Category Archives: CD Reviews

CD Review: Finger Songwriter – Jeremy Siskind’s new CD!

Artist: Jeremy Siskind
Title: Finger – Songwriter
Label:  Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records
Genre: Jazz
Review by Dawoud Kringle

Not long ago, I attended Siskind’s performance at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall (see my review here.) Now, my experience of Siskind’ss music will take a tour of his music in the recorded medium. I speak of his newest release; Finger – Songwriter.

Pianist, composer, and educator Jeremy Siskind originally from Irvine, CA, now living in NYC earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Eastman and his Master’s in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia, and studies piano with  Sophia Rosoff and Fred Hersh. Siskind performs around the world as a leader and sideman. Since the 2010 release of Simple Songs, Siskind’s first CD on Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records, he placed 2nd in the Montreux Jazz Festival Solo Piano Competition, was a runner-up for the American Pianist Association’s Cole Porter Fellowship, performed at Carnegie Hall, has had his book, Jazz Etude Inspirations, published by Hal Leonard, and has become the musical director for Sandra Bernhard.

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CD review: House of Waters…an astonishing display of virtuosity and musical beauty.

Artist: House of Waters
Title: Revolution
Label: self released
Genre: world/ambient/jazz

Review by Dawoud Kringel

New York City is one of those places where innovative musicians are the norm, rather than the exception. They lurk in the shadows, or stand on the world stage and bring their gems to listeners. One winter night, I went to Pianos in New York City’s Lower East Side. A friend was playing there, and hosting a jam session. I brought my instrument to sit in. Upon arriving, one of the opening groups was in the midst of their set. The room was filled with an astonishing display of virtuosity and musical beauty. I was impressed!

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CD recommendation: Traditional Inventiveness – Andra Kouyaté and Sèkè Chi Reveal the Innovative Spirit and Polyglot Funk in Mali’s Deepest Roots

Artist: Andra Kouyaté
Title: Saro
Label: Studio Mali
Genre: Malian traditional and pop music
Release date: July 31, 2012

Recommended by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

In some musically vibrant corners of the world, innovation is the tradition.

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CD recommendation: Kmang Kmang “Drifting” – Chicago’s post-rock collective debut!

Artist: Kmang Kmang
Title: Drifting
Label: self release
Genre:  classical guitar music with a good dose of jazz and instrumental fusion

“The most important thing is that it’s viscerally powerful,” states Barmey Ung, the classically trained guitarist and composer behind Chicago’s avant acoustic rock collective, Kmang Kmang.“I don’t like to intellectualize things too much, and don’t like to attach meanings where there doesn’t have to be meanings. I just want the music to be aesthetically powerful.”

Let the man himself speak about his CD release!

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