Freshly Ground Sounds EP release at The Archive

Congratulations to the fledgling acoustic music initiative, Freshly Ground Sounds, which released its first collaborative EP in an extended evening of live performances. The evening weather was still pleasant, and an audience -- rather large for a weekday night -- gathered on the Safa Park grass behind The Archive to listen to some of the up-and-coming musicians play and sing.

Gypsy Swing Project Paris-Dubai CD release concert

I have been a fan of The Gypsy Swing Project ever since I discovered their winter 2013 gig at Icho. The project, which started with gypsy guitar player Alexandre Valls and bassist Lakshmi Ramirez, later joined by guitarist Samouche and then drummer Jean-Paul Wahi, brought to me the sound of real foot-tapping gypsy jazz (to which I had then recently been introduced), with evident passion for this style of music.

My curiosity about what they were up to of late (I had only seen them perform at The Market of Everything and Fete de la Musique since that season) was recently answered when I received an invitation to their album release concert at Alliance Francaise. The album, entitled Paris-Dubai, and produced by the Kamal Musallam Arts Contracting label, includes over a dozen covers and reinterpretations in the tradition of the original Manouche gypsy jazz pioneer Django Reinhardt.

The concert itself, held in the AF auditorium, was thoroughly enjoyable, with the project quartet playing nearly all the tracks from the album, each to thunderous applause from the audience. Beginning with the upbeat "Cesar Swing" and a gypsy take on "La Vie en Rose", they powered through their track list with unwavering energy, playing some more mellow compositions among more peppy numbers that got many bopping and clapping to the rhythm. A few of them featured configurations or solos that showcased the unique bass and drum styles of Lakshmi and Jean-Paul, respectively, and the gypsy guitar skills of Alexandre and Samouche. The set reached its peak with the very lively "Sweet Georgia Brown", and the encore -- a true-blue Django -- sealed a great night of gypsy jazz.

Alternative Rock Festival at The Music Room

I don't think I've seen The Music Room as packed as I did last Friday at Charged's Alternative Rock Festival. What a night!

Shaun Holton

Manjeet

Shaun Holton from Projected Twin and Manjeet (whose birthday it happened to be) from Red House kicked off the event with solo progressive and acoustic rock sets.

No delays in hitting the afterburners as EP-launching band AKB (Alpha Kenny Buddy outside official circles) sprayed hot metal all over the place. A mosh erupted in front of the stage, and there was just this immense energy both onstage and offstage.

POV kept the momentum going with the title track from Revolutionize the Revolutionary, Alien Ant Farm's rearrangement of Smooth Criminal, and more.

Chronicles of Khan was next, returning after a couple years with a rhythmic rock sound and monstrous instrumental finish.

Kicksound followed with hard rock.

Goddamn Electric was last but not least in the least, with superb instrumentals and vocals. Hope to see more of them in future.