Universal Xpression play Caribbean rhythms such as Reggae, Soca, Zouk, and dance hall music, with an added undertone of African, Latin, and American rhythms. This four-member group features songwriter and arranger Richard ‘Richie B’ Parris on keyboards and vocals, Noel Parris on drums, The Genius Oliver (Pluto) Mensah on bass and vocals, and Avi Kayne on guitar.

In 1999 their single Meow was number one in the charts for four weeks on BBC Radio and Cest’ si bon was number two in the Virgin Islands. Universal Xpression has shared the stage with international performers such as Percy Sledge, Beenie Man, Shaggy and Burning Spear.

Concert of Colors is metro Detroit’s free annual global music festival, an upbeat event celebrating diverse World music traditions, including the indigenous music of the Motor City. The festival also hosts the Forum on Community, Culture and Race, a series of conversations with artists, cultural, and community leaders examining the role of the arts in overcoming social barriers.

For a complete schedule of Concert of Colors programs at the Detroit Institute of Arts and neighboring institutions, visit the festival website at concertofcolors.com.

Concert of Colors is produced through the partnership of  Culture Source, the Detroit Institute of Arts, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, ACCESS,  University of Michigan — Detroit Center, Michigan Science Center, Detroit Historical Museum, College For Creative Studies, Hellenic Museum of Michigan, Third Man Records, Lowriders of Detroit, Science Gallery Detroit, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Midtown Inc., University of Michigan Dearborn, University of Michigan — Detroit, Arab American National Museum, WDET, The Scarab Club, International Institute of Metro Detroit, and Marx Layne & Company.