Monthly Archives: March 2011

Music listings – 3/7 through 3/13

1. Tyondai Braxton

Date: Monday, March 7, 2011
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Lincoln Center/Tully Hall
Ticket: $25 and more
Genre: classic music and rock fusion

Tyondai Braxton with the Wordless Music Orchestra
Caleb Burhans, conductor

Tyondai Braxton, best known for his role in the experimental rock group Battles, does not fit neatly into any one genre. His performances conjure sweeping symphonics, heady compositions, crashing guitars, and slyly playful sounds to create a wholly original style. For this contemporary classical event, Braxton will be joined by the 30-member Wordless Music Orchestra, a Brooklyn-based ensemble that, like Braxton, is dedicated to bridging the gap between classical and rock.

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Film – Yakuza Busting Girls: Death Ride Battle (2010, Japan)

Story

Asami was thought killed after being betrayed by Junko (Rena Komine), but she suddenly returns to town after a 2 years. However, a lot has changed since she was last around. Yakuza have taken over the town and the powerful Kanto Sukeban Alliance which Asami once headed had been completely decimated in the process, with former members now turning to drugs and prostitution. Under the guise of sukeban hunting, Junko had led her old friends to slaughter at the hands of yakuza boss Murakawa (Jiro Sato). Because of this, Asami has gradually been enveloped by flames of rage. Meanwhile, four yakuza hunters pledge their lives to her cause as the stage is set for a final bloody battle at Tokyo Bay.”
– Nipponcinema.com
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Genres: Action, Thriller, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Director: Kazushi Nakadaira
Writers: Kazushi Nakadaira (screenplay), Makoto Shinozaki (story)
Stars: Asami, Rena Komine and Kenji Motomiya

Monk’s Dream: Fifty Years Fresh The Music of Thelonious Monk & The Expanding Universe of Bebop!

Date: Saturday, February 26, 2011
Venue: Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola  (NY)

Concert review by Roberto Romeo 

I was surprised to see that Benny Green was offering a “Monk’s Dreams” week at Dizzy’s. So many piano players of every level had performed and recorded Monk’s music. Mr. Green used the perfect rhythm section with Peter (on bass) and Kenny Washington (on drums) and added on the perfect soloist  Jessie Davis (on alto sax). Mr Green showed to be a great artist interpreting Monk’s music so well, like I have never heard before. His power on the keyboard followed by an incredible feeling for it, made it literally incredible. The JLP recording artist stunned everybody when he played Epistrophy and Round Midnight, and the amazing Mr Davis was just delightful. Great job by a great leader!
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Eddie Kirkland: the Blues legend got killed in car crash. Rest in peace!

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Februaru 27th one of the great living Blues musicians left earth! Known as  the “Gypsy of the Blues”, Eddie Kirkland, an 88-year-old blues legend was killed in Florida when his car turned into the path of a Greyhound bus.

Born in Jamaica, grew up in Alabama, Kirkland eventually moved via Indiana to Detroit. He toured for 7 1/2 years with John Lee Hooker, became a bandleader for Otis Redding and performed with artists, such as Little Richard, Ben King, Ruth Brown and Little Johnnie Taylor.  Eddie Kirkland was not only a great bluesman, but a folk legend.

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Interview – Bassam Saba and April Centrone speak about their “baby”: the NY Arabic Orchestra


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Text and interview by Jim Hoey
Video camera: Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

The New York Arabic Orchestra has quietly been honing their craft for the past three years, after forming out of a series of workshops started by founders Bassam Saba (oud, nay, flute, violin) and April Centrone (lead percussion). What they accomplished on February 12th at the Symphony Space was unique: the only Arabic orchestra in NYC comprised of musicians from the Middle East, the United States, Latin America, and Asia to be joined here by star vocalists Salma Habib (of Palestine) and Naji Youssef (of Lebanon) for a presentation of authentic Arabic songs.

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