Author Archives: Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

An introduction to the Godfather of Afrobeat drumming – Tony Allen.

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Fela Kuti once stated that, “without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat.” Which is very true! After watching the two videos below you will find out why.

Nigeria’s most famous and respected drummer, composer and songwriter  Tony Oladipo Allen (born1940 in Lagos, Nigeria), who was one of the co-founders of the music genre called  Afrobeat (music), was the musical director of Fela’s band Africa ’70. He recorded over 30 albums with Fela and Africa ’70!!!

About this video: rare early footage (shot by Ginger Baker) featuring Fela & Afrika 70 performing in the rainy southeastern town of Calabar, shortly after the the Nigerian civil war!!

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The Yoshida Brothers challenging the boundaries of Tsugaru Shamisen music!

Date: August 3, 2010
Venue: Highline Ballroom, NY

By Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi and Jim Hoey

The Japanese shamisen in the west has a number of images associated with it: the delicately robed geisha entering a quiet chamber, seating herself before the patron, and setting the instrument gently on her body, plucking strings with the bachi (plectrum, or pick) and singing before moving on to other diversions; there’s also the image of the blind shamisen player in black and white films playing for money on a doorstep or in a Yakitori-ya (a tiny Japanese restaurant specializing in yakitori, or skewered grilled chicken meat) with yakuza nearby harassing them or while the manic, soft, or melodic strains of the instrument ring out as background music and the patrons grow wild with drink, passion and despondency before succumbing to oblivion.

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Music listings – 10/4 through 10/10

1. Deolinda

Date: Monday, October 4, 2010
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Joe’s Pub (425 Lafayette St, NY)
Ticket: $22
Genre: Portoguese modern folklore

Deolinda – platinum selling Portuguese act who is rewriting the rules of Fado by injecting samba rhythms, bright colors and infectious melodies.  Their first North American tour brings them to Joe’s Pub this Monday.

Read more about Fado in DBDBD. Continue reading →

A ROULETTE benefit: EASY NOT EASY FESTIVAL

A three night festival to help raise money for Roulette’s new home.

Dates: October 7, 8 and 9, 2010
Venue: The Roulette (20 Greene St., NY)
Tickets: $15 – $50

EASY NOT EASY is a three night festival curated by Shinkoyo founders Matt Mehlan & Doron Sadja to help raise money for Roulette as they prepare to move into their new Art Deco concert hall in Downtown Brooklyn.

Using the idea of “Simple Scores” as a starting point, they’ve asked a wide array of some of NYC’s most exciting young artists to compose and perform a series of “simple” new scores as well as some scores by more established artists – including John Zorn, Pauline Oliveros, Robert Ashley (world premiere), Dan Deacon, Brenda Hutchinson, members of Z’s and Extra Life and many many more!

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