Event Recommendation: Hamid Dabashi – The World of Persian Literary Humanism

A discussion on the origin and influence of Persian humanism on Islamic civilization

Date: Thursday, November 29, 2012
Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm (Followed by a book sale and signing.)
Venue: Asia Society (725 Park Avenue at 70th Street, NY)

What does it mean to be human? Humanism has mostly considered this question from a Western perspective. Columbia University professor and author Hamid Dabashi asks the questions anew, from a non-European point of view. His groundbreaking study The World of Persian Literary Humanism presents this rich tradition as the creative and subversive subconscious of Islamic civilization. In conversation with Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet, Robert I. Williams Term Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania.

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Music listings – 11/26 through 12/2

1. Federico Ughi Quartet

Date: Monday, November 26, 2012
Time: 9:30pm
Venue: Zebulon (258 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211)
Ticket: free
Genre: jazz/improve

“Federico Ughi is characteristically splendid, his drums serving as much more than a rhythmic undercurrent…” Steven Loewy, Cadence Magazine

Federico Ughi is a drummer and composer based in New York. His music infuses the New York avant garde sound with a sense of melody inspired by the Italian classical and folk traditions of his childhood in Rome. Ornette Coleman has been a major influence for Federico as well as a mentor. Born in Rome, Italy Federico relocated to London at age 21 to play music, from there moving to New York in 2000 again to play music. He has been based in Brooklyn, NY ever since. He has performed or recorded with Daniel Carter, William Parker, The Cinematic Orchestra among others. Federico Ughi has perfomed throughout Italy, the UK, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Slovenia, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, China, Mexico, Canada and the US. Continue reading →

Seven Decades of Jimi Hendrix (A fictional account of the 70th birthday of Jimi Hendrix – had he lived to see it).

Text by Dawoud Kringle

Madison Square Garden, on the cold, rainy night of November 27th, 2012, Thousands filled every inch of the venue, and hundreds more stood outside and in Time Square, gathered around the enormous video screens and speakers that, after months of haggling with Mayor Bloomberg, were permitted to be set up. Major networks, live internet streaming throughout the world, and the unprecedented use of 3D hologram imaging simulcast live in Paris, London, Tokyo, Moscow, Dubai, and the Mayan ruins in Chichin Itzu, Mexicio carried the event. Millions waited with anticipation for what promised to be a defining musical moment.

On that night, the world celebrated the 70th birthday of one of the greatest musicians of our age, Jimi Hendrix.

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iPhone interview: M.A.K.U. SoundSystem Colombia’s nu voice!

Interview by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

This year, the energy will reach new heights with the newest voice on the world stage, M.A.K.U.SoundSystem (featured at NY’s globalFEST 2011). They are one of my favorite bands of this year. Their driving rhythms are grounded in Afro- Colombian traditions and their gaitas come from Colombia’s indigenous heritage (like their name), as they present their music with the freedom of young Colombians hailing from urban Queens.

I interviewed them backstage for the second time after their show at the Encounter NYC Colombian Music Festival at Le Poisson Rouge, November 10, 2012. (First interview here.)

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Festival review: the 9th Annual Encuentro NYC Colombian Music Festival 2012

Date: November 10, 2012
Venue: Le Poisson Rouge
By Dawoud Kringle

On Saturday, November 10, 2012, Le Poisson Rouge  played host to the 9th Annual Encuentro NYC Colombian Music Festival. The festival, produced by Pablo and Anna Mayor, was brilliantly conceived, and efficiently executed. The musical acts covered an astonishing spectrum of different styles and combinations of genres. It was announced that a percentage of CD sales donated to hurricane relief effort in New York.

In American music history studies, much has been said about the influence Latin music had on jazz. It works both ways. One of the very noticeable things was how the music the groups offered shows clearly how deeply American jazz influenced and changed the music of Latin America.

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