Category Archives: CD Reviews

CD review: House of Waters…an astonishing display of virtuosity and musical beauty.

Artist: House of Waters
Title: Revolution
Label: self released
Genre: world/ambient/jazz

Review by Dawoud Kringel

New York City is one of those places where innovative musicians are the norm, rather than the exception. They lurk in the shadows, or stand on the world stage and bring their gems to listeners. One winter night, I went to Pianos in New York City’s Lower East Side. A friend was playing there, and hosting a jam session. I brought my instrument to sit in. Upon arriving, one of the opening groups was in the midst of their set. The room was filled with an astonishing display of virtuosity and musical beauty. I was impressed!

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CD recommendation: Traditional Inventiveness – Andra Kouyaté and Sèkè Chi Reveal the Innovative Spirit and Polyglot Funk in Mali’s Deepest Roots

Artist: Andra Kouyaté
Title: Saro
Label: Studio Mali
Genre: Malian traditional and pop music
Release date: July 31, 2012

Recommended by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

In some musically vibrant corners of the world, innovation is the tradition.

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CD recommendation: Kmang Kmang “Drifting” – Chicago’s post-rock collective debut!

Artist: Kmang Kmang
Title: Drifting
Label: self release
Genre:  classical guitar music with a good dose of jazz and instrumental fusion

“The most important thing is that it’s viscerally powerful,” states Barmey Ung, the classically trained guitarist and composer behind Chicago’s avant acoustic rock collective, Kmang Kmang.“I don’t like to intellectualize things too much, and don’t like to attach meanings where there doesn’t have to be meanings. I just want the music to be aesthetically powerful.”

Let the man himself speak about his CD release!

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CD Review: Amir ElSaffar and The Two Rivers Ensemble “bring maqami air to Jazz.”

Artist: Amir ElSaffer and the Two Rivers Ensemble
Title: Inana
Label: PI Recordings
Genre: Oriental Jazz/Jazz

Review by Matt Cole

Inana is a new release from Iraqi-American musician Amir ElSaffar and the Two Rivers Ensemble. ElSaffar is one of a number of musicians, notably including Vijay Iyer and Rudresh Mahanthappa, who are finding new and creative ways to combine modern jazz with the music of their respective cultural backgrounds. In ElSaffar’s case, the background is Iraqi Maqam, a rich tradition which is considered the most perfect form of maqam. Maqam is highly modal, and mainly melody-oriented; rhythm is fluid and harmony, like in Indian music, is secondary at best.

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