Beats & Beats Thursdays invites local percussionists to perform freely in the exhibition’s gallery and engage with sonic and spoken dialogue around the work of Milford Graves.

Los Angeles-based Malik Sow is a West African master drummer, ensemble leader, and musical director devoted to the pursuit and study of music in West African drums and percussion from Senegal, Mali, and Guinea. His unique drumming talents have earned him the opportunity to perform with international touring and recording artists, travel across Europe, Africa, and the United States, and perform at the Academy Awards. He owns and operates Futu Toro West African Dance Ensemble, a long-running ensemble well known in the Western region for choreographed and composed musical performances which help the audience understand the customs, attire, and lifestyle of the people of West Africa. Instrument mastery includes djunjun, bass drum, djimbe drums, shekere, and gourd rattle. In addition to his performance work, Malik is a beloved educator in the Los Angeles and Orange County school art programs.