Category Archives: Reviews

CD Review: Ou… a joyful, multidimensional romp through the Mediterranean and the Americas that will make you want to think and dance at the same time

Ou CD coverArtist: Ou
Title: Pisces Crisis
Label: Spoot Music
Genre: nu jazz/Balkan/nu folk/progessive rock

Review by Matt Cole

Pisces Crisis is an eclectic and energetic effort from Italian band Ou, produced by Amy Denio, known for her work in Kultur Shock and The Tiptons Sax Quartet. The band consists of three from Sardinia: Martina Fadda on lead vocals; Ersilia Prosperi on trumpet, flugelhorn, and ukulele; Sabrina Coda on alto and soprano sax; and Romans Luca Venitucci on various keyboards; Claudio Mosconi on bass, and Cristiano de Fabritiis on drums and percussion; all of the instrumentalists contribute backing vocals. Producer Denio contributes vocals and alto sax on several tracks as well; her wide vocal range and musical creativity fit right in with the band.

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CD Review: SEHRANG – Ancient Storytelling Reborn In The 21st Century And Creating An Intimate Experience

Sehrang CD Artist: SEHRANG
Title: Dar Lahze
Label: self published
Genre: nu Iranian music/jazz

Review by Dawoud Kringle

Despite the image the news would have us believe, Iran is a treasure trove of beauty and tradition. The flow of great music and art from the Persian people never seems to exhaust itself. The marvellous thing is that the artistic community of Iran is not content to rest on its considerable laurels; there is always new and innovative ideas contributing to the centuries of tradition. SEHRANG (a Farsi word meaning tri-olored), the Vienna based trio of Golnar Shahyar (vocals), Mahan Mirarab (guitar) and Shayan Fathi (drums and percussion) proved this with their CD Dar Lahze. Using elements of traditional and modern Persian music, and original lyrics and classical poetry, SEHRANG creates an intimate experience.

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CD Review: Mem Nahadr…the music weaves a dense tapestry of dreamy, ethereal, and emotionally intense experience

555314_10202062663067015_1966059866_nArtist: Mem Nahadr
Title: Femme Fractale
Label: Madwoman Multimedia
Genre: Neo Soul/R&B
Release date: April 8, 2013

CD Review by Dawoud Kringle

Mem Nahadr, a New York City based internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, performance artist film composer, author, independent filmmaker and multidisciplinary video/sonic visionary, has composed an operatic vision.

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Concert Review: Renato Diz Trio…another jewel in the crown of New York City’s rich music scene

Date: February 27, 2014
Venue: Shapeshifter Lab (NY)

Review by Dawoud Kringle

On a late February night where the intense cold puts one’s endurance to the test and increases the longing for spring, the soon to he legendary Shapeshifter Lab presented Renato Diz‘ Trio. With Diz on piano, Zulfugar Baghirov on soprano sax, and John Doing on drums & percussion, the stage was set for some great music.

A note pantomimes an echo, while fractal harmonies dash in and out of hiding. Percussion makes comments and observations. Then the soprano sax steps up with a melody that coalesced and condensed the primordia into a sensible concept. The pulse on the middle range of the piano continued as improvised musical hieroglyphics manifested around it.

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Concert Review: Pooquette…Their music evokes a world of delicious danger, heavy emotions, and life lived to its extreme.

Photo courtesy of Pooquette

Photo courtesy of Pooquette

Date: February 11, 2014
Venue: Friends And Lovers
Review by Dawoud Kringle

On a freezing February 11th, in a new venue in Brooklyn, a mysterious rubato on an A tonic led the way to a mad Gypsy dance around implied minor chords. After frenetic rhythms and violin pyrotechnics, the song built to a fevered pitch, and abruptly ended.

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