Music and Politics: DooBeeDooBeeDoo supports Democracy Now!

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Through the Occupy Wall Street movement I found interest in checking out all kinds of American media. It was very interesting to watch, listen or to read how this movement was covered by the American media.

By being a music activist and the editor of DooBeeDoo I naturally got involved with this movement. I went many times to Zucotti Park and reported about it in DooBeeDoo. In my reports I tried to document that music is an important part of this social-political movement. Me believing in “without music no revolution!”

Why am I interested and “somehow” involved in politics? Because I believe that the purpose of music is to care and speak about people’s lives and their history. Music doesn’t only want to entertain people but also make them aware of social and political issues.

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Music listings – 10/15 through 10/21

1. On Ka’a Davis and his Famous Original Djuke Music Big Band

Date: Monday, October 15, 2012
Time: 7:30-open rehearsal & 9pm-performance
Venue: The Stone (is located at the corner of Avenue C and 2nd Street)
Ticket: $10
Genre: big band jazz/improve

There are 5 Mondays this October,and every one of them will feature the On Ka’a Davis and his Famous Original Djuke Music Big Band  directed by  On Ka’a Davis. Drawing inspiration from the outer realms and more into the squat politics of the East Village basement jam…polyrhythmic complexity and primal passions…an incessant pulse beat that tears the roof off the cerebral avant garde…another world never imagined possible from the undying, ever growing counter culture crucible of downtown New York.

Featuring: On Ka’a Davis (director, guitar, violin, electro), Andrew Lamb (tenor sax), Avram Fefer and Nick Gianni (saxes, flutes), Nonoko Yoshida (alto sax), Matt Cole (baritone sax), Welf Dorr (bass clarinet), Cavassa Nickens and Albey Balgochian (basses), Peter Barr, Dalius Naujo, Kenny Wollesen and Eric Eigner (drums), Evans Thompson (piano), Naomi Watanabe (percussion), Brandon Terzic (ngoni) and Dave “Smoota” Smith (trombone). Continue reading →

Recommended Drum Book & CD: Swiss Chris “Modern Drum Set Stickings”

Texy by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Let me introduce you to one of my great drummers and let me tell you what I know about him: Swiss Chris, who’s real name is Christoph Flueck, is originally from Switzerland. I met and played with him for the first time in Greg Tate’s  Burnt Sugar Orchestra in Harlem in 2008. Later he invited me to play with him at his Aung San Suu Kyi benefit concert in Williamsburg later that year. We both enjoyed playing together. I liked his modern drumming approach: fusing drumming and sample manipulation and his ability to play polyrhythms. Like me he loves improvisation. With all this said it was very easy for me to ask him to join my band, called the Tehran-Dakar Brothers at that time, later in 2009. He also recorded with me on my new CD SoSaLa Nu World Trash. 

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Music listings – 10/8 through 10/14

1. On Ka’a Davis and his Famous Original Djuke Music Big Band

Date: Monday, October 8, 2012
Time: 7:30-open rehearsal & 9pm-performance
Venue: The Stone (is located at the corner of Avenue C and 2nd Street)
Ticket: $10
Genre: big band jazz/improve

There are 5 Mondays this October,and every one of them will feature the On Ka’a Davis and his Famous Original Djuke Music Big Band  directed by  On Ka’a Davis. Drawing inspiration from the outer realms and more into the squat politics of the East Village basement jam…polyrhythmic complexity and primal passions…an incessant pulse beat that tears the roof off the cerebral avant garde…another world never imagined possible from the undying, ever growing counter culture crucible of downtown New York.

Featuring: On Ka’a Davis (director, guitar, violin, electro), Andrew Lamb (tenor sax), Avram Fefer and Nick Gianni (saxes, flutes), Nonoko Yoshida (alto sax), Matt Cole (baritone sax), Welf Dorr (bass clarinet), Cavassa Nickens and Albey Balgochian (basses), Peter Barr, Dalius Naujo, Kenny Wollesen and Eric Eigner (drums), Evans Thompson (piano), Naomi Watanabe (percussion), Brandon Terzic (ngoni) and Dave “Smoota” Smith (trombone). Continue reading →

The outcome of the “Musicians for Mali” benefit concert at the City Winery (NY) September 22, 2012

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Artists reach areas far beyond the reach of politicians. Art, especially entertainment and music, is understood by everybody, and it lifts the spirits and the morale of those who hear it. (Nelson Mandela)

Toubab Krewe  the Africa-inspired band, Afropop Worldwide and the New York based Malian Cultural Center produced the “Musicians for Mali” benefit concert on Saturday September 22nd at the City Winery.

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