Rhythms As Metaphor
Whatever the cultural background of a rhythm, we can all get into it
If I had $1 for every time someone in a drum circle I’ve run with various groups held up their hand in refusal of a drum to say, “I don’t have rhythm,” I’d be a billionaire. I often adhere to someone’s wishes not to play along, as I am not in the business of forcing people violently to play music (though I’m tempted, for their own good) but I can’t agree with them that they don’t have rhythm.
“We all have rhythm,” I am fond of saying. “We had it in the womb, all that blessed beautiful rhythm, and then we were yanked out into this cacophony, and we just need to get it back!”
Involving audiences in the creation of rhythm is something I value greatly, and something I adore to see when musicians do it. Oftentimes, I find, it is more common to other cultures than to ours here in America.
I was a groupie of the Moroccan gnawa band Innov Gnawa for two years, attending every show religiously, inviting them to mine or others’ homes to play, because of how much it demands that people dance and trance, clap and sway and feel it in their bodies. It is a cultural rite of Morocco to involve people in the performance, one that I admire greatly.
Two gentlemen I got to know during my Innov Gnawa groupie days are Samir LanGus and Omar Aena. Samir is a Moroccan Sintir player and singer, who was a big part of Innov Gnawa, and Omar—an Iraqi world music DJ, event producer and community organizer - was a groupie, like me. I remember the night I met Omar at Barbes and he walked in with a couple friends looking so elated that I had to wonder aloud if they were on drugs. They had come, they said, from an Ecstatic Dance event. I remember laughing, understanding firsthand the deep power of dance to illicit a drug-like joyful stupor. I subsequently attended a number of Omar’s events, and have loved watching popularity grow and grow for both of these gentlemen’s beautiful inclusive music and dance events.
The duo are now heading up events to offer people a greater understanding of the power of the Moroccan culture of sacred music. Dubbed Lila The Series based on the Arabic and Hebrew word for "night," and which reflects in Hinduism “the effortless relation between the Absolute, or Brahman, and the contingent world,” the cultural education tour offerings this year includes a May 1-11 Sacred Music Tour, and a May 14-19 Gnawa Retreat. Early bird rates end Feb. 15 so act fast!!
Middle Eastern music figured large this week, with a bit of classic jazz in between. On Monday night, I went to Bar LunAtico to catch the gripping stylings of Israeli guitarist Tal Mashiach with fellow Israeli Gadi Lehavi (playing both keyboard and piano at the same time), awesome percussionist Keita Ogawa and the melodic Khondzi on sax. Israeli singer Dana Herz (Tal’s "better half”) sat in, adding her beautiful trilling vocals, made even more engaging with looping from electronic pedals (something I am dying to try for my sound baths now!)
LunAtico is one of my favorite rooms, even though I’d rather be right up at one of the front tables rather than in the back, where I sat for the first set:( Still though, the cohesive rhythmic dialogue going on between instruments on the stage, musicians all smiles, filled my heart.
On Thursday, I made my way to Queens to catch Ravi Coltrane at Thursday Night Free Jazz at the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, which had supremely oversold the house. People poured in, filling folding chairs set up in the aisles as Ravi belted it out, saxophone style, along with the great Gadi Lehavi (again) and the brilliant young drummer Ele Howell, whose repetitive rim knocks reverberated throughout the packed room. I was overjoyed to have made it in (just barely) as I am always amazed at the interplay of these gentlemen as they offer their own highly unique versions of some jazz favorites.
Saturday night took me upstate to The Local in Saugerties, where Isabel Soffar has created a space in an old vaulted-ceiling church for incredible world music and found patrons who are clearly deeply appreciative. Faris Zreik did not disappoint. My third time seeing this Palestinian phenom, I was again amazed at the melodies he can make with his resonant Kanun. He spoke eloquently of the traditional Arab maqam tradition of music, the microtones that sound slightly off key to Western ears, the 10-beat rhythms. He engaged us to try to sound out the rhythms with him and offered up the important message that:
“Understanding musical differences may be a metaphor for humanity.
If something sounds different, or looks different, you can still connect.”
We all connected all right, boy, did we connect. The audience was in his hands completely as his fingers plucked at the strings, as if they were like a remote control to our emotions. During a piece he dedicated to the people of Gaza, I closed my eyes and went into a deep transcendent reverie: peace is indeed possible, and it starts in our hearts, with the rhythm of music.
ListenUp NYC Calendar Feb. 12-Feb. 18
monday, feb. 12
Jeff Davis’ Catchfoot
Barbes
7 PM
The “propulsive force” behind a ton of musicians on the New York jazz scene today, drummer/composer Jeff Davis has created his own new electro-acoustic quintet featuring longtime friends Matt Nelson on tenor sax, Jonathan Goldberger on guitar, Eivand Opsvik on bass and Marta Sanchez on piano. Wow. Quite the crew, whose tenure playing together over the years will be translated on stage as the coolest interplay, as happens with these musicians, whose intuitive music melds in fascinating ways, right before our eyes. Magic. Should be a powerful evening! Go!
tuesday, feb. 13
Arturo O’Farrill, “Belonging, The Sound & Meaning of Community”
The National Jazz Museum of Harlem
7 PM
Mexican-born, New York-raised pianist, composer and bandleader Arturo O’Farrill will present an exclusive small-ensemble performance at this important history-preserving venue in Harlem. Following the music, he and the series curator, journalist Larry Blumenfeld, will join with some of New York City’s most dynamic cultural and community organizers including artist and activist Taina Traverso and CEO/Artistic Director of Harlem Stage Patricia Cruz, to discuss how creativity, excellence and purposeful engagement bind and uplift us all.
wednesday, feb. 14
Caleb Wheeler Curtis Trio
The Owl Music Parlor
7 PM
Caleb Wheeler Curtis. I know. I suggest you go see him all the time!! But what better Valentine’s date than to hear such great saxophone and accompanying music in such a cozy room as The Owl Music Parlor? Go!
thursday, feb 15
Petros Klampanis’ Tora Collective Album Release Show
Drom
9 PM
Dubbed the “bass ace,” Greek bassist and composer Petros Klampanis is said to have “aggressive melodocism.” Ha. Intriguing. Come see for yourself in this album debut show he will play at this Lower East Side mainstay. Spent a lot of great nights down in this cavernous spot (including dancing to a great 80s playlist of a DJ on my 50th bday.) Joined by Erini on vocals, Kristjan Randalu on piano, someone TBD on the beautiful oud, and special guest Christos Rafalides on vibraphone. Sounds awesome.
friday, feb. 16
Marc Copland, Drew Gress & Billy Drummond
Mezzrow
Sets at 7:30 PM & 9:00 PM
A Friday night in the West Village at the perfect little gem of a place that is Mezzrow with these jazz masters? Yes please! Marc Copland on piano, Drew Gress on bass, and Billy Drummond on drums. Do it.
saturday, feb. 17
Magatte Fall, curated by Angelique Kidjo
Joe’s Pub
9:30 PM
West African drumming does something to my soul, immediately. When I first visited Senegalese drummer and drum maker Ibrahima Diokhane at his Keur Djembe drum shop on Union St. in Park Slope, I went nearly dizzy with excitement. Sitting down in one of the low-slung African seats to play with him was a dream come true. I need to get back there. And I need to go to this event to hear Senegalese percussionist Magatte Sow, aka Magatte Fall. Curated by awesome African vocalist Angelique Kidjo, who he plays with, this show features the Grammy-winning percussionist who created the Black Panther score doing his amazing thing. Watching the video, my whole body reacted, and I cleared my calendar for Saturday. Must. See. Oh the joys of drumming. I can’t say enough about what it does for humans, something that from the sound and look of it, Mr. Sow (Fall) clearly understands, and teaches well.
sunday, feb. 18
Mingus Big Band (Part of Charles Mingus Festival Feb. 17-19)
Drom NYC
Sets at 7:30 PM and 9:30 PM
Always a pleasure to hear the compositions of the late great bassist Charles Mingus as rendered by this 14-piece band founded under the artistic direction of Charles’ wife Sue Mingus in 1991. These deep explorations offer a modern twist and deep explorations of the master composer, who would have turned 100 in 2022. Drom regularly features this band on Mondays but is this week offering a three-night festival. Catch a show!!
And, there it is. So many beautiful nights in the rearview, so many ahead. I hope with all my heart you will take advantage of what this city has to offer, and patronize these places, filled with these magical rhythmic people…
XX
Steph