Tribute: Nikki Giovanni & Gil Scott-Heron ft. Knowledge & One Single Rose®

Sky Covington’s Preservation of Jazz Monday Night Music Series Presents:
A Tribute to Nikki Giovanni & Gil Scott-Heron
Featuring Knowledge + One Single Rose®
Detroit, MI — Monday, June 1st, 2026 — Detroit is invited to gather for a powerful evening of poetry, rhythm, remembrance, and revelation as Sky Covington’s Preservation of Jazz Monday Night Music Series proudly presents:
A Tribute to Nikki Giovanni & Gil Scott-Heron
Featuring Knowledge + One Single Rose®
This special tribute takes place at the legendary Aretha’s Jazz Café, where artistry and legacy meet under one roof. The night will be guided by laughter, soul, and truth—hosted by the incomparable Mike Bonner, and opened by Sky Covington, the award-winning vocalist, producer, and visionary behind The Preservation of Jazz, serving as both curator and show opener.
With the sonic and poetic landscape carried by Knowledge, alongside the featured presence of One Single Rose®, this tribute promises to feel like a cultural gathering—where spoken word becomes music, and music becomes memory.
Honoring Nikki Giovanni
Nikki Giovanni is more than a poet—she is a heartbeat in language.
Her voice has cradled generations with words that are fearless, tender, revolutionary, and beautifully Black. From love poems that feel like warm sunlight to declarations that stir the spirit, Giovanni has always written with a rare combination of grace and fire.
As an icon of the Black Arts Movement, her work has uplifted Black identity, celebrated Black womanhood, and reminded us that our voices are not optional—they are necessary.
Nikki Giovanni is the kind of writer who makes you feel seen… and then makes you feel brave.
Honoring Gil Scott-Heron
Gil Scott-Heron was a poet, musician, and truth-teller whose voice carried the sound of a people refusing to be erased.
Often recognized as one of the pioneers who shaped spoken word culture and conscious hip-hop, he fused poetry and rhythm into a language that could educate, awaken, and ignite.
His work was bold, brilliant, and uncompromising—rich with social commentary, political insight, and emotional depth.
Gil Scott-Heron didn’t just perform… he delivered messages.
He gave the world art that stood for something and reminded us that culture isn’t entertainment alone—it is testimony.
An Evening of Legacy, Rhythm & Reflection
This is not just a show.
This is a Detroit moment.
A gathering for those who love art with meaning.
A tribute for those who remember what words can do.
A night for those who know that poetry can be a protest…
and jazz can be a prayer.
Come dressed in elegance.
Come ready to feel.
Come ready to honor the voices that helped shape who we are.
Because some nights aren’t just performances…
They are history in the room.
EVENT DETAILS
Venue: Aretha’s Jazz Café
Date: Monday, June 1st, 2026
Doors Open: 6:00 PM
Show Begins: 7:00 PM
Tickets: $35
Hosted by: Mike Bonner
Show Opener & Curator: Sky Covington
Featuring: Knowledge + One Single Rose®
Ticket Link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tribute-nikki-giovanni-gil-scott-heron-ftdj-thaphloet-one-single-rose-tickets-1981923524614?aff=oddtdtcreator⁠�
For More Information
The Preservation of Jazz / Sky Covington
248-383-3385