Category Archives: Musicians

Interview: Augmented Reality – an instrumental collaboration that fuses east, west, north and south.

Text and interview by William Harvey

Colour photos by Megan Shumate

Photo by Ana Koleva

On Tuesday, May 24th I had the opportunity to see a performance of an exciting new trio, Augmented Reality, as they performed at the Cornelia Street Cafe in Greenwich Village to promote the release of their new self titled album. Pianist Roy Assaf, drummer Ronen Itzik, (both from Israel), and Peruvian bassist Jorge Roeder are all monster players and rising stars in the New York jazz scene. The house was packed for both sets and the chemistry between the musicians was undeniable as they performed a diverse repertoire of mainly Assaf and Itzik’s own originals. After the concert I had the opportunity to ask Ronen a few questions about the project.

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Hamzat Modine’s new CD and videos!

One of New York’s original bands, HAZMAT MODINE delivers a rustic, deliriously Dionysian blend of whorehouse Blues, Reggae, Klezmer, Country and Gypsy-tinged music. In the video below  Hazmat Modine are performing live “The Tide” at the BBC.

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HAZMAT MODINE’S new CD CICADA is out (13 Tracks, 24 page booklet with special guests on the CD)
Two years in the making, this epic CD is the result of five years or worldwide touring and countless collaborations which makes Hazmat the most global of all American bands. With special guests The Kronos Quartet, Natalie Merchant and Benin’s extraordinary Gangbe Brass Band. Out May 17.

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FULA FLUTE’s new videos!

(About the video: a new video of FULA FLUTE featuring Bailo Bah and Sylvain Leroux. Performing the song “Ndougouse Baobara” in an environment of works by French sculptor Alain Kirili.)

Sylvain Leroux (alto sax & fula flute) was born in Montréal. He studied classical music at Vincent d’Indy School of Music and

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Billy Bang, a violinist known for intense performances and a wide-ranging sensibility, died Monday night!

Text from: 
http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2011/04/13/135351553/billy-bang-jazz-violinist-and-vietnam-veteran-dies-at-63?ps=cprs

Billy Bang, a violinist known for intense performances and a wide-ranging sensibility, died Monday night, his agent Jean-Pierre Leduc confirmed. Bang, who had been suffering from lung cancer, was 63.

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Born William Walker in 1947, Bang was an important figure on the experimental jazz scene that blossomed in New York in the 1970s. But he gained wider recognition in the last decade for a series of recordings which drew on his military service during the Vietnam War.

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