Author Archives: Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

TODAY: JOIN WITH THE LOCAL 802 MUSICIANS TO MARCH IN SOLIDARITY!

Text by Soahrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Three weeks ago I joined Local 802 because as a music activist I have to join and work with all kinds of people and groups in order to achieve my goals as a musician,  individual and family man. In July I already introduced you to the union in the post To all musicians: your instruments are allowed as airplane carry-ons!!!  (read here). As a result of the union support I could take my horn as a carry-on last week when I flew to Tokyo. Also from now on when I play on the NY streets or in parks and I have problems with the cops trying to stop me, I can refer to my union or get some assistance from them to stop meaningless and illegal police harassment.

Unfortunately I can’t join today’s march because I’m still in Tokyo.

Continue reading →

Recommended Event: The 8th Annual NY Gypsy Fest, Sept 8 – 30, 2012

The NY Gypsy Festival celebrates its seventh year with another outstanding performance schedule and a total of nine shows from Sept 8 – September 30, 2012.

Highlights include the return of the mighty Romanian Gypsy band FANFARE CIOCARLIA (their first show in 9 years!), the stunning Andalucian dancer and singer ELENA ANDUJAR from Spain, Balkan funk & jazz masters NY GYPSY ALL-STARS, Italian/Canadian swing-folk artist MARCO CALLIARI and NY’s very own eclectic blues-alt band HAZMAT MODINE.

The festival will also feature the flamenco jazz sounds of ARIADNA CASTELLANOS, Canadian party brass band ROMA CARNIVALE, the powerful all-star collective SWAY MACHINERY, the Gypsy cabaret stylings of Portland’s SEPIATONIC, Berlin’s queen of Balkan Beats, the uber-ecletic DJ IPEK. For the first time this year the festival will include a film screening, a Romani music workshop and a brass battle for the benefit of ZLATNE USTE’S GOLDEN FESTIVAL.

Continue reading →

Tokyo Report P.1: Sozen-Ji (Tokyo, Japan) – everyday my day starts with chanting and drumming?!

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Every morning around 6am I take a walk with my wife to the near by Sozen-Ji temple, Tokyo’s oldest temple located in Tokyo’s old city Asakusa, to attend the Boghisattva Kannon worshipping ceremony. For about 15 minutes the main priest and three of his assistants of the temple pray and chant to the Boghisattva Kannon which has been worshipped by Japanese since early times. The prayer and chant is accompanied and supported by a Japanese drum played by another priest. The popularity of the Bodhisattva Kannon comes from its unparalleled source of benefits and miracles over the centuries. Since its appearance in this world it apparently has saved and protected many people.

One of the main functions of Kannon is to open people’s hearts and show mercy to others in daily life. And this is exactly how I feel when I’m standing in front of the altar. I bow to the hidden Kannon, which is in a sanctum at the extreme rear of the temple, and let my thoughts come out which are mostly about my wife and her passed away mother. I just wish them both peace and send them my prayer with the drum drone around me. With the help of the sound I hope that my message will reach this deity and then through her to my wife and my mother-in-law. I can feel that the drum sound and its rhythm connect me with them and the Kannon.

Continue reading →