Category Archives: NY Musicians

Video feature: Anders Nilsson’s “Breakfast Boogie/Nightmare Ballad”

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

I have played a couple of times with Swedish guitarist and a film, dance and theatre composer Anders Nilsson who moved from his native Sweden to New York in 2000. I like his guitar playing a lot. He is a unique and very versatile guitarist. In his playing I can hear that he cares about space, sound colors and dynamics. He’s also a very good listener and can respond to other musician’s playing instantly. His characteristic guitar playing can often be heard with singer Fay Victor. He has performed or recorded with artists such as William Parker, Sabir Mateen, Paquito D’Rivera, Eugene Chadbourne, Calvin Weston, Hamid Drake, George Schuller, John Sinclair, Angelblood and has composed music for film, dance and theatre.

His  solo album “Night Guitar” is coming out on the SoundatOne label by the end of this year. His friend Arrien Zinghini made a video to the track from the album “Breakfast Boogie/Nightmare Ballad” (watch above video). It was shot entirely on a Long Island beach after sunset on a series of cold April nights.

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Exhibition & live performance by The Tehran-Dakar Brothers: Arboretum

November 2 – November 26, 2011

Reception: Thursday, November 3 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm with live performance by The Tehran-Dakar Brothers (Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi on sax and Sinan Gundogdu on oud from 7pm -7:30pm)

BROOKLYN, NY November 2011– A.I.R. Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of Barbara Siegel’s exhibition entitled Arboretum, featuring wall installations and sculpture made between 2009 and 2011. The exhibition will be on view from November 2 to November 26, 2011, with a reception on Thursday, November 3 from 6pm to 9pm.

Dr. Waxman's Arboretum mixed media wall installation 2011 72

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Have you heard of NJ’s dälek – complex underground hip-hop from NJ?!

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Recently during a rehearsal my music buddy Ravish Momin mentioned dälek when we talked about electronics and Hip Hop in general. So I checked this hip-hop crew out!

dälek (pronounced ‘Die-a-leck’) is an American experimental hip hop duo from Newark, New Jersey. The group is composed of MC dälek (vocals & co-producer) and the Oktopus (production). They have often toured with artists from radically different genres, such as Godflesh, Isis, Prince Paul, The Melvins, Tool, De La Soul, RJD2, and Lovage.

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Didge Project didgeridooing for quite a while in NY

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Courtesy of Didge Project

Didge Project, a didgeridoo awareness organization, was founded by AJ BLOCK and Tyler Sussman who left California in the summer of 2008 to challenge themselves and see the world outside of their hometown. Both were originally jazz musicians but when they encountered the didgeridoo somewhere on their trip, AJ and Tyler were transformed by the sounds of this ancient Australian instrument. They found out that the didgeridoo with its emphasis on breath and circular breathing was not just an instrument to play with but also a way of life, a path to self-knowing and self-healing. Short after arriving in NY they founded Didge Project as the head organization of many didgeridoo related projects. It has since evolved into a larger community and movement. Towards the end of 2010, the duo was introduced to drummer Chaim Tolwin. They produced two albums and performed and taught at numerous venues and festivals. Through their music, workshops and collaborations with a number of wellness practitioners and yoga teachers, they intend to build a community that connects people all around the world through the universal language of sound. AJ and Tyler currently live in Brooklyn, NY.

In the video below Didge Project perform Joga which was written by Tyler after performing in Costa Rica with Brazilian musicians in 2010. “The swift samba beats anchored by the rock steady didge pushes the flute to fly high in this playful tune.” Featuring AJ Block on didgeridoo, Tyler Sussman on flute and Chaim Tolwin on drums.”

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Michel Camilo speaks about his new band and CD

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

One of my favorite pianists of today is Michel Camilo. The first time when I got to know him was through the music documentary film Calle 54 (2004) directed by Fernando Trueba which documents the Latin music scene in NY. This year when I worked at MICHIKO STUDIOS I was so lucky to meet him in person. Before his rehearsals I had a chance to talk with him about his music and music in general. He even allowed me to watch his rehearsals with his various bands!!! What a treat! I love his technique, I love his sound, I love how he expresses himself and I love his passion to music!

Enjoy Michel’s new EPK in which he introduces to his new CD Mano a Mano. And check him out this Tuesday through Sunday at the Blue Note (NY) (more information in the music listings) where he’s celebrating the release of his new CD!