Category Archives: Reviews

CD Recommendation: Fly the Afrofunky Skies – Afrobeat Airways 2 Takes Off From Ghana’s Old-School Islamic Funk Belt

AnalogAfrica_coverArtist: V.A.
Title: Afrobeat Airways 2
Label: Analog Africa
Release Date: September 17, 2013
Genre: Afro Beat

From the coastal cities of Accra and Cape Coast, basked in a tropical sound heavily influenced by highlife, to the semi-Saharan cities of Tamalé and Bolgatanga (part of a self-proclaimed ‘Islamic Funk Belt’) via the central city of Kumasi, Analog Africa has criss-crossed Ghana in search of rare tracks, part of its ongoing, hard-grooving mission to bring the soul, funk, and vintage local pop out of obscurity and into its deserved international place.

Building on the success of the first installment in 2009, Afrobeat Airways 2  is a selection of 13 ultra-rare tracks by some of the musical giants who had created a movement that rocked the West African nation throughout the ‘70s: legendary singer K. FrimpongNana Ampedu (leader of the mighty African Brothers Band); Gyedu-Blay Ambolley and his superb guest appearance with The Complex Sounds; afrobeat star Ebo Taylor, backing his son in an unreleased track called ‘Children Don’t Cry’; the enigmatic Rob and his unique blend of twisted afrofunk; innovative drummer De Frank; and Uppers International, with their raw Islamic funk style. More obscure artists such as Los Issufu and his Moslems, Waza Afrika 76 and Tony Sarfo and his Funky Afrosibi make northern hemisphere debuts, adding to a rich list of Ghanaian artists whose music could be transferred seamlessly to any dancefloor in the world.

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Blues Musical Review: Diablo Love – Old Wine In A New Skin

2013-08-07-DIABLOLOVEFINAL-thumbDate: August 9, 2012
Venue: Central Park/SummerStage Theatre
Review by Dawoud Kringle

Diablo Love is a blues musical. That said, there are things one expects to see and hear; musical and cultural icons that one automatically associates with blues. The production didn’t disappoint in this.

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Theatre Review: Haberdasher Theatre is remounting “The Wonderful Remix of OZ.” A modern version of the classic tale.

the-wonderful-remix-of-oz-postcard-u127Date: August 17, 2013
Venue: 13th St. Repertory Theatre

Review and photos by Dawoud Kringle

In the small, out of the way, and comfortable 13th Street Repertory Theatre, an audience of Saturday evening revellers and aficionados gathered for The Wonderful Remix of Oz (directed and adapted for stage by Haberdasher Theatre‘s Hollie Klem and Jeanette Jaquish). The very name promised an unorthodox comedic romp into an urban retelling of the classic; and a lot of fun. This was a promise they kept.

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Concert Review: The Mast – moving into a different realm than it was on their previous release “Wild Poppies.”

Venue: Glassland Gallery (NY)
Date: August 18, 2013

Review by Dawoud Kringle

My previous exposure to The Mast, the duo of Haleh Gafori Kilmer and Matt Kilmer a year or so past, was impressive. Their live performance and CD release was marvelous (you’ll find my review here: https://doobeedoobeedoo.info/2012/03/13/cd-review-the-mast-wild-poppies-how-did-profit-trump-well-being/). So, on a recent Sunday night, I trekked into an obscure area of Williamsburg to hear what they’re doing these days.

The act before The Mast was Nitemoves, a laptop player / DJ. He had a musical sensibility, and was an interesting performer. While some of his melodies seemed little different from the melodically unsophisticated synth bands of the 80s, he did create some interesting things and made creative use of his computer’s possibilities. His music was always changing and never became monotonous.

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