Artist: Arifa
Title: Anatolian Alchemy
Label: Mundus
Genre: oriental jazz
Review by Matt Cole
Anatolian Alchemy is a new CD from multinational band Arifa, which consists of Alex Simu (Romania) on clarinets and laptop, Mehmet Polat (Turkey) on oud, Franz von Chossy (Germany) on piano, and Sjahin During (Turkey/Holland) on Afro Anatolian percussion. It is a gentle group effort which relies mainly on subtlety, space, and communication to make its points.
Artist: Michael Harrison & Maya Beiser
Title: Time Loops
Label: Cantaloupe Music
Genre: modern-ambient-minimal-indian music
CD Review by Dawoud Kringle
One day, out of the blue, a package arrived in the mail. It was a CD: Time Loops by Michael Harrison & Maya Beiser. I imagine being a music writer has such perks. I’m no stranger to the work of Michael Harrison (and have even had the pleasure of studying with him). So, I waited for the right moment to properly listen to and savor this latest musical offering from the maestro.
Artist: Uri Sharlin and the DogCat Ensemble
Title: Back in the Woods
Label: Folk Dune Records
Genre: fusing jazz and classical influences with Balkan rhythms, Arabic modes and Brazilian harmonies
CD Review by Dawoud Kringle
Uri Sharlin (accordion, piano, and wurli) and his group the DogCat Ensemble (Gili Sharett; bassoon, Matt Darriau; bass clarinet, Kyle Sanna; guitar, Jordan Scannella; bass, Rich Stein; percussion, John Hadfield; percussion, and special guests, Ital Kriss; flute and alto flute, Ze Mauricio; Pandeiro, and Michael Lavalle; zabumba) have presented a nicely composed and executed musical offering.
Artist: Van-Anh Vanessa Vo
Title: Three Mountain Pass
Label: Innova Recordings
Genre: Vietnamese folk music
CD Review by Dawoud Kringle
The first track of Three Mountain Pass leaps out at the listener. A solo piece performed on the danTranh (a 16-string Vietnamese zither with movable bridges and the springy, bending tones, resembling the koto), adopted from a traditional opera by Cải lương. Silvery threads of sound leap about in a primordial dance. Notes glide and bend into each other with precision and beauty. One is drawn into this arcane poem of slippery metallic tones and almost indefinable notes, leaving the listener wondering why this strange language speaks so eloquently to one’s spirit. In a time when highly skilled Asian musicians (not to mention attractive female Asian musicians) seem in a surplus, Van-Anh Vanessa Vo stands out as someone with something unique to offer.
Artist: Tomas Doncker Band
Title: Power of the Trinity...A Slight Return” (The Global Soul Mixtape Vol.1)
Format: CD EP
Label: self released
Genre: global soul/funk
Review by Dawoud Kringle
An explosive drum beat, a vocal chorus by famed Ethiopian singer Gigi, a combination punch from the horn section, and a funky backbeat lay the groundwork for Tomas Doncker’s newest effort. The groove stays solid throughout. But now and again, an unmistakable Ethiopian / East African spirit possesses the song, infusing it with a contrast that nonetheless seems not only to work, but was always hiding within the essence of the whole genre.
