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Text and interview by Jim Hoey
Video camera: Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

The New York Arabic Orchestra has quietly been honing their craft for the past three years, after forming out of a series of workshops started by founders Bassam Saba (oud, nay, flute, violin) and April Centrone (lead percussion). What they accomplished on February 12th at the Symphony Space was unique: the only Arabic orchestra in NYC comprised of musicians from the Middle East, the United States, Latin America, and Asia to be joined here by star vocalists Salma Habib (of Palestine) and Naji Youssef (of Lebanon) for a presentation of authentic Arabic songs.

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Date: 2/22/2011
Location: Brooklyn (NY)

Text and interview by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

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Date: January 29, 2011
Venue: Bam Cafe (Brooklyn)

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Interviewed by Jim Hoey

Catching up with Dave Fiuczynski after his recent performance at BAM Cafe was really a treat, since I remember catching his shows at the Knitting Factory and Tonic years ago (before they shut down). I was even more excited to hear that his signature exploration of sound through effects and the jazz-funk idiom was still intact after all these years.
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Date: December 14, 2010
Venue: Drom (NY)
Presented by the Persian Arts Festival
 

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi 

Courtesy of Abjee

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Photo by Jörg Maier

Date: December 14, 2010
Location: Turkish restaurant at W.4th St.
Interviewer: Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi
Photo: courtesy of Sven Kacirek

Last month I interviewed the German percussionist and electronica performer Sven Kacirek  at a Turkish restaurant in the West Village. He was the headliner of the 2 days E Se Festival 2010.

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Date: June 18, 2010
Location: The Carlton Arms Hotel

Interviewed by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi & Jim Hoey

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Date: Decemeber 12th & 13th, 2010
Venue: Epistrophy Cafe (NY)

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

I had no idea about the E SE Festival. This year was the 6th time?! The last two years since coming to NY I haven’t heard anything about this festival. Every week when I work on the DooBeeDoo music listings I’m kind of informed about what’s happening in this city. When I found out about it I decided to check out this festival because I felt nobody was interested in covering this event.

Martin Bisi was the first person to mention this festival because the drummer he used in Germany in November, Sven Kacirek, was invited by the festival to play their two shows. I contacted him and he emailed me the dates and the contact address of the festival. Surprisingly I knew one of the organizers: Jason Candler. What a surprise?! I just met him before at a show introduced to him by Billy Ficca of Television. Both are members of the Gary Lucas band. So another reason to cover this festival.

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Date: Wednesday, December 15 , 2010
Venue: the Rubin Museum in New York

Text,  photo, videos and interview by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

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Video interview by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Date:  Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Location: DooBeeDooBeeDoo office in Brooklyn, NY
Band/musicians: Dawn Of Midi/Indian contrabassist Aakaash Israni, Pakistani percussionist Qasim Naqvi, and Moroccan pianist Amino Belyamani
Genre: contemporary music/instrumental

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