Author Archives: Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

LATIN JAZZ Category rrrrrremoved from the GRAMMYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Last week the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS)T, the organization that overlooks the GRAMMY Awards has announced a consolidation of categories resulting in deleting the Latin Jazz Category. NARAS decided to reduce the number of Grammy prizes from 109 to 78. Why? “…that the Grammy remains a rare and distinct honor, and continues to be music’s most prestigious and only peer-recognized award,” said NARAS president Neil Portnow. Watch video below which shows you the New York Chapter meeting of NARAS on April 11, 2011 and how NY Latin Jazz fans and musicians reacted to this decision.

Music listings – 4/18 through 4/24

HARLEM FOR JAPAN BENEFIT CONCERT

Date: Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Time: 6:30
Venue: Aaron Davis Hall (133rd and Convent Avenue, on the campus of The City College of New York)
Ticket: suggested donation is $25.00 Or donate what you can. All donations are appreciated.
Checks should be made payable to any one of these three organizations: The Japan Society, The Consulate General of Japan and The Japan Chamber of Commerce (J.C.C.). Call 212 926 2550 to RSVP
Genre: music and dance

The City College of New York, Community Works, The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, The Harlem Arts Alliance, Voza Rivers/New Heritage Theatre Group and Katsuya Abe invite you to HARLEM FOR JAPAN BENEFIT CONCERT. oin Rhythm and Blues legend and Grammy nominee Chuck Jackson, International Japanese artists: Toya, Yuichiro Oda, and Yuko Darjeeling, National Jazz Museum in Harlem All Star Band, Oscar and Grammy nominated IMPACT Repertory Theatre, Harlem vocalists: Janice Marie Robinson, Claude Jay, Lady Cantrese, and Lee Olive Tucker; Pianists Matthew Whitaker, Choreographer Obediah Wright and the Balance Dance Company, Keith “The Captain” Gamble, Lonnie “The Prince of Harlem” Youngblood, Jazzmobile and Manhattan School of Music Musicians and others…

FAMORO DIOUBATE’s KAKANDE

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Is Rock Dead? 6 Acts That Could Save Rock?

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Miles Davis declared Jazz is dead (it’s) the music of a museum. Frank Zappa said Jazz isn’t dead. It just smells funny. How about rock music?

The Guardian (UK) said in January: “It is a claim made before by, among others, Lenny Kravitz and the Swedish garage band the Hellacopters. But today, after years of struggle, came evidence to support the fearsome claim: rock’n’roll is dead.” Read more.

Anyway I don’t care whether certain music styles are dead. On the contrary, I only care about bands which play emotional and passionate music. I mean, music that really feels alive and speaks to me.

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Tirtha – a phenomenal trio featuring three powerhouse musicians performing NU INDIAN JAZZ!

Date: Saturday, April 2, 2011
Venue: Asia Society

Reviewed by William Harvey

On April 2nd, 2011, Tirtha performed at the Asia Society in Manhattan to promote the release of their new self titled album, Tirtha. The trio consists of Indian musicians including American born pianist- composer Vijay Iyer, guitarist-composer Prasanna from South India, and classically trained tabla player Nitin Mitta, also Indian born. The performance, which was to precede an intense two-week tour of Europe, was enthusiastically received by a full house of concertgoers.

 

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