Category Archives: Music Listings

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.

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Music listings – 6/4 through 6/10

1. Jimmy Cliff

Date: Tuesday, June 5, 2010
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Prospect Park Bandshell (9th St. and Prospect Park West entrance)
Ticket: free, but $3 donation
Genre: reggae/pops

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Jamaican independence, the 40th of the iconic film The Harder They Come, and 34 years of free shows at Celebrate Brooklyn!, reggae legend JIMMY CLIFF kicks off our season with a concert for the ages. Cliff’s musical legacy includes such classics as You Can Get It if You Really Want and Many Rivers to Cross, and his voice, true as ever, remains one of the wonders of popular music.

2. Martin Bisi with Emanuel And The Fear & Spaces 

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Recommended concert: Taikoza Live…the Japanese matsuri experience!!!

Date: May 4th & 5th, 2012
Time: 8pm
Venue: The Manhattan Movement and Arts Center (248 West 60th Street, New york, NY 10023)
Tickets: $36
Genre: Japanaese folk music/taiko drums music

Taikoza uses the powerful rhythms of the taiko drums to create an electrifying energy that carries audiences in a new dimension of excitement. The taiko is a large, barrel-like drum that can fill the air with the sounds of rolling thunder. Roughly translated, taiko means big drums – and that’s exactly what Taikoza brings. Big drums, powerful rhythms, and electrifying, room-thumping energy. This exciting group draws from Japan’s rich tradition of music and performance to create a highly visual performance.  Drawing from Japan’s rich tradition of music and performance, Taikoza has created a new sound using a variety of traditional instruments. In addition to drums of assorted sizes, Taikoza incorporates the shakuhachi, the fue (both bamboo flutes) and the Koto (a 13 string instrument).

Taikoza’s new CD has been nominated as best Asian Ethnic Album for the Just Plain Folks Music Award. Taikoza has appeared on different TV programs such as Macy’s Thanksgiving parade, the History Channel in “History vs. Hollywood” and ESPN S.U.M.O: The battle of the Giants. Taikoza is featured in the Movie: The Commute.

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Music listings – 4/16 through 4/22

1. The New York Arabic Orchestra – Spring Concert And Fund Raiser

Date: Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Time: 8:00pm
Venue: Florence Gould Hall (of the French Institute Alliance Française, 55 E 59th St, NY, NY 10022)
Tickets: Ticketmaster.com
Genre: Arabic Classical music

The New York Arabic Orchestra is the home of contemporary and classical Arabic music in America. The orchestra, based in the New York metropolitan area, is an Arabic music institution of performance and education co-founded in 2007 by Bassam Saba, a world renowned multi-instrumentalist virtuoso, conductor and teacher of Arabic music; and April Centrone, the orchestra’s lead percussionist. The orchestra brings together a culturally diverse group of musicians around a common passion: Arabic Music.

The 35-piece New York Arabic Orchestra presents contemporary instrumental compositions by Bassam Saba, along with selections of Arabic vocal and instrumental music of Lebanon, Syria and Egypt. The NYAO is comprised of the oud (Arabic lute), nay (Arabic reed flute), qanun (Arabic zither), Arabic percussion, strings, woodwinds, lead vocalists and chorus. Known throughout the U.S. and abroad as one of Arabic music’s finest conductors, Bassam Saba has led the NYAO to prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and has developed an authentic sound that is regarded around the world.

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Concert recommendation: Simon Shaheen – The Call: Songs of Arab Pride, Dignity and Liberation at Live@365!!

Date: Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Time: 7pm
Venue: The Graduate Center The Graduate Center Elebash Hall  (365 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10016, Ph: 212.817.8215)
Ticket: $25
Genre: Arabic music

Marking the First Anniversary of the Arab Spring, the impeccably creative Palsetinian-American oud and violin virtuoso and composer Simon Shaheen will perform an evening of songs and freedom anthems of the 1950s that have found new resonance in the recent Middle Eastern and North African revolutions. He will also perform the New York premiere of his composition “The Call” with a guest dancer. Simon will be joined by Nidal Ibourk, vocals; Najib Shaheen: oud; Bassam Saba: ney; Peter Slavov: bass; Ali Amr: qanun and vocal; Tareq Rantisi, Percussion and guest dancer Elena Lantini.