Monthly Archives: October 2011

Recommended film: OKA! – offers a unique glimpse into the music, humor, and spirit of the Bayaka people.

A film by Lavinia Currier which is based on the memoir by Louis Sarno “Last Thoughts Before Vanishing from the Face of the Earth”.
Starring Kris Marshall, Isaach de Bankolé, Will Yun Lee & the Bayaka of Yandombe
Running Time: 106 min
Languages: Sango, Akka, French, and English.
Exclusive engagement starts Friday, October 14th at the Angelika Film Center (NY).

SHORT SYNOPSIS

25 years ago, ethnomusicologist Louis Sarno traveled from New Jersey to the forests of Central Africa to record the music of the Bayaka Pygmies. Falling in love with a Bayaka girl and her forest lifestyle, he decided to stay. “OKA!” tells the adventure of his life in Africa with his adopted family. The Bayaka pygmies maintain a tenuous balance between their traditional forest existence and their increasing dependence on the Bantu villagers. Through the eyes of Larry, the tall, ungainly white man from New Jersey, who in spite of his failing liver accompanies the Bayaka on a journey into the heart of the forest, “OKA!” offers a unique glimpse into the music, humor, and spirit of the Bayaka people. “OKA!” is directed by Lavinia Currier and filmed in Sango, Akka, French, and English. It is based on Louis Sarno’s memoir, Last Thoughts Before Vanishing from the Face of the Earth, and stars Kris Marshall, with Isaach de Bankolé and Will Yun Lee, and a magnificent local Bayaka ensemble cast.

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Music listings – 10/10 through 10/16

1. Shinji Masuko (of DMBQ / Boredoms) w. The Returners+Man Forever

Date: Monday, October 10, 2011
Time: 9pm
Venue: The Knitting Factory (361 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211, Tel: 347-529-6696)
Ticket: $60-$70
Genre: psychedelic rock

Categories cannot contain Shinji Masuko. He’s the founder of DMBQ – one of Japan’s greatest modern psychedelic bands, a respected music and comic reviewer, an astonishing guitarist and a master guitar builder. He’s also been a member of the Boredoms since 2004, having designed and built their notorious seven neck guitar (the Sevena) while acting as the band’s principle guitarist.

2. Akiko Yano and Marc Ribot

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Occupy Wall Street – a group dynamic’s improve!

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

I was there this afternoon. What I saw was very interesting. I could see and feel that something important was happening. I was very happy to see and hear that music is an important element and force in this freedom movement.

Honestly the music I listened to wasn’t that great and expressive, but better to have music than none. I missed my own horn. Maybe next time when I go there I might play. Hope that some of the good NY musicians will come out and perform, and let people know that music could be a very strong energy to support the protesters in their fight and motivate non protesters to join this movement which still doesn’t have a name, not an elaborated goal and doesn’t have a leader representing this movement physically and intellectually.

Personally I don’t care about the no leadership. In fact, like in music, I am interested to watch how people at Liberty Plaza communicate with each other in the moment…like musicians they are improvising: composing in the moment and process. Listening to each others complaints and concerns. Trying to find the right language to speak to each other and find out the right way to resolve.

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Some insights into how you choose a Samba to be performed at Carnival?

Text by Kevin Williams

When you listen to an Escola de Samba (school of samba) play their Samba Enredo (song for Carnival) on CD, DVD or performed live at Sambodromo during Carnival in Rio, you hear a well-oiled machine rolling down the avenida accompanied by thunderous percussion, vibrantly colored costumes,elegant dancers all moving in unison to one common theme, and the syncopated rhythms of the Samba Enredo chosen by the Escola. You see the end product but, how do you get from an idea to this incredible artistic production passing through Sapaucai?

This very question took me to several evenings at the Quadro of the Escola de Samba in Pilares, Rio de Janeiro. Having read numerous articles, books, television reports and watched about a decades worth of performances from the Escolas de Samba from both Rio and Sao Paulo, you always feel like you have a great working knowledge about carnival, but Samba is like an onion – as you peel back each layer you find a greater deal of complexity.

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The legendary Malian blues guitarist and singer Boubacar “Kar Kar” Traoré at The Bell House (NY)

Date: September 27, 2011
Venue: Bell House (Brooklyn, NY)

Concert review by Chris Arnold

This past Tuesday Brooklyn was blessed with a very special visitor: the legendary Malian guitarist and singer Boubacar “Kar Kar” Traoré. With long-time friends percussionist Madieye Niang playing a simple upturned gourd and French harmonica player Vincent Bucher, Traoré laid down a mellow yet infectious groove for about 90 minutes at the Gowanus club The Bell House.

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