Artist: Elikeh
Title: Kondona
Label: Ropeadope Records
Genre: Afropop
New Life in an Old Ceremony: Elikeh Experiences Its Kondona
Music can change everything. As the poet wrote, it has charms to soothe the savage breast. And it can also bring a band back from the dead, giving it a new spark of energy and creativity. For Washington, DC-based Afropop band Elikeh, the results of that musical resurrection are proudly displayed on the EP Kondona (released November 20, 2015).
Artist: Shujaat Husain Khan & Katayoun Goudarzi
Title: Ruby
Label: Shujaat Husain Khan
Genre: Indian Classical/Persian poetry
As natural as breathing or walking. That’s the musical marriage between Iranian-born vocalist Katayoun Goudarzi and Grammy-nominated sitar player Shujaat Husain Khan. And it’s also a perfect description of the affinity they both have for the work of the great Persian poet, Rumi. Just how natural is evident on Ruby (released November 6, 2015), the pair’s fifth exploration of the deep beauty of Rumi’s words.
Date: Feb 16 2015
Venue: Threes Brewing (NY)
Review by Constance Cooper
The musicians are: Eyal Maoz – guitar, electronics, Michael Lytle – bass clarinet, electronic music tapes , Nick Didkovsky – guitar, electronics and Lucas Collins – drums
(Photo by Ian Douglas)
Date: September 29, 2015
Venue: New York Live Arts (NY)
Review by Constance Cooper
Date: September 10th, 11th, & 12th 2015
Venue: WoW Café Theater (NY)
Concert review by Dawoud Kringle
On the weekend of September 10th, 11th, & 12th 2015 (an auspicious occasion) NYC’s WoW Café Theater hosted master singer / songwriter Kosi’s (nee’ Akosua Gyebi) musical and theatrical tribute to Abbey Lincoln. She was joined by Brendon Biagi (tenor saxophone), Aron Marchak (guitar), Christopher Hall (bass) and Isaiah Pierce (drums).
