Shajariyan-Payvar Ensemble : Dashti (Taraneh Enterprises CS, 1989)

Siamak Shajarian born in the city of Mashad in northeastern Iran, is arguably the most accomplished Persian traditional singer living in the United States. He has performed with such masters as Jalil Shanaz, Faramarz Payvar, Mohammad Ali Kiani-nejad, Mohammad Esmaeli, and Farhang Sharif.

Shajarian's public musical life began when he was sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and the Arts in Mashhad at age eleven. He inherited his talents in singing from his father and in calligraphy from his mother. He studied the Persian vocal art (avaz) and its Radif with Ghafoorian and Gholam Hossein Zahiredini, and completed his studies under the direction of his brother, Mohammad Reza Shajarian and Esmaeel Mehrtash. In addition to mastering the vocal Radif of Persian traditional music, Shajarian has also studied Tar, Santur and Tombak.

In 1977, he moved to the United States. Soon after he joined Oshagh Ensemble and gave numerous concerts across the U.S. and Canada... Currently he lives in Los Angeles where he teaches Persian traditional vocal Radif. (Source)

Quite the stirring traditional Persian (by way of California) sounds. This old tape was a discerning thrift score recently mailed out west by my cousin Jess in Savannah, GA. Good looking out! Big thanks also to Mr. Saadoun Al-Bayati for the helpful phonetic assistance with the Farsi up above. 320 mp3 transfer by yours truly.



Shajariyan-Payvar Ensemble : Dashti (Taraneh Enterprises CS, 1989) *Re-upped 9/15/12

Street Muse documentary, featuring Gull

My good friends Nate Rappole (Gull) & Len Albright are in the home stretch for Kickstarting their Street Muse documentary project in East Africa. Fingers crossed...They've got four days left to raise just under $5,000 to make it happen. Check the rundown:

"The Street Muse Project is a documentary project exploring the culture of street and public music around the World. This component of the project will document street performances in Africa. In addition, Gull will perform on the street throughout the project as an offering and thank you to those who are sharing their talents and energy with us. The documentary will be the first in a series.

Why Street Music?

Have you ever stopped and listened to a street musician, maybe given them a dollar, and wondered about their story? What are their musical influences? What can their life and art open to you about the World? That's the goal of the Street Muse Project...to capture and share these stories and use them as a springboard for education. Many countries in East and West Africa are facing incredible humanitarian and political challenges. We see public music as a way to help inspire education and foster a sense of mutual humanity.

Over the last 5 years Gull (Nate Rappole) has been performing as a street musician across much of the United States and Mexico. He is known for his percussion project that involves the simultaneous playing of the drums and guitar. Through his travels, Nate has come to see the importance of street music as a public display of emotion and how it can be used to break down social barriers and constraints. The street can serve as a public venue for artistic experimentation and social/political creativity. In the Spring of 2011, Nate was joined on a tour of the American South by Len Albright, who had recently completed a PhD in urban sociology. They discussed the possibility of interviewing musicians on the streets in other parts of the world and how the sharing of this could open pathways for creative politics and experiences across the globe. The Street Muse Project was born." (More here)

Paul Ngozi - The Ghetto (Zambia, 1976 + Shadoks, 2011)

"Paul Ngozi (Nogozi means danger) with his band gave a popular voice to what later was called 'Zamrock,' a cool fusion of older African rhythms and '70s rockish underground modes -- never too polished, but with a tightness that might have made Anglo groups up in London sit up and take notice. The guitars are razor-sharp here which sounds great next to the harder rhythms at the bottom, and the album's mix of English and Zambian lyrics. Paul Ngozi recorded at least ten albums, another one which is famous among collectors is Chrissy Zebby Tembo & Ngozi Family. You will love this one if you liked the Witch and Amanaz. Great album, great artwork, a masterpiece from Zambia." (Promo hype)

Hey there. Long time no see. Happy 2012. Much like my good compadre, Owl, these blog efforts ran aground for a spell in a much needed holiday from ye olde internet responsibilities. As a bona fide labor of love, rendered gratis for all you friends and dreamers out there, this humble adventure became a bit burdensome to maintain over the course of December. Inspiration, energy, money and time just sort of ebbed. Well, I'm back in the saddle, and happy as can be to greet the new year with this auspicious slab of newly reissued, primo Zamrock fuzz. Paull Ngozi's The Ghetto should prove an essential addition to the canon. Hope you folks dig this goodness for real. 320 vinyl rip by yours truly. 2011 Shadoks limited edition reissue. Word.

And by the way, I might mention that I've come up with a sort of New Year's type resolution related to this blog: I'm going to really do my best to start responding to you folks who've emailed or dropped in good comments. Its hard to overstate how much the feedback is appreciated. That said, it's true I've been downright terrible about getting back to you folks sending in requests, questions, etc. I'ma get on it.



DL: Paul Ngozi - The Ghetto (Zambia, 1976 + Shadoks, 2011)

A1 In The Ghetto
A2 Help Me
A3 Anasoni
A4 Who Will Know
B1 Suicide
B2 Bamayo
B3 Can't You Hear Me
B4 Ulesi Tileke
B5 Jesus Christ