Odds, ends & catchups

As noted previously, I haven’t been able to post updates or newsletters recently. The events page (www.events.to-music.ca) now has extensive updates through the new year. Below are a few scatttered items that have been accumulating recently, in no particular order: “Music for Peace” Steve Paikin, on TVO’s “The Agenda” interviews David Buchbinder (Flying Klezmer Bulgar Band, Ashkenaz and the new organization, Diasporic Genius) and Bassam Bishara (oud player and musical director of Arabesque Dance Company). The guests discuss (to a rather naive Paikin, in my view) their thoughts on Israeli/Palestinian conflict and connections, politics and music. They had collaborated on … Continue reading

A musical prayer for Libya

For over 6 months, ordinary Libyans have sacrificed, fought and died in order to finally rid themselves of the terror & opression they’ve lived under for almost 42 years. At this point, victory & freedom for Libyans may finally be close. In the last week, towns and cities all over western Libya have been freed. Only Tripoli remains, and it seems as if tonight and tomorrow may begin the final stand against the dictator. Many of us are holding our breaths. So, in support of Libya and Libyans, a small bit of Libyan music & other notes… Last Friday, I … Continue reading

New rap star: Muamar Gaddafi

He may be a murderer and war criminal, but one of the hot music videos out there, is “Zenga Zenga”, performed by none other than the crackpot criminal himself. The video was created back in February making use of one of his early threatening speeches against the protesters, when he vowed to wipe them out “inch by inch, room  by room, home by home, alley by alley”. An Israeli journalist & musician, Noy Alooshe, watched the speech and  thought Gaddafi’s appearance, gestures and speech looked like something out of a trance party. He put out a video with Auto-Tune technology, … Continue reading