Saxappeal” Johnson
Abstractions is available NOW
Sightseeing (feat. Pirahnahead & Diviniti)
(L. Ferguson, T. Wallace, P. Coleman)
Produced by Zo! & Tall Black Guy & Phonte
Lead Vocals by Pirahnahead & Diviniti
Background Vocals by Pirahnahead, Diviniti & Phonte
All Instruments by Zo! & Tall Black Guy, except
Saxophone by LaDarrel “Saxappeal” Johnson
Trumpet by Aaron Janik
City of
Motown
Woodward Ave, Cass Tech
Eastern Market, 7 Mile
Sweetwater, Aretha
In the city
City of
Greektown
Spectacles, Outer Dr
New Dance Show, Belle Isle
Bread Basket, The Shelter
In the city
In the city
Happy to announce that you are now able to stream my Making SkyBreak documentary via Kweli.TV!!
CLICK HERE TO WATCH

Saturday, April 13, 2019 – PHILADELPHIA, PA
Zo! + Carmen Rodgers
Painted Bride Art Center
230 Vine St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Doors: 7p | Show: 8p
BUY TICKETS
Saturday, May 4, 2019 – COLUMBIA, SC
Zo! + Carmen Rodgers
Mo’ Betta Soul Loft Sessions
701 Whaley
701 Whaley St. – Loft 204
Columbia, SC 29201
Doors: 7p | Show: 8p
BUY TICKETS
Friday, June 7, 2019 – HANOVER, MD
Zo! + Carmen Rodgers
Capital Jazz presents Indie Soul/Jazz Festival
Live! Casino & Hotel
7002 Arundel Mills Cir #7777, Hanover, MD 21076
Show: 11p – 1:30a
BUY TICKETS
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – JERSEY CITY, NJ
Zo! + Carmen Rodgers
Berry Lane Park Live Music Concert Series
Berry Lane Park
1000 Garfield Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07304
6:00 – 8:00p
FREE
Thursday, August 15, 2019 – DETROIT, MI
Zo! + Carmen Rodgers
Cliff Bell’s
2030 Park Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
Show: 9p
BUY TICKETS
Wednesday, July 25, 2018 – DETROIT, MI
Zo! + Carmen Rodgers
opening for Kamasi Washington
Chene Park Amphitheater
2600 Atwater St, Detroit, MI 48207
7:30p
BUY TICKETS
Visuals from…
Zo!
+ Carmen Rodgers
at Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History
Detroit, MI
July 20, 2017
Personnel:
Zo! – Keys/Vocals
Carmen Rodgers – Vocals
Ladarrel “Saxappeal” Johnson – Saxophone/Background Vocals
Buddy Brown– Drums
Kamau Inaede – Bass
Kristopher “Jahi” Crosby – Keys/Background Vocals
Ideeyah – Background Vocals
D-Love – Percussion
Lola George – Hostess
DJ L Boog – DJ
Photos by Miz Korona for Trigger Finger Visuals

Thursday, July 20, 2017 – Detroit, MI
Zo! + Carmen Rodgers
(The SkyBreak Tour)
Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History
315 E Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Doors: 7p | Show: 8p
BUY TICKETS