Category Archives: CD Reviews

CD Review: The Tiptons Saxophone Quartet & Drums – the driving force of horn splendor created by this historic all-women sax quartet!

TLCcover-front1webArtist: The Tiptons Saxophone Quartet & Drums
Title: Tiny Lower Case
Label: Spoot Music
Genre: genres from micro-big band, gospel, bluegrass, and Balkan to whimsical jazz and nocturnal funk

Review by Dawoud Kringle

What happens when you draw inspiration from micro-big band, gospel, bluegrass, Balkan, whimsical jazz, nocturnal funk, New Orleans “second – line,” Afro-Cuban, Balkan, Klezmer and beyond? The Tiptons Saxophone Quartet & Drums! Hailing from New York, Seattle, and Eau Claire, the band has been composing and performing their music in the US and Europe since their beginnings in 1993.

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CD Review: Ou… a joyful, multidimensional romp through the Mediterranean and the Americas that will make you want to think and dance at the same time

Ou CD coverArtist: Ou
Title: Pisces Crisis
Label: Spoot Music
Genre: nu jazz/Balkan/nu folk/progessive rock

Review by Matt Cole

Pisces Crisis is an eclectic and energetic effort from Italian band Ou, produced by Amy Denio, known for her work in Kultur Shock and The Tiptons Sax Quartet. The band consists of three from Sardinia: Martina Fadda on lead vocals; Ersilia Prosperi on trumpet, flugelhorn, and ukulele; Sabrina Coda on alto and soprano sax; and Romans Luca Venitucci on various keyboards; Claudio Mosconi on bass, and Cristiano de Fabritiis on drums and percussion; all of the instrumentalists contribute backing vocals. Producer Denio contributes vocals and alto sax on several tracks as well; her wide vocal range and musical creativity fit right in with the band.

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CD Review: SEHRANG – Ancient Storytelling Reborn In The 21st Century And Creating An Intimate Experience

Sehrang CD Artist: SEHRANG
Title: Dar Lahze
Label: self published
Genre: nu Iranian music/jazz

Review by Dawoud Kringle

Despite the image the news would have us believe, Iran is a treasure trove of beauty and tradition. The flow of great music and art from the Persian people never seems to exhaust itself. The marvellous thing is that the artistic community of Iran is not content to rest on its considerable laurels; there is always new and innovative ideas contributing to the centuries of tradition. SEHRANG (a Farsi word meaning tri-olored), the Vienna based trio of Golnar Shahyar (vocals), Mahan Mirarab (guitar) and Shayan Fathi (drums and percussion) proved this with their CD Dar Lahze. Using elements of traditional and modern Persian music, and original lyrics and classical poetry, SEHRANG creates an intimate experience.

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CD Review: Mem Nahadr…the music weaves a dense tapestry of dreamy, ethereal, and emotionally intense experience

555314_10202062663067015_1966059866_nArtist: Mem Nahadr
Title: Femme Fractale
Label: Madwoman Multimedia
Genre: Neo Soul/R&B
Release date: April 8, 2013

CD Review by Dawoud Kringle

Mem Nahadr, a New York City based internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, performance artist film composer, author, independent filmmaker and multidisciplinary video/sonic visionary, has composed an operatic vision.

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CD Review: ULLU…you can’t dance to this; but you will trip out.

UllU CD coverArtist: UllU
Title: August
Label: Non-Site Records
Genre: sound scapes/drones
Buy CD: here  (limited Edition of 200 CD’s)

Review by Dawoud Kringle

UllU is the Hindi word for owl. In South Asian tradition, the owl is thought of as a foolish bird (unlike the opposite assessment in Western tradition). This is the surface appearance presented by UllU, a duo consisting of Chris McIntyre (trombone, Nord Lead 2) and David Shively (feedback, drumkit, tapes, combo organ, and siren). The duo produced, edited, and mastered the recording.

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