Category Archives: Reviews

Concert Review: TriBeCaStan – radically multicultural and poly-stylistic to the marrow…

Date: Friday, Augusr 2, 2013
Venue: the Rubin Museum (NY)

tribecastan-rooftop-press-photo-4000x3000-300dpi-rgb-1024x768Review by Dawoud Kringle

TriBeCaStan is John Kruth (mandolin, mandocello, banjo, sitar, flutes, harmonica, vocals); Jeff Green (yayli, tamboor, tarhu, morsing, dutar, flutes, rubab, aqua drum, halo); Matt Darriau (kaval, clarinet, alto sax, gaida); Kenny Margolis (accordion, harmonium); Ray Peterson (double bass); Boris Kinberg (percussion, timbales, gong); Rohin Khemani (tabla, percussion); John Turner (trumpet) and Chris Morrow (trombone). Continue reading →

Concert Review: Mohsen Namjoo (Iran)…This is the heart and soul of post-revolutionary Iran, which is trying to hold its Persian roots while at the same time surviving in a country not their own.

Venue:  Drom (NY)
Date: August 2, 2013

Review by Dawoud Kringel

On a beautiful summer night, Drom was packed, mostly with Iranians, who were there to hear their man: Mohsen Namjoo. After a brief announcement, Namjoo came to the stage, accompanied by Yahya Alkhansa (member of 127) on percussion. At this point, I must admit I’d never heard Namjoo before this night. Nothing could have prepared me for the performance I was to hear.

A purposefully struck chord cut through the air like the azan or adhan (Islamic call to prayer). A mournful rhythm with two chords was joined by the percussion. Suddenly, a frightening voice broke through. Like Tom Waits crawling through a desert, emerging from a torturous meditation, hallucinating djinns masquerading as Screaming Jay Hawkins reincarnated as a mad Sufi. Weird falsettos and rumbling basso popping out and ambushing the ears. All thus manifesting within a sparse rhythm in an improbable Persian time signature.

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Concert Review: Arcane Insignia…a unique trek through fantasy realms that are, at the same time, in sync with the world we live in.

Date: July 24th
Venue: Sullivan Hall (NY)
Review by Dawoud Kringle

After an oppressive heat wave in NYC broke, and enjoying the cool summer night breeze, I ventured downtown to Sullivan Hall to hear Arcane Insignia.

Arcane Insignia is in a category of their own. Describing themselves as acoustic prog rock band, they use complex lyrical themes, instrumental passages, and concept songs in a stripped down acoustic format. The band members are James Alexander on 7 string classical guitar, Jimmy Lopez on percussion, Antoinette Ady on 5 string violin, and Jennifer Catherine Shaw on cello.

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Concert Review: Holly Ann Cordero & Trunculently Audacious… This started as a swing, and went in some unexpected directions. But it still swung, no matter what.

Date: July 11, 2013
Venue: the Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe

Review, photos and video by Dawoud Kringle

downloadBilled as “The Sound of Jazz to Come,” it was with great interest that I ventured to NYC’s Lower East Side to attend the CD release party on this leg of the “Sight of Sound Tour” for Truculently Audacious; the band/project led by bassist/composer/performer Holly Ann Cordero.

Cordero started playing piano when she was five, bass at age 14, and guitar at 15. Her interest in all aspects of music has propelled her on a most interesting and fruitful musical journey. She claims to have been most inspired by John Cage and his idea that Life itself is music; and tries to capture that idea in her compositions.

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CD Review: Holly Ann Cordero…”There is more to music than we hear everyday.”

28095_Screen shot 2013-07-01 at 12.42.25 AM_1372653909Artist: Holly Ann Cordero
Title: Truculently Audacious
Label: See The Sound Studios
Genre: jazz/classical

Review by Dawoud Kringle

“Born,” the first track on the CD opens with a synth pad over which Cordero’s vocals invoke a brooding minor melody; effectively ripping to pieces the preconception of this being your typical jazz recording.

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