Category Archives: CD Reviews

Mehmet Polat

CD Review: “The Promise” by Mehmet Polat

Review by Dawoud Kringle

Mehmet PolatArtist: Mehmet Polat
Title: The Promise
Label: Aftab Records
Genre: Turkish/Oriental music

In the past, I reviewed Turkish oud master Mehmet Polat’s, who lives in Amsterdam (Holland), releases  Ask Your Heart, Next Spring and Quantum Leap. I had come to expect Polat to come up with something different and amazing each time he released new music. This is no easy feat for the oud; an instrument that expresses itself in a very specific way. I was curious to hear what new music Polat would come up with.

He does not disappoint.

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Arturo O'Farrill and Dr. Cornel West

CD Review “Four Questions” by Arturo O’Farrill feat. Dr. Cornel West

Arturo O'Farrill Artist: Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
Title: Four Questions
Label: ZOHO Records
Genre: Latin jazz/Spoken word
CD Review by Dawoud Kringle

One of the most important hallmarks of jazz is its focus on social consciousness. Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit,” Sonny Rollins’ “Freedom Suite,” Charles Mingus’ “Fables of Faubus,” Max Roach’s “We Insist! Freedom Now Suite,” John Coltrane’s “Alabama,” and many others all used jazz to address social injustice, and a call to action.

After releasing Four Questions, Arturo O’Farrill now stands side by side with these giants.

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CD Review: Vapor Vespers “One Act Sonix”

Vapor VespersArtist: Vapor Vespers
Titele: One Act Sonix
Label:  Bad Egg Records
Genre:  “Triptastic Slam of Storytelling and Genre-Skipping Sounds” – Sal Cataldi

CD Review by Dawoud Kringle

What happens when Sal Cataldi (a New York City / Woodstock / Hudson Valley based multi-instrumentalist who’s known as Spaghetti Eastern Music; and member of MFM) joins forces with Mark Muro (Alaskan actor, poet & playwright)? The result is Vapor Vespers.

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