New York, N.Y. Preserving the classics is a noble endeavor. Jazz, for example, is an original American music art form that once dominated the airwaves, dance halls, and nightclubs of an earlier generation. Today, this once popular music is relegated to small ensembles at intimate gatherings. I admire and applaud the tireless efforts of people, […]
Archive | Music
RSS feed for this section
One Year Ago: Operatic Incubator Celebrates Excellence
New York, N.Y. In the opulent setting of the Grand Ball Room of the Essex House, several hundred glitterati gathered to toast the leadership of David Bender and Barbara Meister Bender — and bask in the musical brilliance of 10 years of operatic talent. One decade old, the non-profit organization they founded, Career Bridges, already […]
Segal and Sissoko Create Harmony from Diverse Music Traditions
New York, N.Y. Music has the ability to bridge diverse cultures. That was powerfully on display recently at the Florence Gould Hall Theater in Manhattan. Malian Ballaké Sissoko and Frenchman Vincent Segal are in many ways worlds apart. But on stage, the two musicians found harmony. Sissoko, a master of the kora (21-stringed harp-lute), joined Segal, a classically […]
Invite Only to La La Land
Water Mill, New York. Sir Ivan, aka Ivan L. Wilzig, former banking exec and lifelong peacemaker invited his close friends, media mavens and celebutantes to engorge themselves in decadence while celebrating his newest self-released single, “La La Land.” on his Peaceman Music label. The themed event was such a luxurious retreat from the hustle and […]
Young Concert Artists Triumphs at Alice Tully Hall
New York, N.Y. Last week Young Concert Artists (YCA) held its annual Gala Concert at Alice Tully Hall with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, presenting the Lincoln Center debuts of three young soloists to a sold out house. The event began with a welcome by the distinguished pianist Emanuel Ax, a proud YCA alum and […]
Intense, Ironic, Iconic: Hahn-Bin Takes Joe’s Pub at The Public
New York, N.Y. “Hahn-Bin, the World’s Saddest Clown, Dies at 24.” So proclaimed the faux New York Times article on each table before the performance began. It continued, “He committed suicide… just hours after the alleged murder of his ex-lover.” So began one of New York’s most mesmerizing, strangest and strongest musical performances of 2011. […]
Indian legend Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Sons Perform in NYC
New York, N.Y. The Metropolitan Museum of Art was the place to be last week as maestro Amjad Ali Khan and his sons Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan performed in a sarod symphony like none other. As His Holiness Dalai Lama has said, “When Ali Khan performs, he carries with him a deep […]
Haiti History & Politics Seen Through Amazing Film of One Big Band
When the Drum is Beating is a film depicting Haiti’s rich musical culture and its legendary and beloved band, Orchestre Septentrional. Through its sweeping historical narrative and infectious music, the film captures the nuances and complexities that make Haiti one of the most fascinating countries in the hemisphere. In his exploration of the “Haitian people’s band,” Dow […]
