Author Archives: Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Documentary Film Screening: “Upaj: Improvise”…from the streets of Harlem to ancient India, a 32 year old and a 64 year old, rhythm, dance, magic!

UPAJTitle: Upaj: Improvise
Director: Hoku Uchiyama
Producer: Antara Bhardwaj
Show date: Monday, January 20, 2014 premiering on the PBS WORLD Channel
Time: 7pm (ET/PT)

Upaj: Improvise is a documentary that follows two dance masters, Indian Kathak guru Pandit Chitresh Das, and African-American tap star, Jason Samuels Smith, as they join forces for an extraordinary artistic collaboration. After receiving critical acclaim on the film festival circuit, Upaj: Improvise was chosen to be part of AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange,  the innovative documentary series bringing moving stories of contemporary life across the African Diaspora to public television audiences, which will be premiering on the PBS WORLD Channel.

”Upaj” means “improvise” in the Hindi language and this film explores the birth and journey of “India Jazz Suites,” a phenomenal East-meets-West collaboration featuring Indian Kathak master and guru Pandit Chitresh Das and tap star Jason Samuels Smith. Das is a 62-year-old artist who exemplifies the elegance and mathematical precision of Kathak, classical, storytelling dance of North India. Jason is a 28-year-old African-American tap dancer hailing from the freestyle, streetwise American tradition of contemporary tap. As the two join forces, an unlikely friendship develops that bridges continents, generations, cultures and communities. Soon Das’s and Smith’s poignant personal stories unfold—stories wrought with loss, struggle and perseverance. As the two artists tell their truths and come to terms with their demons, they show us that our struggles are worthwhile, and Upaj: Improvise paves the way for hope and redemption.

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Recommended Event: “Evolving Music” invites Michael Wimberly to bring his music world into their space…

wimberly_bk_bgDate: Monday, January 6, 2013
Time: 7:30pm to 11pm
Venue: Clemente Soto Velez Center (107 Suffolk St, New York, NY 10002)
Tickets: $15 per set – $20 for 2 / $5 for Jam // students & seniors: $8 / $15 for 2 / $5 JamSession
Genre: jazz/improv

Featuring drummer Michael Wimberly residency in the first 2 weeks of January with honored guest Charles Gayle.

Raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Michael Wimberly set off for New York in 1982, quickly carving out a niche for himself. It was there he performed in duets, quartets and larger ensembles with unique or experimental instrumentation. For example, with Steve Coleman he collaborated on many projects, live and in the studio. And  he played, toured and recorded with The Five Elements (including David Gilmore and Don Byron). He’s been also a member of the SoSaLa music collective in New York.

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10 ALBUMS THAT HAVE STAYED WITH ME OVER THE YEARS

995223_10202084992143963_346864460_nText by John Pietaro

When posed with the challenge of listing 10 albums that have moved me on a personal level, those that have hit me viscerally, regardless of critical acclaim, I thought, let me try to reflect a bit. I am 51 and have carefully been listening to different genres of music for much of that time. I hope those I tag in this will also go that route and list the records that hit you deep and avoid trying to just wow everyone else here on DooBeeDoo. This challenge is more about what records were important as we developed as musicians/music listeners. So now in NO PARTICULAR ORDER:

1. Out To Lunch – Eric Dolphy (not only an amazing classic of challenging, melodic, creative jazz led by one of the super visionaries of our time but also a great demonstration of the how the vibraphone can become as much a part of this new music as any other instrument!)

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World Music Festival Recommendation: globalFEST 2014

unnamedDate: Listen to this year’s lineup on Spotify SUNDAY JAN 12, 7PM (doors at 6)
Venue: Webster Hall (125 E 11th STREET)
Ticket: buy here

This übercosmopolitan music event will likely be your only chance to hear “subversive Ukrainian punk-folk,” “North African gnawa trance” and a host of other genre-spanning international acts in one night (at least until next year). The bash features a dozen musicians across three stages in Webster Hall. Represented locales range from Mauritania to Arizona; acts include Australia’s the Bombay Royale, Jamaica’s Brushy One String and Appalachian-Chinese folkies the Wu-Force.  TONY

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The 2014 NYC WINTER JAZZ FEST is starting soon!!!!! From January 8th through January 11th, 2014

image001The NYC WINTER JAZZFEST turns 10 years old in 2014.  In celebration of this milestone Winter Jazzfest is expanding to five nights from January 7th through January 11th.  The festival will be presented in 9 different venues and will feature over 90 different groups including over 400 musicians.  Winter Jazzfest upholds the continued mission to showcase top quality jazz to industry professionals, avid jazz fans, and new audiences.
Winter Jazzfest was established in 2005 with the goal of introducing underexposed artists – those that impacted the jazz scene of that period — to professional presenters attending the Arts Presenters Conference (APAP). At that time, jazz groups were underrepresented, although they were (and remain) culturally essential to the continued development and future of the music and audiences.  Winter Jazzfest is pleased to continue our mission of offering a forum for presenters and music enthusiasts to experience and support the future of jazz.

In its ten years of existence, Winter Jazzfest has showcased artists including Lawrence D. “Butch” Morris, The Bad Plus, David Murray, Jason Moran, Meshell Ndegeocello, John Medeski, Nels Cline, Marc Ribot, Don Byron, Dave Douglas, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Nicholas Payton and artists that have gone on to perform in concert halls, performing arts centers, festivals and prominent clubs around the world such as Vijay Iyer, Anat Cohen, Robert Glasper, JD Allen, Gretchen Parlato, Jenny Scheinman, Jonathan Batiste, Kneebody, So Percussion, Darcy James Argue, Ambrose Akinmusire, Amir Elsaffar, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Mary Halvorson, and hundreds more that, today, thrive in a richer and more energized music scene.

In this 10th Anniversary Year, Winter Jazzfest is pleased to welcome back artists that performed in past seasons, including a special piano duo show at The Town Hall with Robert Glasper and Jason Moran as part of the Blue Note 75th Anniversary series.  Another highlighted returning artist is drummer Bobby Previte, performing TERMINALS with fellow Winter Jazzfest alums Nels Cline, John Medeski and So Percussion (just announced).  The Revive Big Band returns to Winter Jazzfest, this time performing a preview of a show they will perform at Central Park SummerStage in Summer 2014 featuring the music of Blue Note Records.  Other returning groups performing on the two-day multi-venue Winter Jazzfest Marathon include Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog, Mary Halvorson, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Darcy James Argue, Keren Ann, Burnt Sugar, Don Byron, Elliott Sharp, 3rd Eye 4tet: McPherson, Waits, Burton, Hurt (a new formation of Aethereal Base and reunion of Cause & Effect), Gretchen Parlato and many others.

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