OK, I have an announcement.
God’s Unruly Friends has some new online presence. You can email us at godsunrulyfriends@gmail.com.
We have a new Twitter account!
https://twitter.com/GUF786
An we have a youtube channel! It’s new, so if you subscribe, we can get things off to a good start. Check out our last video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GErTWFgyspE
#godsunrulyfriends
#gmail
#youtube
Yes. For your viewing and listening pleasure, I compiled two new videos one is excerpts from live God’s Unruly Friends concerts, and the other is from the recent solo performance I did at Wow Theater NYC (opening for John Kruth).
Enjoy!
Last night (11/13/15), God’s Unruly Friends played at Bam Cafe in Brooklyn. Permit me to shout out to Kaveh Haghtalab, Tom Chess, and Chenana Manno for performances above and beyond the call to duty!
However, the event coincided with the Paris attacks, and the vibe was, shall I say, heavy.
I recall a story. The night when Martin Luther King was killed, Jimi Hendrix was booked to play Newark NJ (of all places). They wanted to cancel the concert, but Hendrix said no; he would do the show. Everyone was scared of the possibility of race riots. Hendrix walked on stage, and said “This is for a friend of mine.” He then abandoned all his usual songs, and improvised a long blues ballad that was so moving even the theater stagehands and janitors were in tears. (Naturally, nobody recorded it).
As you know, I’m a Muslim. And as it stands, I and my people are pretty much all “on trial” for the events in Paris. Whoever did those horrible attacks in Paris (and all over the Middle East, for that matter) are NOT Muslims! I see absolutely no Islam in what they do, and refuse to acknowledge ANY connection between them and real Islam. They are NOT my brothers in religion.
To the people of Paris, my heart goes out to you. I’ve visited your beautiful city a number of times, and your people are wonderful. Stay strong, and know that there are a lot of people who are sending love your way.
I’m a musician, and in many ways, I count for very little in this world. I have to do what I can with what I have. God’s Unruly Friends’ performance last night was us using our music as an imposition of love and spiritual power upon a political upheaval to counteract the presence of evil, oppression, and destruction. I pray it did some good. I pray that my music brings something useful into a chaos of futility, and something beautiful into a world of ugliness.
It’s been an interesting few weeks.
Last weekend I attended the Black Rock Coalition’s Jimi Hendrix Tribute concert; a two day event held on the 45th anniversary of Hendrix’ passing (and, during the month of the BRC’s 30th anniversary). The concert was great! And I had the opportunity to meet percussion master Juma Sultan (who, as you may know, was in Hendrix’ band).
Yesterday, the Brooklyn Raga Massive held a John Coltrane Tribute concert on the master’s 89th birthday. It was, in a word, epic. I had the honor of performing with them; I was a featured soloist on “India.” Performing with these astonishing musicians is a wonderful experience. The BRM is accomplishing some great things; the sense of community and unity in a musical vision is quite amazing.
Today is Eid ul Adha. I was very tired, because I’d had no sleep for a long time.
I’m preparing for the next God’s Unruly Friends gigs. We’re in the Bronx at the University of the Streets next month (October 11th). We have BAM in November, and I’m planning some things as far ahead as March.
Life is interesting!
I have a confession.
Well, not really a confession, but something I should share. A few days ago (as I write this) I was doing a Music Meditation at Namaste. About 15 or 20 minutes into it, one of my electronic devices I use in this and other musical applications died. Well, I had to think fast. I bypassed it, and continued.
The quality of the performance was not affected in any way. Frankly, I’d be a pitiful excuse for a musician if I let it be affected.
It reminded me of some years ago when I played at the Apollo in NYC. I was doing a solo sitar performance with laptop accompaniment. As the first of my allotted three songs ended, my laptop froze up. So, I improvised my way around it. Later, I mentioned this to a friend in the audience. She said she wasn’t aware that I was having technical problems. I siad “You weren’t meant to.”
If I use a single acoustic instrument, or an arsenal of instruments and electronic devices, it all exists to derve the same purpose. Each one is but a tool. You either use it, or not.
In the end, the music, and its effects in the hearts of the audience are all that matter. All else are details.
Once again, I will have the honor of performing with the Brooklyn Raga Massive! We’re performing Terry Riley’s iconic composition “In C.”
Under the inspiration of BRN member / co-founder Neel Murghai, the BRM made history last year by performing Terry Riley’s “In C” by using almost exclusively Indian instruments for the performance. This had never been done before, and was given the stamp of approval by the composer himself.
This is happening at the Rubin Museum of Art (150 west 17th street, NYC) on Friday, August 28th, at 7PM.
Oh, and BTW, we made the Wall Street Journal:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/indian-raga-group-takes-minimalism-to-the-max-1440717707
More info and tickets here: http://rubinmuseum.org/events/event/brooklyn-raga-massive-all-stars-08-28-2015
First of all, thanks to all of you who attended the Harmolodic Raga Cycle performance at Music Inn, NYC! It was a marvelous concert (here’s some video).
Now, let’s look ahead!
On Friday, August 28th, I will be joining the Brooklyn Raga Massive All Stars for the next performance of Terry Reily’s “In C.” The performance will start at 7pm, and will be held at the Rubin Museum of Art (150 west 17th street, NYC). Tickets are available. Check us out on facebook.
September will be a landmark for me. On Tuesday, September 1st, 7pm, Openings Collective will be presenting an exhibit titled “On the Inner and Outer Self.” This is happening at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle (405 west 59th st. at Columbus Ave. NYC). I bring this up because I am one of the artists whose work will be featured. This will be my first exhibit. The exhibit will run between 9/1/15 – 10/22/15, and is open to the public.
The next Music Meditation Session will be at the Namaste Healing Center (80 5th avenue, suite 1104, NYC) on Thursday, September 17th, 7pm. The exchange is a mere $15.
The next God’s Unruly Friends performance will be at the University of the Streets on Sunday, October 11th, 7pm. This will be GUF’s FIRST performance in the Bronx!
There will be a Music Meditation Session on Wednesday, October 28th, 6pm at Jivamukti Yoga Center (841 Broadway, NYC). My first Session at Jivamukti!
And don’t forget that God’s Unruly Friends will present a big show at BAM Cafe (30 Lafayette Ave. Brooklyn, NY) on Friday, November 13th. More info to come!
Permit me a little nepotism. September 10th, 11th, & 12th, my wife Kosi will present “Ghosts Appearing Through the Sound: Kosi’s Tribute to Abbey Lincoln” This is happening at the WoW Cafe Theater (61 east 4th st, 4th floor, buzzer 6, NYC) More info here.
Well! That’s a lot of information! Thanks for reading all of this. I look forward to sharing beautiful and unique music with all of you!
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Jimmy Lopez and I will be at Silvana (300 west 116th st. NYC) on Tuesday, July 21st 8pm. The music of the Renegade Sufi ensemble as well as other exotic and beautiful music will be presented.
There are more wonderful things happening. I’ll keep you all informed.
Permit me to announce the World Premier of the Harmolodic Raga Cycle. This is a series of compositions / improvisational templates that bridge the concepts of harmolodics with the primordial essence of Indian Raga. This will be a solo performance (with possible special guest TBA) at Music Inn (169 west 4th street NYC) on Saturday, August 8th, 9PM. The exchange is $10.
If all goes according to plan, the concert will be recorded, and the recording will be released digitally and on CD.
If you’ll permit me, there is one last thing I wish to share.
My wife, master jazz singer Kosi, is presenting a tribute to Abby Lincoln. This unprecedented project includes an upcoming CD release, and the show “Ghosts Appearing Through the Sound”; a three day theatrical run at Wow Cafe Theater (59-61 east 4th street, 4th floor, NYC) on September 10th, 11th, & 12th. Her Rockethub campaign is in the final days. Please check it out; you will not want to miss this.
See you soon! Onward and upward!