Congrats: “Occupy Wall Street” won this morning!!!!

Text and videos by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

I got up this morning at 5:10 am. Turned the TV on to find out what was happening with the Occupy Wall Street movement downtown  at Liberty Plaza or Zuccotti Park. This morning at 7am Mayor Bloomberg wanted to clean Zuccotti Park, and use a new set of rules (including no lying down and no sleeping bags) which were designed  to end the Occupation of Wall Street for good. NY Channel 1 reported that nothing important had happened. So I got the feeling there was no reason for me to hurry. To arrive at 7am sharp was good enough. I prepared breakfast for myself and my wife. When I finished brushing my teeth, charged my Iphone, got into my jeans…got on the 1 at 79th Street. Changed to the 3 at 72nd Street and arrived at Wall Street at 6:55am and 7am sharp,  I was finally there.

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Interview: Susmit Sen (India) – India’s Jerry Garcia?

Date: September 14, 2011 – Venue: Drom (NY)
Text, interview and video by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Last month I got an email from Shampa Chanda inviting me to see her artist, the Indian guitarist Susmit Sen, for whom she had organized a concert at Drom in the Lower East Side. Reading the press kit which described Sen’s music as “…comparable to that of Jerry Garcia and John McLaughlin.” I thought “OK, let’s check the young Ravi Shankar out playing rock music on a guitar instead on his sitar!”
When I entered Drom he had already started his show. Instead of seeing a young Indian rock musician I saw a middle aged “normal” looking guy. No long hair, no leather pants and no R&R attitude, no Marijuana, but a very polite speaking and behaving gentleman.

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Recommended film: OKA! – offers a unique glimpse into the music, humor, and spirit of the Bayaka people.

A film by Lavinia Currier which is based on the memoir by Louis Sarno “Last Thoughts Before Vanishing from the Face of the Earth”.
Starring Kris Marshall, Isaach de Bankolé, Will Yun Lee & the Bayaka of Yandombe
Running Time: 106 min
Languages: Sango, Akka, French, and English.
Exclusive engagement starts Friday, October 14th at the Angelika Film Center (NY).

SHORT SYNOPSIS

25 years ago, ethnomusicologist Louis Sarno traveled from New Jersey to the forests of Central Africa to record the music of the Bayaka Pygmies. Falling in love with a Bayaka girl and her forest lifestyle, he decided to stay. “OKA!” tells the adventure of his life in Africa with his adopted family. The Bayaka pygmies maintain a tenuous balance between their traditional forest existence and their increasing dependence on the Bantu villagers. Through the eyes of Larry, the tall, ungainly white man from New Jersey, who in spite of his failing liver accompanies the Bayaka on a journey into the heart of the forest, “OKA!” offers a unique glimpse into the music, humor, and spirit of the Bayaka people. “OKA!” is directed by Lavinia Currier and filmed in Sango, Akka, French, and English. It is based on Louis Sarno’s memoir, Last Thoughts Before Vanishing from the Face of the Earth, and stars Kris Marshall, with Isaach de Bankolé and Will Yun Lee, and a magnificent local Bayaka ensemble cast.

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Music listings – 10/10 through 10/16

1. Shinji Masuko (of DMBQ / Boredoms) w. The Returners+Man Forever

Date: Monday, October 10, 2011
Time: 9pm
Venue: The Knitting Factory (361 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211, Tel: 347-529-6696)
Ticket: $60-$70
Genre: psychedelic rock

Categories cannot contain Shinji Masuko. He’s the founder of DMBQ – one of Japan’s greatest modern psychedelic bands, a respected music and comic reviewer, an astonishing guitarist and a master guitar builder. He’s also been a member of the Boredoms since 2004, having designed and built their notorious seven neck guitar (the Sevena) while acting as the band’s principle guitarist.

2. Akiko Yano and Marc Ribot

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Occupy Wall Street – a group dynamic’s improve!

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

I was there this afternoon. What I saw was very interesting. I could see and feel that something important was happening. I was very happy to see and hear that music is an important element and force in this freedom movement.

Honestly the music I listened to wasn’t that great and expressive, but better to have music than none. I missed my own horn. Maybe next time when I go there I might play. Hope that some of the good NY musicians will come out and perform, and let people know that music could be a very strong energy to support the protesters in their fight and motivate non protesters to join this movement which still doesn’t have a name, not an elaborated goal and doesn’t have a leader representing this movement physically and intellectually.

Personally I don’t care about the no leadership. In fact, like in music, I am interested to watch how people at Liberty Plaza communicate with each other in the moment…like musicians they are improvising: composing in the moment and process. Listening to each others complaints and concerns. Trying to find the right language to speak to each other and find out the right way to resolve.

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