Thursday, June 29, 2006

Powerspot Playlist 28 June 06

Tonight's show feature music from a number of releases by Australian composers, or composers now living in Australia.

Joseph Tawadros- CD Storyteller
- Track Storyteller

Joseph Tawadros is a young Egyptian oud player who is making a big name for himself here in Sydney for good reasons. He is talented and this talent is not escaping the attention of people like Richard Tognetti from the SSO who has just recently finished touring with him. Joe will be performing this Friday night with his brother James so go along and see this amazing musician who is carrying on a rich Arabic musical legacy.

http://www.josephtawadros.com

Kim Cunio & Heather Lee- CD- Music of the Dead Sea Scrolls
- Track El Eliyahu

Husband and wife team Kim Cunio & Heather Lee have been performing and recording ancient music for a long time now. Heather is also to my ears one of the finest sopranos we have in this country and a delight to see and hear. This recording accompanied the Dead Dea Scrolls exhibition of a few years back when it was on at the Art Gallery of NSW.
http://lotusfoot.com

Kim Sanders with Peter Kennard
- Cd Trance'n'Dancin
- Track Kaval Taksim- Track Ah Ya Zane

Kim Sanders is a great find for me. I was only made aware of his music last year when he contacted me and all I will say is I am glad that he did. He is an extremely talented musician who has travelled extensively around Indonesia as well as Eastern European countries absorbing musical cultures along the way.

http://kimsanders.customer.netspace.net.au/

Satsuki Odamura- CD Koto Dreaming
- Tracks Pretang / Tang with Linsey Pollak

Satsuki Odamura's new CD, Koto Dreaming is a collection of innovative and uniquely Australian multicultural compositions for koto. Koto Dreaming breaks away from the traditional sounds and compositions for koto, and includes Satsuki's own collaborative compositions with Australian artists. It is a synthesis of her inspirations gained by her working closely with Australian artists and a culmination of her fifteen years accumulative experience as a koto virtuoso based in Australia.
Koto Dreaming begins with a work commissioned by celebrated Australian composer Ross Edwards and includes pieces by composers Caroline Szeto, Anthony Briggs, Linsey Pollak, as well as Satsuki herself, in collaboration with Sandy Evans and Tony Lewis – who together comprise the trio Waratah.


http://satsukikoto.com.au

The Necks- CD Chemist
- Track Buoyant

Possibly Sydney's most famous or infamous jazz improvisers; this is album number 13 for the group and one of the most easy to listen to Necks releases in my opinion. Three pieces each clocking in at around the twenty minute mark, each different to the another. Buoyant is the more spacious of the three pieces available on this recording. It's difficult to categorize this outfit so I am not even going to try and bother to. Needless to say some of the most enjoyable and confronting music I have heard over the years has been from The Necks. I really rate this recording and urge anyone with an open mind to explore what is on offer here. We might even invite the group in for a chat in the next few weeks if they are in town.

http://www.thenecks.com

Adrian McNeil & Bobby Singh- Cd Aasha
- Track Rag Madhuwanti

Adrian and Bobby have been performing for well over ten years now, promoting Hindustani classical music here in Sydney. Adrian is one of the few 'white fellas' who has master the sarod, whilst Bobby Singh is without a doubt the greatest tabla player in this country and often involved with many different bands simultaneously. This recording was done shortly after the 911 incident a few years back. The title is a Hindi terms meaning Hope. Rad Madhuwanti is an afternoon raga of great beauty.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Powerspot Playlist 21 June 06

On the show tomorrow night, tracks from the following releases. Hope that some of you may be able to listen in online. Follow the links for further information.

Nuru Kane- CD Sigui- Colore / Diarama
Ba Cissoko- CD Electric Griot Land- Le Reve De L'Oiseau / Women
Smadj- CD Take It & Drive- C’est comme ci c’était fait / Tristan
Mohammad Qadri Dalal- CD Maqamat Insolites- Tarkîb jdîd
Thierry Robin & Gulabi Sapera- CD Rakhi - Yakeen / Bichu Rap / Neem
Richard Khuzami- CD Fused- Faruk's Funk / Malfouf / Go With Me / Bazar Bop
Ojos De Brujo- CD Techari-Color / Sultanas De Merkaillo / Todo Tiende

Next week Powerspot will be all Australian music.

Friday, June 16, 2006

Powerspot Playlist 14 June 06

On the show this week, I re-ran an interview with Eckhart Rahn, label manager of the Celestial Harmonies label, which is run out of Tucson Arizona. All music came from the label and artists included the following.

  • BUTSUGA - JAMES ASHLEY FRANKLINNanae Yoshimura- Art of the Koto Vol 3
  • THE COMPLETE PIANO MUSIC OF MIKALOJUS KONSTANTINAS CIURLIONIS, VOLUME ONE - NIKOLAUS LAHUSEN
  • THE HUGO MASTERS: AN ANTHOLOGY OF CHINESE CLASSICAL MUSIC, VOLUME 1: BOWED STRINGS - VARIOUS ARTISTS
  • SEA & MOUNTAIN: MUSIC IN THE KOREAN STYLE - MICHAEL ATHERTON
  • George Deuter-
  • O NOBILISSIMA VIRIDITAS: THE COMPLETE HILDEGARD VON BINGEN, VOLUME THREE - SINFONYE
  • Kifo Mitsuhachi- Art of the Shakuhachi Vol 2
  • THE ART OF THE KOTO, VOLUME THREE: WORKS FOR NIJUGEN - NANAE YOSHIMURA
  • STREAM FLOWING: TRADITIONAL MUSIC FROM CHINA - WENG ZHENFA / FU RENCHANG
  • MUSIC OF LAOS: THE BUDDHIST TRADITION - VARIOUS ARTISTS
  • THE SEPHARDIC EXPERIENCE, VOLUME 1: THORNS OF FIRE - THE RENAISSANCE PLAYERS, WINSOME EVANS - DIRECTOR
  • THE MUSIC OF ARMENIA, VOLUME ONE: SACRED CHORAL MUSIC - THE HAISSMAVOURK CHOIR/MIHRAN GHAZELIAN, DIRECTOR
  • IN WINTER LIGHT: MUSIC FOR FLUTE AND GUITAR BY JOHN BUCKLEY - WILLIAM DOWDALL AND JOHN FEELEY
  • THE MUSIC OF ISLAM (SAMPLER) - VARIOUS ARTISTS
  • HOMRONG: CLASSICAL MUSIC FROM CAMBODIA - CHUM NGEK

As usual if you have any queries please contact me.

Friday, June 09, 2006

Ottmar Liebert Tour Dates Australia

Speaking with Ottmar Liebert'>Listen to the interview


July 2006: Australia/New ZealandQuartet:
OL - Flamenco + Electric Guitars, Jon Gagan - Bass Guitars and Keyboard, Dave Bryant - Percussion, Stephen Duros - Flamenco Guitar + Keyboard


Jul 14 Melbourne, Australia – The Arts Centre, Hamer Hall
Jul 15 Canberra, Australia – Canberra Theatre
Jul 20 Newcastle, Australia – Civic Theatre
Jul 21 Sydney, Australia – Marconi Club
Jul 22 Sydney, Australia – State Theatre
Jul 23 Adelaide, Australia – Norwood Concert Hall
Jul 25 Perth, Australia – Burswood Theatre
Jul 27 Auckland, New Zealand – Town Hall
Jul 28 Wellington, New Zealand – St. James Opera House

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Sarodist Adrian McNeil in concert 25 June 06 2.30pm

Sangeet Australia: Supporting Hindustani Music presents
The Mehfil Series
Adrian McNeil (Sarod)
Pandit Ramchandra Suman (Tabla)

Acoustic Classical Music of India
Soul stirring and passionate Hindustani ragas in a traditional and intimate soiree setting.
tickets at the door $15/$12con/family discounts available

Where- Dickson Space
35-39 Dickson St
Newtown

www.sangeetaustralia.org



Adrian McNeil has lived, studied and performed in India for many years. He has made a number of recordings for national television and radio. A guitar student since childhood, Adrian began training in Hindustani music in 1980 as a disciple of Pt. Ashok Roy. He has intensively studied the musical instrument the sarod and Hindustani classical music for twentyfive years according to the strict precepts of the guru-shishya parampara traditional training method. For the last five years he has been a disciple of Prof. Sachindra Nath Roy and also the expert vocalist and musicologist Dr. Ashok Ranade, both based in Mumbai. Adrian has a Ph.D. in music and has published important articles and a book on Indian music, and has taught in music departments in Australia, USA, UK, India and Hong Kong.

Pandit Ramchandra Sumanji is a highly experienced tabla and pakhawaj player of unusual depth and talent. He received his musical training from an early age from two well known musicians, his uncle Pt. Lokmanji, and Guru Purushottam Dasji of Nathawadar Gharana. he has accompanied many of the great masters of Hindustani classical music such as the Dagar brothers, Siddeshwari Devi and many others in India and abroad. He is a celebrated Kathak dancer as well, an art form he studied for many years with Chiranjee Lalji, Shambhu Maharaj, Lachchu Maharaj and Birju Maharaj. His compelling percussion playing has all the lilt and grace of this exquisite dance form. He now lives in Sydney where he has many students at The Asian Dance and Music Centre (Australia) which he established in Bankstown.

Sangeet Australia is a small, grass roots, artist run organisation presenting monthly recitals, and a range of other activities including workshops and concerts for local and international artists alike, to increase awareness and understanding of this rich and complex tradition. Our focus is to present the most excellent standard of this music in a manner that is sensitive to and respectful of the artists involved. Sangeet Australia mehfils provide a unique opportunity to engage with this music in a relaxed and thoughtful way. To contact Sangeet Australia call 0416 352 900.

Sangeet Australia highly recommends:
‘Music Concepts. A Concise Dictionary of Hindustani Music’ the comprehensive work by eminent scholar-musician Dr. Ashok Da.Ranade now available on the excellent and reliable website of the ethical, artist run label of Underscore Records. For this and a host of high quality recordings in a variety of Indian musical styles see www.underscorerecords.com

Join our mailing list to keep up to date
with all our concerts.
www.sangeetaustralia.org

ain't it the truth

Recruitment - A True Classic

One day while walking down the street a highly successful executive woman
was tragically hit by a bus and she died. Her soul arrived up in heaven
where she was met at the Pearly Gates by St. Peter himself.

"Welcome to Heaven," said St.Peter. "Before you get settled in though, it
seems we have a problem. You see, strangely enough, we've never once had an
executive make it this far and we're not really sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in." said the woman.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have higher orders. What we're going to do is let
you have a day in Hell and a day in Heaven and then you can choose whichever
one you want to spend an eternity in."

"Actually, I think I've made up my mind...I prefer to stay in Heaven", said
the woman.

"Sorry, we have rules..." And with that St. Peter put the executive in an
elevator and it went down-down-down to hell. The doors opened and she found
herself stepping out onto the putting green of a beautiful golf course. In
the distance was a country club and standing in front of her were all her
friends - fellow executives that she had worked with and they were all
dressed in evening gowns and cheering for her. They ran up and kissed her on
both cheeks and they talked about old times. They played an excellent round
of golf and at night went to the country club where she enjoyed an excellent
steak and lobster dinner. She met the Devil who was actually a really nice
guy (kinda cute) and she had a great time telling jokes and dancing. She was
having such a good time that before she knew it, it was time to leave.
Everybody shook her hand and waved good-bye as she got on the elevator.

The elevator went up-up-up and opened back up at the Pearly Gates and found
St. Peter waiting for her. "Now it's time to spend a day in heaven," he
said. So she spent the next 24 hours lounging around on clouds and playing
the harp and singing. She had a great time and before she knew it her 24
hours were up and St. Peter came and got her.

"So, you've spent a day in hell and you've spent a day in heaven. Now you
must choose your eternity," he said.

The woman paused for a second and then replied, "Well, I never thought I'd
say this, I mean, Heaven has been really great and all, but I think I had a
better time in Hell."

So St. Peter escorted her to the elevator and again she went down-down-down
back to Hell. When the doors of the elevator opened she found herself
standing in a desolate wasteland covered in garbage and Filth. She saw her
friends were dressed in rags and were picking up the garbage and putting it
in sacks. The Devil came up to her and put his arm around her.

"I don't understand," stammered the woman, "yesterday I was here and there
was a golf course and a country club and we ate lobster and we danced and
had a great time. Now all there is a wasteland of garbage and all my friends
look miserable."

The Devil looked at her and smiled. "Yesterday we were recruiting you; today
you're staff."

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Powerspot 7 June 06

On the show tonight, you either heard or you missed the following.

I interviewed guitarist Ottmar Liebert who will be touring Australia in July. The interview can be downloaded here.

Music tonight came from mainly from the Ocora label out of France.

Valeria Miranda Family- Basta Ya
Musicians of the Nile- Taksim Arghoul
Ravi Shankar- Dhun Man Prasad
Fernando Machado- Virade Coimbra Fado of Coimbra Soares
Liu Yao Jin- Classical Music of China
Alim Qasimov- Rang, Uzzal, Zarbi Ussad- The Art of the Mugham
Vassilis Tsitsanis- Hoamge to Tsitsanis
Lakshmi Shankar- Raga Khafi- Seasons & Time
Munir Bashir- Taqsim- The Art of the Oud
Nusrat fateh Ali Khan- Manaqib Khawaja Mueenuddin Chisti- Live paris 1985

All tracks off a Ocora sampler entitled The World of Traditional World-Collection Ocora Radio France