Thu Dec 31, 2009
New Side Project, Solo Oud Piece, Guitar Votes
quick random updates/news:
1) Solo oud piece inspired by and dedicated to those struggling for truth in Iran should be up in a few days.
2) Is thinking of a side music project ( like i really have the time for it lol)... Is NM ready for a taqwacore band? I'm hearing it, tunes are coming. It's time, brothers and sisters, you know it. Metal/improv/groove/ improvised poetry, VERY LOUD and VERY HOLY. Last Exit meets Hafiz. Looking for performers inspired to extreme states of fearlessness of the duniya via Allah's love for creation; and we'll take that fearlessness onstage to transform others.
Some personnel options are coming into play; stay tuned for details.
3) Sofi, sweetie that she is, voted for her dad Mustafa Stefan Dill in the guitar Player Readers poll after seeing me cast my vote for fellow Albuquerque musician Ryan McGarvey in the blues category.... sofi put me in the experimental, world and new talent categories, and if you're inclined, so can you, here.
We have a great fan base here, thank you all -- if everyone voted, this music could spread far and wide, thanks to your support.
4) Final edits under way for the electric portion of the Duo release; rehearsing and refining all the acoustic oud material. Too early to tell when we'll start tracking that; sometime in Jan.
Thanks everyone for all your support this past year! Its been a great year of progress and momentum for us, and the best is yet to come.
Best wishes and blessings to everyone for your 2010!
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Fri Dec 11, 2009
of double cds, ouds, and reinvention
One of the fascinating things about Sama Duo is that Jefferson and I are always pushing our own envelopes, always redefining what the Duo can do. We're restless in that way. No sooner do we define and explore a method and language for one set of instrumentation, then we take a look at some previous reincarnation, revisit it with fresh perspective. As Moe Hamzeh of Lebanese punk band the Kordz says, music can't be lazy." It's a creed we share as well, whether it's in music's execution, content, approach, intent or meaning.
After we tracked the CD at the end of August and then sifted and did the first round of edits in Sept /Oct (though there was a bit of vacation time in there as well), we hit the Adobe with an electric set, very fresh and exuberant. I also brought the oud along, and were pleased with the acoustic parts of the set (though I didn't quite have the sound gear optimized, thouhg that's solved now).
We haven't been too pleased with the acoustic tracks (on oud) we layed down for the release, however; we found some nice takes of the two slower ones, but everything else just wasn't happening. With a new oud in tow ( best one i've ever owned), rested and regrouped, rehearsals since I came back from vacation at the end of October have been strictly with oud and percussion. New repertoire is developing, new ways of working and shaping the material are coming to the fore.
We did a test run set at the Montanita Co-op in Albuquerque last week, and will do an oud/percussion set at the Santa Fe Montanita Co-op (913 West Alameda, near st. Francis, 505-984-2852) this Sunday at 3 p.m. This marks the first Sama Duo bona fide performance in our old stomping grounds in quite a while, and we're looking forward to it!
Another outcome of this development has been the decision to make the originally planned release a double length project. It will be fashioned as two CDs worth: one acoustic, and one electric. This allows each dimension of what we do to breathe a bit more, to offer a more in depth and detailed representation of the Duo's scope and range, without shortchanging either mode to make it 'fit' in one regular release length. It pushes back the release date somewhat, as we're not ready to track the acoustic stuff quite yet. I'm anticipating probably February or March, realistically, before all lose ends are tied and all is in place, ready to download and purchase. We will release them together.
Are we being epic, detailed and diverse, or just overly ambitious and long winded? you'll have to decide for yourself , lol :)
We'll keep you posted, and hope to see all our Santa Fe buddies Sunday.
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Sun Oct 25, 2009
Sama Duo in Taos Wednesday
We've had a good break and vacation for both of us, after tracking the CD at the end of August then doing some rough edits; we still have to decide on the best takes and perhaps do a little further trimming -- we can run long -- but it's all underway!
In the meantime, we are back at the Adobe Bar in Taos, 125 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte, this Wednesday - Oct. 28, 7 p.m.
Special thanks to Rima Ralff, who did a very nice article on the upcoming gig for the Taos News; you can see it in their facsimile edition here (go to page S20, choose 'graphic' mode on the right; it continues on page S22.
hope to see everyone there!
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Wed Sep 09, 2009
oud test videos
One of the things I did as we were tracking was to test run solo versions of two new oud pieces in front of the Flip cam. I find this helpful to get used to the pieces in a performance or recording setting, and overcome a litle 'new material anxiety'. i actually thought, after a couple of nights of trying, that i had a reasonable handle on the material so i did a little editing form the final takes and posted them on you tube.
Here's one of them --- a slow, wistful melody, it's becoming one of our favorites. The Duo version will likely be the closing piece on the new release.
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CD tracked
we did it -- the new release is 'all in the can', as they say...
We tracked it all in just six sessions at the rehearsal space, direct to two-track - no overdubs or mixing ( though there will probably be some editing , etc). We checked the mic placement with mastering engineer Cass Anawaty, who gave it the go ahead, and away we went.
Now comes the task of sorting and selecting through takes, etc. As Subho put it to me when I arrived in Kolkata with mountains of music for the BOAP project, "You now have to make this ocean of music into a river..."
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Thu Aug 13, 2009
Four videos from last week's gig...
It was a great gig -- nice folks, best lemonade on the planet, and a pretty good second set, some clips which are now up:
There's some nice versions of the Yaman tune and the Five, whcih you can see on on our youtube site, but here's a couple of embeds on new ones:
KISS Coffee: Garden Of Eden
This started as a completely open jam, and quickly morphed into a rendition of one of the pieces used in "Birth Of A Pillow." Of course, then it was on sarod and tabla...we've never played it in this instrumentation before, so it was a surprise and a premiere for both of us! A little shaky on some aspects of the 'head', not being sure how it would lay it on guitar, but it has a nice feel and some cool moments.
The title is from the particular vignette from the film, though we privately refer it to as "bluegrass." Loosely based on raag Brindabani Sarang.
KISS Coffee: O.P.
This is a recent developing semi-jam; "O.P." stands for the Octave Patch used on the guitar (love that microPOG!). A different feel from some of our other samples we've posted.
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Sun Aug 09, 2009
KISS coffee gig
KISS Coffee gig was fun! nice setting, good food, and they really do have great lemonade! 1st set a little a stiff as we got used to the sound, but second set rocked, i think...
many thanks to Robin, Melissa, Josh, Josh, Andrew and all the others who came out or stopped by to see it. truly grateful for the support!
good friend Andrew B. took the flip cam and shot something ---thanks! i'll take a look at the footage Sunday...
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Sat Aug 08, 2009
last minute gig in Alb's historic Old Town!
looking forward to a quickly booked show TONIGHT (SAt, Aug 8) in Alb's historic Old Town at:
KISS Coffee at Patio Escondido
404 San Felipe, just off Mountain Rd
Old Town
Albuquerque, NM 87104 US
we'll be there from 7 to 9...c ya there!
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Sun Aug 02, 2009
site changes, new features - and new release planned!
A lot of news:
As you can tell, I'm in the process of updating the site, bringing it in line with some of the social networking and music apps we have. It will take some time to integrate it through all the sections of the site, but I'm making progress.
One of the main things that's happening is the consolidation of an email list, which until now has been done manually; I'll be sending out a final manual email to folks we've contacted in the past, but if you're here , please sign up on the email list widget on the left.
You'll notice an embedded music player; a Twitter feed; our Facebook fans; a link to full details on our integrated material on Reverb Nation; show schedule (a little thin at the moment); and more to come.
As we're sharing more and more performance and rehearsal videos ( I think music this improvised needs to be seen as well as heard), I'm trying to find a good way to present those easily -- a couple of options I'm exploring for that.
This is all ramping up to, finally, a projected release this fall. With the 'Travel Bug' CD release over 5 years old and not very representative at all of our current focus, it's high time to offer some definitive, well-recorded performances in a cohesive presentation.
There's a lot of great moments on the rehearsal tracks we've uploaded, to be sure. I've always had an 'open source' philosophy, to document and share the process as it goes along, so while the cuts you're hearing now may be representative, what more, what best is possible? Discovering and ultimately sharing that is a big part of what we're doing over the next few months (we don't want to shy away from live work either as we hone it).
Tentative plans are to record during August, select and edit in September, mastering/graphics/production in Sept/October, official release some time early November. We'll be doing a primarily digital only release with comprehensive distribution, with a very limited number of actual physical CDs.
Stay tuned, watch our Twitter for little daily updates, and sign up on our list....
thanks!
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Happy Friendship Day!
To all our Desi friends , fans and supporters -- have a very happy Friendship Day! thanks for your friendship, connection and support; hope you are all are thriving and happy. Wishing all of you the very best continued success, across the miles...
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Mon Jul 13, 2009
testing for reveb nation app
we're also setting up the reverb nation app on our facebook -- this is a test post to see if posts here feed into the blog there!
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Sun Jul 12, 2009
early, all-ages show at Bleeding Eardrum Monday!
Looking forward to branching out and rocking it again, this time at Bleeding Eardrum!
We're on the bill with Run Doris Run from California, and a couple of other bands. Show starts at 6, not sure when we go on, but not first. cover is $8. come check it out!
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Mon Jun 15, 2009
atomic cantina videos up
I cleaned up the audio and video as best i could, though its still murky and very red...nonetheless, i thought id post three videos from the Atomic set. Here's the first, and they all can be found at the you tube site :
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Thu Jun 11, 2009
Adobe Bar rocked!
Adobe Bar gig was fantastic, much more musical and dynamic than the nerve-ridden Atomic gig.
People were very taken, bar manager happy (always a good thing). Pakawaj master Phil Hollenback sat in for the 2nd set, no less! very honored to have him -- thanks Phil!
No videos or photos, though -- sight lines are difficult due to bar layout. I have some flipcam footage from the Atomic but its pretty murky, we'll see if its worth clearing up.
With two under our belt, we're aggressively looking to book more. Stay tuned.
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Mon Jun 08, 2009
Sama Duo 2nd In Atomic Lineup Tonight
per note from the Atomic Cantina, tonight's order is
FULL SPEED VERONICA(opening)
SAMADUO
THE ANTLERS
ANTS HAVE VOICES(CLosing)
Show will start apx 9:30 , so if youre there 10 .15 ish, you should be able to catch us....
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Sun Jun 07, 2009
atomic cantina tomorrow! taos inn wednesday
according to http://www.atomiccantina.com/events.html , we are set for Monday! the calendar has us third on the list, but im not sure if that corresponds to actual band order.
Bands start at about 9, so if youre down there by 11 ish you should be in time to catch us. I'll let you know if i hear anything different.
It'll be a pretty aggressive set, so if you want to see us at our most unleashed, this is the chance... :)
also see us in Taos Wednesday, june 10 at the Adobe Bar for a slightly more restrained and a bit more varied set, but no less energetic...
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Thu May 21, 2009
new rehearsal videos
We've set up a new Rehearsals Video Playlist on our (newly redesigned) YouTube channel...music that's this interactive and improvised is often better seen as well as heard.
We're launching with 3 new videos (in our fretless electric/ drum set incarnation) in the new Sama Duo rehearsal playlist ... enjoy!
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Wed May 13, 2009
new tracks, new tunes, taos gig
Lately we've been we've been recording rehearsals with a view to capturing actual takes to get some of the material in a demo format and circulating about. They're available at
myspace or facebook, you pick!
Among the new ones:
New Song In 5
One is a new piece we've been developing, a hypnotic dark groove in 5/4. After the setup and a floating melody, it moves into an extended funk interplay/improv,then some wah work, a reprise of the melody , and a brief drum solo over a recurring chord pattern to take it out.
Improv Groove 0326
A simple groove jam with a bit of South Indian flavor.
Untitled Yaman Rock Funk Tune Update
I had an early draft of this up for a while -- here's an incarnation form March, with yet another update on the way. Has a bit of everything -- alap opening, backbeat tune, crazy abstract improv middle. Purposefully ragged and garage -rock-ish. We 'll take title suggestions!
There's yet more pieces on the playlists, and we'll be posting more in a few days.
We're also scheduled to perform at the adobe Bar at the Taos Inn on June 10; more details on that forthcoming, but hope to see everyone there.
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Sat Feb 21, 2009
two new tracks
two new tracks from recent rehearsals on our myspace playlist:
Bhangra Funk Jam, Extreme Fretless Version
Another take on the bhangra - inspired groove in development, this version uses the fretless and some interesting wah textures. All improvised in real time.
Compare to the fretted version...
Love
Simple and sweet, this has been in our repertoire for a long time in the sarod/tabla form (you can hear it on the 'Travel Bug' CD and there's a You Tube live clip of it as well), but it's starting to find a nice voice in the electric setting. Inspired by the feel of classic filmi ballads.
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Sun Feb 01, 2009
Sama Duo Rising: New Tracks at MySpace
Rehearsals have been going very well, with the electric material shaping up nicely. We did a couple of gigs last weekend, most notably at the Reptilian Lounge, which was a lot of fun. We also were the guest on the community access channel "WV" talk show. He hasnt posted the footage yet, I'll post an update when he does.
We've replaced all the music tracks on our MySpace page with new material from recent rehearsals. I'm not afraid to share works in progress and documenting the Duo as it evolves, so feel free to check out the current state of the group.
We're planning to record a new CD in the spring, and are in the process of stepping up the performance activity in the area over the next few months as part of honing the material for the recording project.
Stay tuned!
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