Yesterday, we learned that drummer, bandleader, and composer Paul Motian had died. Yesterday writer Larry Blumenfeld talked about Paul Motian today on John Schaefer’s “Soundcheck” on WNYC-FM. Available streaming of the radio show:
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/
Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi
Caricature by Felix Wagner of the old, old Samba Jazz Group back in Berlin in the late 80s, with Felix Wagner, piano; Guilherme Castro, bass: and Zito Ferreira, drums.
Today I would like to introduce you to Hendrik Meurkens who is from my hometown Hamburg, Germany but now based in New York. I met him in spring at MICHIKO STUDIOS’ when I was the studio manager there. Because we had a cat in the studio and Meurkens was allergic to cats, I always gave him the “cat free” studio upstairs.
Meurkens was first a two-mallet player in the tradition of Milt Jackson and Bobby Hutcherson, but when he heard Toots Thielemans’ harmonica, he changed to this instrument which he taught himself. He’s also a composer whose compositions have been recorded by other artists and featured in the Hollywood movie “Dolores Claiborne”.
Text by Dawoud Kringle
On November 27th, 2011, Jimi Hendrix would have celebrated his 69th birthday. In honor of this, I offer some thoughts, observations, and meditations on the late master.
I will not waste your time with redundancies, nor repeat what has already been written about him (and if biographical information is needed, one has only to google his name, and the pages at your disposal will be saturated with all the information one could want. Instead, I want to explore the more arcane aspects of his historical significance.
Text and interview by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi
The Brooklyn Independent Music Fest took place at Littlefield’s in Brooklyn from September 16th to 18th. For three days over 60 bands took to the two stages to perform music which ranged from Alternative Rock to Pop, Blues, Soul and Rap. I checked out the festival on the 16th. Listening to about 10 bands Sarah Rayani And The Band, a Jazz/Soul band, was the one which impressed me most. When I talked to Sarah after her performance I found out that almost all her songs were written by her. She told me how much she was into Jazz and Motown backing vocals. She also occasionally uses Indian tonality with heavy Hip-Hop samples and synthesized pop elements. But what makes her different from all the other singers of this festival is her laid back, sexy and cool voice.
Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi
Yesterday, when I changed trains at 14th Street on my way back home from my rehearsal in Williamsburg, I saw a guy in a cowboy outfit playing classical music on a keyboard which was kind of funny. Instantly I took out my iPhone from my pocket and thought this could be something for the “Musicians In New York” page. Before shooting him I gave him some money. He said “Thank you” with a big smile and started playing. I don’t know what he was playing, maybe Bach? After a couple of minutes I tried to start a conversation with him and asked for a short interview which he for personal reasons rejected. But I felt that he didn’t like to do an interview. So I just stopped shooting him and rushed to my C train.
Enjoy the video below!
