Author Archives: Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Concert review: Afrocubism Celebrates Brooklyn!

Date: June 9, 2012
Venue: Prospect Park /Bandshell (Brooklyn, NY)

Review by Augusta Palmer

Though the weather forecast threatened a downpour, the skies miraculously cleared just as the opening act, Alsarah and the Nubatones, took the stage at Prospect Park last Saturday for the second show in the 2012 Celebrate Brooklyn Season. Alsarah is a Sudanese-born singer, songwriter, and ethnomusicologist with a gorgeous, velvet- toned voice. Alsarah and the Nubatones played a selection of Nubian “songs of return” from the 1970s as well as original material and traditional music from central Sudan. The band, which also includes Karine Fleurima on vocals, Haig Manoukian on oud, Rami El Aasser on percussion, and Mawuena Kodjovi on bass, got the crowd moving with their beautiful vocal duets, lyrical oud, and infectious beat.

Continue reading →

Short Film: Leo Rabkin’s “nugatory divagations” transforming ordinary materials into something different.

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

A couple of days ago Augusta Palmer mailed a new video of hers which she wants to share with the DooBeeDoo readers around the world.

Hey Sohrab,

I just made this short piece inspired by the work of a great 92 year-old artist, Leo Rabkin.
Share it far & wide if you like it. I want to get the word out that Leo (who made the great boxes in the film), has a show at Luise Ross Gallery. I don’t know whether you’ll like it, but the music is by a good friend, Greg Karnilaw…

Continue reading →

Congrats…Grammys Restore Best Latin Jazz Album Award!!!!…Occupy Grammys?

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Last year this award was not presented in 2012 due to a an overhaul of Grammy categories. Latin Jazz recordings were shifted to either the Best Jazz Instrumental Album or Best Jazz Vocal Album categories. Because of strong protests and a lawsuit made by Latin jazz musicians led by Bobby Sanabria the Recording Academy announced a couple of days ago to bring this category back for next year’s Grammy Awards.

Once again: DooBeeDoo congratulates Bobby Sanabria for his fight and efforts in the victory for the reinstatement of the Best Latin Jazz Album Grammy Award!

 

Music listings – 6/11 through 6/17

1. VISION FESTIVAL 17

Date: Monday, June 11, 2012 through Sunday, June 17, 2012
Main venue: The Roulette (Brooklyn, NY)

The Vision Festival, which was initiated by dancer and choreographer Patricia Nicholson Parker in 1996, has established itself as one of the world’s top festival of experimental music, free jazz/avant-garde jazz, art, film and dance. It is run under the tutelage of Arts For Art, Inc. (AFA).

Inspired by the 1984 and ’88 Sound Unity Festivals, it was a direct out growth of the  Improvisers Collective 1994 and ’95. Every year this festival is held  in New York City  in June. Members of the board of directors include following people.

Continue reading →

Dickie Betts (ex Allman Brothers Band): A Retrospective.

Text and photo by Dawoud Kringle

The southern part of the United States gave birth to many rock & roll pioneers such as Bo Diddley, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis; all of whom defined rock & roll. When one thinks of Southern Rock, the works of groups such as the Outlaws, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, ZZ Top, Elvin Bishop, 38 Special, Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot, and others inevitably come to mind. But the genre of Southern Rock owes its existence to the Allman Brothers Band. Since their debut in 1969, the group’s work single handedly defined a distinctively American music.

Duane Betts with Dickey Betts

Their original line up consisted of Duane Allman (guitar), Greg Allman (keyboards), Barry Oakley (bass), Butch Trucks (drums), Jai Johanson (drums), and Dickie Betts (guitar). They gained national notoriety with the 1971 release of their live album At the Fillmore. The album and the live performance it documented became legendary. Their effortless blend of rock, blues, and country with jazz inspired extended improvisation forged the group’s sound and legacy.

Continue reading →