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Les Paul. June 9, 1915 - August 13th 2009
We lost another giant; the great Les Paul.
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/13/obit.les.paul/
Les Paul was a truly great man. A guitar virtuoso and electronics genius, who invented multitrack recording, and made great innovations in the infancy ( Read more... ) -
Non-classical Sitar
Many people who listened to my music will have noticed that what I am doing is NOT raga. It would be a ridiculous lie if I claimed it was. There is a very specific idea in mind with this. While I take considerable liberties in this, there is a concept behind what I play; even though it does not resemble raga ( Read more... ) -
Jamming with Ornette
On March 11th 2009, I had the honor of jamming with Ornette Coleman
A few weeks before, I'd attended a concert at the Kniitting Factory in NYC of the Master Musicians of Jajouka.
I know their leader Bachir Attar, and manager Cherie Nutting; and I was given a back stage pass.
The concert was unbelievable!! You never heard anything like Jajouka music ( Read more... ) -
Shaheed Parvez Khan
Several weeks ago, I had the chance to study with the great Shaheed Parvez Khan It was quite an experience! I learned a lot in a short time.
And I have been once again made all to aware of the imperfections of my own technique. Here, this is who I was face to face with:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSodaLjgzPQ
There was one thing that amazed me. At ( Read more... ) -
The Fun Never Stops
Two weeks ago, I performed at Town Hall. A musician's collective I belong to was hired to provide music for an event featuring Dada Vaswani (http://www.sadhuvaswani.org/).
The event schedule was very tight; I was scheduled to be the first performer, and was given the 6 - 6:27 pm spot.
I ( Read more... ) -
More political ranting and raving.
I disapprove of democracy, because democracy guarantees that the lowest, most base and spiritually bankrupt men inevitably lay their hands on the instruments of power. In fact, it has been designed that way. The legacy of democracy is the greatest and most murderous crimes and outrages against the very fabric of human existence itself.
Electoral ( Read more... ) -
What I dug up during an argument.
I was recently discussing / arguing with an aquaintance about acoustic v.s electronic musical instruments. One of the things he tried telling me is that amplified acoustic instruments are like reproductions of masterpieces of great art (we invoked Rembrandt and Dali as an example). I tried to illustrate the symbiosis between an acoustic instrument ( Read more... ) -
Dawoud Dares to Issue a Fatwa
Asalaam alaikum;
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad (sas) is Allah's messenger.
The Taliban in Swat Valley recently declared that as of January 15th, 2009, all education is forbidden to all girls and young women. Shah Dauran, the vice chief of Swat-based Taliban militants announced this on their FM radio station; and ( Read more... ) -
Music Therapy and the Purpose of Music.
I was speaking with some music therapists recently. A few of them were interested in the methods that Sufis employ with music.It was interesting to hear their opinions and perceptions of how Sufis use music.
Music therapy is a great and honorable profession. May Allah bless, protect, and inspire them!
This, however, begs the question of why music ( Read more... ) -
Ghettos
Ghettos are a phenomenon that must be addressed. The ghetto distinguishes itself as being devoid of functioning and supportive social community. Psychic stress as the result of overcrowding, economic isolation, and lack of purposeful and benevolent leadership is in constant threat of violent eruption. Despotism and slavery are always lurking in ( Read more... )