Category Archives: Reviews

CD Review: Church of Betty…overall idealistic “neo-hippie-love-is-the-answer” vibe

Church Of BettyArtist: Church of Betty
Title: Swirled World
Label: Shop Fang Records
Genre: psychedelic rock / progressive world chamber rock

Review by Dawoud Kringle

Brooklyn’s Church of Betty, the brainchild of sitarist / guitarist Chris Rael, was, from its beginning, an interesting anomaly. Being a sitar player myself, I was intrigued by his concept. COB first hit the scene in 1998. An impressive list of musicians who performed and recorded with COB includes tabla master and Rael’s longtime collaborator, Deep Singh. Their live performances brought theatrics and dance to their live sound. Rael’s sitar style, far from orthodox classical raga, nonetheless used raga as a framework he built on a pop / rock / folk / psychedelic foundation.

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CD Review: the Liberation Music Collective…propel the momentum of jazz toward a sense of spiritual awareness and social responsibility that the world needs

The Liberation Music CollectiveArtist: The Liberation Music Collective
Title: Siglo XXI
Label: Ad Astrum Records
Genre: jazz

CD Review by Dawoud Kringle

The idea of jazz as a catalyst for social change is not new. Throughout its history, jazz musicians have sought to use the art form to articulate societal ills, and present solutions (which almost always focus on spiritual realms, although a few use it as a platform for a political agenda, such as socialism). The most fascinating aspect of this is that, unlike other music genres, folk, rap, etc., many such “jazz activists” have sought to do this through instrumental music. This is unique to jazz. However, those who do this have become rare in recent years.

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CD Review: Swiss trio Kaos Protokoll play chaotic jazz? No…a fun but serious band to listen!

Kaos PrtokollArtist: Kaos Protokoll
Title: Questclamationmarks
Label: Prolong Rec
Genre: nu jazz

CD Review by Dawoud Kringle

Kaos Protokoll is a Switzerland based electronica Jazz ensemble whose work has raised a few eyebrows in the past. Comprised of Benedikt Wieland (e-bass, effects), Flo Reichle (drums/electronics), Marc Stucki (saxophone, melodica, and effects) Kaos Protokoll’s new CD, Questclamationmarks is a departure from their first release Quick & Dirty. Whereas Quick & Dirty was straight forward in its punk ethic, Questclamationmarks takes the listener into their more refined and multifaceted potential.

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Concert Review: TOPOS KOLEKTIV – An evening of improvised music

Date: November 20, 2015
Venue: The Firehouse Space (NY)

Review by Constance Cooper

TOPOS KOLEKTIV

Topos KolektivMarek Matvija – shakuhachi
Hana Hrachovinová – harp
Tomáš Kerle – percussions
Tereza Kerle – performance
Anna Friedländer – voice
Martin Klusák – keyboard instruments
Guest musician: Steven Louis Cohn, piano and shakuhachi

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Concert Review: Kamran Hooshmand and SoSaLa – An Evening of Ancient & Contemporary Music From The Middle East & Beyond

Date: October 18, 2015
Venue: CA Music Room (NY)

Review by Dawoud Kringle

The double bill at the CA Music Room of Kamran Hooshmand and SoSaLa promised to be a fascinating musical experience. This was the first time I attended an event at the CA Music Room. The venue (actually the home of photographer Clara Aich) was decorated in marvelous taste, and had fascinating art work throughout. The atmosphere was perfectly suited for enjoying music in an intimate setting.

SoSaLa @ CA MUSIC ROOM

Photo by Yasi Omrani

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