Tag Archives: Dawoud Kringle

CD Review: Maria Schneider “Data Lords”

“In the digital world, data lords, who are in a race to amass the entire world’s information, hypnotize us with conveniences, endless information at our fingertips, limitless entertainment, “curated” content, and endless other enticements. While many of those things offer us wonderful tools that enhance our lives and societies in mind-bending ways, a vast number of the enticements numb our minds and lure us into submissiveness.” – Maria Schneider

Maria Schneider CD CoverArtist: Maria Schneider Orchestra
Title: Data Lord
Label: self published via Mariaschneider.com
Genre: jazz/protest songs

Featured photo above by Dina Regine

Continue reading →

No PUA Payments Anymore…What’s Going to Happen With Us Working Musicians?

PUA“85% of people are more scared of financial ruin than dying of Corona.” – Keith Levenson

Text by Dawoud Kringle 

Yesterday, yes yesterday!, on July 31st, 2020, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) or the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) $600 weekly payments to individuals who are unable to work because of a COVID-19-related reason but are not eligible for regular or extended unemployment benefits expired. The Senate failed to agree on an extension.
Many of our members applied for it. Some of them – including our President Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi – got some help and assistance by brother Keith Levenson.

Continue reading →

MFM “Speaks Out” Podcast EP 11: Jackie Venson – A Rising Star Out of Austin

“I very quickly realized that a music career without Internet presence in 2012 and beyond was not a music career.” – Jackie Venson

In this episode of MFM Speaks Out, Dawoud Kringle interviews Austin TX based guitarist, singer, songwriter & producer Jackie Venson. The topics discussed include Venson’s beginnings, her stylistic development, her approach to music video, her business model, her experiences as a professional musician during the COVID-19 pandemic, and racism & sexism in the music business.

Mehmet Polat

CD Review: “The Promise” by Mehmet Polat

Review by Dawoud Kringle

Mehmet PolatArtist: Mehmet Polat
Title: The Promise
Label: Aftab Records
Genre: Turkish/Oriental music

In the past, I reviewed Turkish oud master Mehmet Polat’s, who lives in Amsterdam (Holland), releases  Ask Your Heart, Next Spring and Quantum Leap. I had come to expect Polat to come up with something different and amazing each time he released new music. This is no easy feat for the oud; an instrument that expresses itself in a very specific way. I was curious to hear what new music Polat would come up with.

He does not disappoint.

Continue reading →

Arturo O'Farrill and Dr. Cornel West

CD Review “Four Questions” by Arturo O’Farrill feat. Dr. Cornel West

Arturo O'Farrill Artist: Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
Title: Four Questions
Label: ZOHO Records
Genre: Latin jazz/Spoken word
CD Review by Dawoud Kringle

One of the most important hallmarks of jazz is its focus on social consciousness. Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit,” Sonny Rollins’ “Freedom Suite,” Charles Mingus’ “Fables of Faubus,” Max Roach’s “We Insist! Freedom Now Suite,” John Coltrane’s “Alabama,” and many others all used jazz to address social injustice, and a call to action.

After releasing Four Questions, Arturo O’Farrill now stands side by side with these giants.

Continue reading →