Author Archives: Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Concert Review: Brooklyn Raga Massive presents Terry Riley’s “In C” – a Unique Perspective on a Unique Musical Performance

terry riley cDate: September 24, 2014
Venue: Art Cafe (Brooklyn)

Concert review by Dawoud Kringle

On Wednesday, September 24th, the Brooklyn Raga Massive (held, as of this writing at Art Cafe in Brooklyn) presented a performance of Terry Riley’s In C. The piece consists of 53 musical phrases, lasting from half a beat to 32 beats. Each phrase may be repeated an arbitrary number of times. Although the melodic content of each part is predetermined, each musician has control over which phrase he or she plays. The musicians are encouraged to play the phrases starting at different times, even if they are playing the same phrase.

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Concert Review: Kiosk Leads Iranian Invasion of Drom (NY)

Photo by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Photo by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Date: September 28, 2014
Venue: Drom (NY)
Concert review by Dawoud Kringle

Kiosk, the pioneer of Iran underground contemporary Persian music, was described by BBC as “stinging political satire hidden within the blues and folksy sound that highlight the paradoxes of Iranian society and the incompetent political system” presented with a unique blend of musical styles. Kiosk is Arash Sobhani (vocals, guitar), Ali Kamali (bass), Ardalan Payvar (accordion, keys), Mohammad Talani (guitar), Tara Kamangar (violin), and Yahya Alkhansa (drums)

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CD Recommendation: Unlocking the Past: Maldivian Traditional Music from V. Keyodhoo Opens the Box of History

MaldivanArtist: Maldivian Traditional Music
Title: Vaavu Keyodhoo
Label: Asasi Records
Genre: Maldivian Traditional Music

The Maldives. With its blue seas and perfect weather, the islands in the Indian Ocean are a favorite vacation and honeymoon destination. But look past the tourist glitz and there are centuries of history and music here that have gone undocumented. All that changes, though, with Maldivian Traditional Music from V. Keyodhoo (released October 7th, 2014 on Asasi Records), a three-CD collection that offers the very first glimpse of the boduberu, thaara, and raivaru traditions from one of the islands in the chain. And it includes the singing of a woman who know those traditions well – she was already a centenarian when the recording was made.

“The music is in its traditional form as it would probably have sounded like even 100 years ago,” explains Abdulla Kaleem, the album’s producer. “It’s not practiced on every island, either, although it’s strong on V. Keyodhoo, which is about 90 minutes by speedboat south of the Maldives capital, Male.’

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Music Listings – 9/29 through 10/5/2014

1. Oliver Coates

Date: Monday, September 29, 2014
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Le Poisson Rouge (158 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10012, Phone: 212- 505-3474)
Ticket: $20
Genre: classical/cello music/contemporary music

Oliver Coates makes his NYC debut at Le Poisson Rouge on 9/29/14 with a night of long melodies over cello drones, shimmering textures degrading Chopin samples and a unique collaboration with legends of downtown dance music and minimalism Zummo, Brooks and Ruyle. Coates plays soundtrack music from Under the Skin by Mica Levi, Bach, Xenakis, arrangements of Squarepusher Tommib Help Buss and Messiaen Oraison and drone pieces for polyphonic curved bow and electronics.

He will then perform with composer and trombonist Peter Zummo and his regular collaborators Ernie Brooks and Bill Ruyle. These three have collaborated closely with the late cellist Arthur Russell, and with each other, since the late 1970s, as well as serving time in such legendary outfits as the Lounge Lizards (Zummo), the Modern Lovers (Brooks) and LaMama (Ruyle). The performance serves as a prelude to a UK sextet tour around Zummo’s music with Ralph Cumbers (Bass Clef) and Kevin McIvor (DJ Twitch from Optimo). Continue reading →

CD Review: ZOO (India)…making the caged primordial instinct of humanity into something beautiful

ZOOArtist: ZOO
Title: Atoms & Combinations
Label: Metal Postcard  Rec
Genre: trip hop/electronics/alternative rock

CD review by Dawoud Kringle

When one thinks of Calcutta, trip hop, electronica, and alternative rock somehow don’t spring to mind. Yet, ZOO, the Calcutta based quartet featuring Tanya Sen (vocals, live triggers), Bodhisattwa Ghosh (programming, synthesizers, guitars, vocals), Prosanto Mahato (bass), and Rohit Nandi (drums & interference) provide an intriguing example of a shattered stereotype.

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