Category Archives: Concert And Event Reviews

Concert Review: Death ain’t dead!!! But who’s following them in their footsteps?

Date: July 1, 2013
Venue: Le Poisson Rouge (NY)

Review by Dawoud Kringle

Hailing from Detroit, Death is one of those bands whose innovation and fearless trailblazing was lost or ignored by history. They were founded by the Hackney brothers (Bobby, bass and vocals, Dennis, drums, and David, guitar; who died of lung cancer in 2000, and was succeeded by Bobbie Duncan) in 1974, and after decades in the shadows, they return with new music, new life in their classics, and are the subject of a new documentary.

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A Personal Concert Review: SoSaLa…Sohrab…love to pursue his challenging sounds…

IMG_3465Date: June 28, 2013IMG_7969
Venue: Clemente Soto Velez Center (NY)
Text and photos by Mehran Farahbakhsh

Most musicians bring their sounds into music, that is what music making is about. Sounds to refine to the musicians imaginations, in case of this young man:). SoSaLa‘s Sohrab. Somewhat there is a different jazz in play, Sohrab takes the music and brings it to his sounds, by that I mean, he uses the established sounds of music and evolves it to outside boundaries of recognition, it is his rebellious nature, against the ideas of entertainment, or danceable, or may be your ordinary expectation of sounds, musical tunes are used nostalgically as he is taking you somewhere, an unknown edge of imagination, the high energy state of chaos.

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Vision Festival 18 Report P.4:…all of the bands managed to balance individual pyrotechnics and skill with the collaborative spontaneous creation of interesting and engaging music.

image003Date: June 15, 2013
Venue: the Roulette (NY)

Review by Matt Cole  – All photos courtesy of the Vision Festival

The Vision Festival is perhaps the most prominent and important ongoing festival of avant-garde and free music. This year, it took place over five days at the 2-year old Brooklyn home of the long-standing art and performance space, Roulette. With panels, and performances by many prominent masters of free music, it is a must-attend for aficionados of radical spontaneous composition.

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Vision Festival 18 Report P.3: Milford Graves Lifetime Achievement Award and performances

Date: June 12, 2013
Venue: the Roulette (NY)

Review and photos by Ancelmo James

267px-Milford_GravesThis past Wednesday evening I entered the Roulette, a very nice, perfectly sized theater on Atlantic Ave just about where it intersects Flatbush Ave with no idea of what to expect from the night of music ahead of me. Prior to going, I had never heard of Milford Graves, although I suppose it is very possible that his music has slipped through my ears without knowing at some point in my lifetime. That said, being a drummer myself, I was excited to experience whatever lay ahead.

Before I give any opinions or reviews of the music let it be said, that, in my understanding, the evening was a celebration of Dr. Graves’ lifetime achievements – not only his music, but his contributions to humanity through his music, as well as, through his teaching and research. As I gather, said contributions and achievements have been ample in Milford Graves life. From there it would be prudent to point out that a recurring theme throughout the night – and Dr. Graves life – was that of his openness of mind, of heart and of ear. This openness is a state of mind and a state of being – and for this I can say with much respect and admiration that Dr. Graves has earned the praise and acknowledgement that he has received.

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Vision Festival 18 Report P.2: The Evening of the Final Day

image003Date: June 16, 2013
Venue: the Roulette (NY)

Review and photos by Dawoud Kringle

As I arrived, Hamiet Bluiett’s Bio-Electric Ensemble was taking the stage. Joining Bluiett was DD. Jackson piano, Hamid Drake, drums, Harrison Bankhead, bass, and special guest Matthew Whittaker, on keyboards. A free, major key gospel-like invocation filled the air. Bluiett came on and played an enormous baritone sax. Low notes and melodies riding their

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