Author Archives: Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

CD Review: Daniel Bennett Group (NY) “We Are the Orchestra”

Daniel Bennett GroupArtist: The David Bennett Group
Title: We Are the Orchestra
Label: self produced
Genre: Avant-Pop with a blend of Jazz, Folk and Classical

Review by Dawoud Kringle

Daniel Bennett had an idea. Most large groups try to distill their effect into a smaller sound. Bennett (Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Flute, Piccolo, Clarinet, Oboe, Piano, Percussion) wanted to take something small and expand it into something large. Enlisting the partnership of Mark Cocheo (Electric Guitar, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Nylon String Guitar), they layered the sounds of their instruments to create the effect and feel of an orchestra.

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Genetic druGs

CD Review: Genetic druGs w. Short Wave “Worldradio” Sounds

Genetic drugsArtist: Genetic druGs
Title: Worldradio (short wave radio surfing 1984-1999)
Label: Pharma Tunes (Germany)
Genre: Worldmusic – Downtempo – Electronica – Original Soundtrack

Listen here:
https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/worldradio-shorte-wave-radio-surfing-1984-1999-original/1426544737

Review by Dawoud Kringle

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Steve Gordon

Steve Gordon Remembered…We salute the memory of our departed friend

By Dawoud Kringle

Steve GordonThe music world suffered an incalculable loss after the untimely passing of Steve Gordon, Esq.

Gordon graduated from SUNY Binghamton, in 1987, earning a B.A. (with Honors), New York University School of Law, J.D. in 1981, and earned a French Language Certificate from the University of Paris in 1982.

From 1981 to 1983 he served as a law clerk in the Appellate Division of the NYS Supreme Court, ( the second highest court in the New York State judicial system). 1983 to 1984 saw him employed as a Music Attorney  by Dino Di Laurentis in Beverly Hills, CA, where he negotiated and drafted soundtrack recording agreements and contracts with composers for this Hollywood movie studio. Gordon served as a SESAC Senior Counsel between 1985 and1990. He handled the licensing of music for public performance on radio, television, cable, nightclubs, arenas, amusement parks, and background music services in the United States and throughout the world.  From 1990 to 1991 he worked as an Associate with Mayer Katz Baker & Liebowitz, where he negotiated and drafted recording agreement for Elektra and Atlantic Records and recording artists including In Excess, Billy Idol and Boy George.

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Oytun Ersan

CD Review: Oytun Ersan “Fusiolicious”

Oytun ErsanArtist: Oytun Ersan
Title: Fusiolicious
Label: Self-Produced
Genre: Funk-heavy Jazz Fusion
CD available on: CDBaby, iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon, Tidal, Google Music Store, and major streaming sites.

Review by Fiona Mactaggart

In all seriousness, fasten your seatbelts for bassist Oytun Ersan’s high energy, sometimes Zappa-reminiscent, funk-heavy jazz fusion new release Fusiolicious. It’s a blast, and you may need a lie down after.

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CD Review: Sam Bevan “Emergence”

Sam Beavan Artist: Sam Bevan
Title: Emergence
Label: Self-produced
Genre: Jazz
Buy from: CDBaby, iTunes, sambevan.bandcamp.com (release date August 2018)

Review by Fiona Mactaggart

The free-flowing fluency of bass player Sam Bevan’s music is remarkable given the complexity of his compositions, and speaks of his wide-ranging musical background and the quality of the musicians he has chosen for this, his fourth CD release as leader. The buoyant feel, the numerous cheerful melodies, the asymmetries and quirky changes, and the confident organizational and rhythmic clarity offered by Bevan’s bass, makes this a standout jazz release of this year.

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