2010

Check out my NEW page on tunecore!

www.tunecore.come/music/renegadesufi

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As mentioned in the blogs,  I've collaborated with such artists as DJ Celt Islam (www.myspace.com/celtislam), Ilja Stankovic (http://www.youtube.com/balkanmusiccenter http://www.myspace.com/gypsygroovz), and Ren Udae (www.thegravaton.com). In addition to contributing sitar tracks, I'm also venturing into the realm of producing electronica, downtempo, dub, drum & bass, etc. Some of the material is receiving radio airplay in England on BBC Radio.

Nascente recently released THE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO BUDDHA LOUNGE, a compilation of various artists. This three CD set is part of the Buddha Bar compilations that established the world of multicultural grooves. One of the finest tracks on the complialtion is "Fakir" by Celt Islam Soundsystem. This track features me on sitar,  credited as a co writer. For a review of the CD, go to http://www.mraentertainment.com/index.php?IID=8152&func=itemview&module=pncommerce

Production on my new CD is making great progress (a little slow, but things are happening). The sitar will still be the dominant voice in the music, but other things will be in the works as well. The new music will be available here when its finished (including music that will not be on the upcoming CD, and will ONLY be available as downloads). The music promises to explore a new element of the spiritual / mystic Sufi tradition, and to build on what my sitar work, compositions and improvisations have done in the past. The CD release date will probably be early in 2010.

My recent performances in the Milwaukee / Chicago area were a success; and were very well received. I had some brilliant musicians with me, including Roman Ediresinghe, Glenn Asch, and Carlos Adame.

Work on my Magnum Opus: "The Isra wa Miraj Suite" a seven part suite based on the Night Journey and Miraj of the Prophet Muhammad (sas) is progressing. As of this writing, I'm still in the research stage (this is NOT something I'm just going to knock out! But then again, it took Beethoven years to complete his 9th symphony, and was worth the wait). In addition to my sitar work, areas for improvisation and composed parts for a variety of instruments will appear in the piece.

In addition to all this, I finished my book! It's a sci-fi novel titled "Tales from the Sufi Warrior." I am weighing my publishing options, and plan to make it available here as a download.


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Looking back,,,,

Check out these radio interviews:

http://www.radioislam.com/_asx/WCEV1450/2008-07-06-1450.asx
(the interview starts about 38 minutes into the show, but the first part is well worth listening to).

My interview with Mary Barlin of WMSE-FM in Milwaukee:

http://www.wmse.org/archive/new.php?dow=Sat&hour=180
(Look for the listing for 2008-06-28, and click download or stream. The interview starts about fifteen minutes into the show and lasts almost three hours).

Some time ago, I did the soundtrack of an independent film called RAM (dir. Edwin Porres): a sci-fi short about a robot that dreams its human. Very "Philip K. Dick!" The music was a slight departure. I did not play sitar, but composed electronic music for the film. I also recorded two ragas for the movie "Sukoon" directed by film maker and artist Fareen Butt, sitar tracks to a recording by nasheed singer Khaleel Muhammad's new UK single "Blessed Mustapha". My appearance playing sitar in Sylvana Viene's "Beyond Baklava" was recently included in a promotional short narrated by Patricia Neal. (http://utopianvision.co.uk/bollywood/videos/?v=jNvXg5Jw0c8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNvXg5Jw0c8)


Renegade Sufi was recently reviewed on "The Lounge": a TV show produced by Just Say Go Films Inc. To see it, go to http://www.justsaygofilms.com/movies/lounge_001.html

Come back to this website again. Something is always happening.

And I like having you here!
Dawoud's upcoming performances:

 

The Theater for the New City,

in association with Crystal Fields

Presents

Dawoud & Friends

Wednesday, October 13th. 8:00pm

In the Chino Theater

The Theater for the New City is located at 155 1st avenue (between east 9th & 10th st.) NYC

212-254-1109

theaterforthenewcity.org


MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW.


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This, and other concerts TBA are sponsored in part by:

The Herbal Tea House
740 Grand street. Jersey City, NJ 07304
(201) 435-3922
http://churchinthewildwoods.com/

The Forgotten Foods
4540 Boise Trail SW, Atlanta, GA. 30331
http://theforgottenfood.com/
longlife@theforgottenfoods.com -or- forgottenfoods@aol.com

Tell them Dawoud sent you!

If you are interested in sponsoring future events, contact Dawoud at 212-877-2641, dawoud@renegadesufi.com or renegadesufi@gmail.com

 


Other news:


 

Check out my newest presence online! Now you can read my upcoming novel, short stories, poetry, and other writing:

http://www.scribd.com/renegadesufi

 

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The first pressing of Renegade Sufi will soon be gone!

Get yours while you can.

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dawoud


Those of you in the NYC area can also find it at Scent Elate. 313 W 48th St (between 8th Ave & 9th Ave)

 

 

 
News from the world of Dawoud
Visit Dawoud's myspace page! (C'mon, you didn't think I didn't have one, did you?)
On Sunday, December 14th, Dawoud joined master pianist, improviser, and composer David Cieri in the recording studio at WNYC-FM, New York, to conribute music for his upcoming release.
Master flautist and composer Diana Wayburn 's Ostinato And... (which Dawoud played sitar on several tracks) has been selected by AllAboutJazz-New York magazine as a "Best New Release 2008" in their January 2009 issue.
On Tuesday, September 11th, Dawoud performed as a featured soloist with the Open Music Ensemble in a concert at Trinity Church in New York City, commemorating the 9/11/01 tragedy. The video is available for download at http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/calendar/index.php?event_id=40548

Nascente recently released THE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO BUDDHA LOUNGE, a compilation of various artists. This three CD set is part of the Buddha Bar compilations that established the world of multicultural grooves. One of the finest tracks on the complialtion is "Fakir" by Celt Islam Soundsystem. This track features Dawoud on sitar, who is credited as a co writer. For a review of the CD, go to http://www.mraentertainment.com/index.php?IID=8152&func=itemview&module=pncommerce

BEYOND BAKLAVA:  THE FAIRY TALE STORY OF SYLVIA'S BAKLAVA
with Patricia Neal, Lady Arlene Kieta, Philip Langner, Jann Castor, Peter Rosenblatt, Harold Appel, Dawoud(composer, and appearing as himself) and Silvana Vienne, was invited to have its World Premiere at the International Panorama of Independent Film in Greece the week of September 7, 2007. Here is the website:  www.independent.gr

Lady in the Shoe Productions is at work upon a novel and full length motion picture. Producer, director, author Kalima Lewis has asked Dawoud to compose the music for the film, and co-edit the book. Details as they unfold.

Dawoud recently accepted a commission to contribute sitar tracks to the single "Blessed Mustapha" by Khalil Muhammad!  Visit  http://www.myspace.com/khaleelmuhammadlive and http://www.khaleelmuhammad.com/.

Work on Dawoud's next CD is coming along well. Y'all will be in for a real treat when it comes out!

Dawoud also began work on a seven part suite based on the Night Journey and Miraj of the Prophet Muhammad (sas). Dawoud got the idea when he realized a corrolation between the "Isra wa Miraj (from the biography of the Prophet Muhammad [sas] when he left his body, went to Jerusalem, and ascended to the seven levels of heaven) and the chakras of the human body.  Each movement will represent one of the levels fo heaven, and be musically designed to stimulate the corrosponding chakra (or Latif i Sitta: the Sufi equivolent of the chakras). Dawoud's sitar will be prominently featured throughout; but other instrumentation will be used, and many parts of the suite will be basis for improvisations. Currently in the research phase, the project promises to be Dawoud's "Magnum Opus".

Last November, Dawoud finished the soundtrack for a film by independent director Fareen Butt. More details to come.

Andother project Dawoud was involved in was a soundtrack of an independent film called RAM (dir. Edwin Porres): a sci-fi short about a robot that dreams its human. Very "Philip K. Dick!"

Dawoud also finished the music he contributed to a film documentary on the life of Omar Khayyam. The film, produced and directed by Majid Beenteha, is scheduled for release next year.

Renegade Sufi was recently reviewed on "The Lounge": a TV show produced by Just Say Go Films Inc. To see it, go to http://www.justsaygofilms.com/movies/lounge_001.html
Meet Dawoud

 

Image

A music critic once described Dawoud as ",,, the Jimi Hendrix of the sitar."


Inspired by the vast musical traditions from around the world - east and west, acoustic and electronic, modern and ancient - these varied genres provide a creative and sacred inspiration for Dawoud. Through his artistic vision and unprecedented use of the Indian sitar, he is illuminating a new musical path.

If Dawoud's music could be defined, it would be World - Jazz Fusion. It's a jazz experience from an other-worldly realm; a New Age experience with a Downbeat edge. His music is peaceful, and will awaken within you a hidden source an energy as a friend and guide on your journey.

 

The Dawoud experience is not to be missed!.

 
Jamming with Ornette! PDF Print E-mail
Written by Mustapha Mond   
Monday, 25 May 2009 05:57

On March 11th 2009, I had the honor of jamming with Ornette Coleman

 A few weeks before, I'd attended a concert at the Kniitting Factory in NYC of the Master Musicians of Jajouka.

I know their leader Bachir Attar, and manager Cherie Nutting; and I was given a back stage pass.
 
The concert was unbelievable!! You never heard anything like Jajouka music. There is simply nothing else like it anywhere on earth. Listening to them live is like your soul is having an orgasm that lasts an hour and a half.
 
After the concert, they invited me to a dinner party the following day at the apartment where they were staying.
 
Sunday night I went to the party. It was nice. The leader of the group, Bachir Attar, is the only one of the group who speaks English; so I had a hard time communicating with the others (one of them knows some Spanish, so I could kind of talk to him. And the little Arabic I know helped). And guess who showed up at the party? Ornette Coleman. He and the Jajouka Masters had been friends for years.
 
Ornette is a really nice guy. He and I hit it off. In fact, when he arrived and was being introduced to those he didn't know, he clearly singled me out to meet. Ornette looked at me, and he immediately knew me. Same thing when I met Bachir years ago. He later invited me to his place to jam with him whenever I liked, and gave me his home address and phone number. He's old; his fragility is quite obvious. But he is still very much Ornette Coleman.
 
Bachir also invited me to come to Morroco to play with the Masters.
 
Now, Bachir, Ornette, and the like, are clearly of a different ilk; music of a different nature that pursues different objectives and serves its own functions in human society. Such is clearly my destiny, and I am not only at peace with it, but welcome it. That said, in their realm, they are masters - and they accepted me as a brother.
So, anyway, Ornette invited me to his home to jam with him.

Ornette lives in a MASSIVE apartment in the garment district. Beautifully decorated, and very spacious. His manager was there, and the three of us hung out and talked for a while. Then a friend of mine, an Iranian saxophonist who plays with Ornette came in. Ornette was constantly offering us food! Fruit, snacks, and soda: lots of soda (he even gave me an A&W root beer to take home with me). Then we moved into the music room, and started playing.

Playing with him was quite an experience. This man's mind functions on another level! At first I had trouble knowing how to deal with it, and treaded cautiously. But then I began to understand. At one point, he started playing "Lonely Woman". What an experience that was! We did some really heavy stuff on that. And we played a blues in C that was beyond belief. Playing with someone of that level of musical mastery is quite an experience.

And throughout, when he wasn't playing, he was discoursing on all manner of deep spiritual and philosophical ideas. some people touch on these kind of things on rare occasion: Ornette lives there. He's really a sweet guy.

He told me he liked my playing and asked me to come back any time; he wants to play with me again. He also told me "The tonic is in the heart". I'll always remember that.

All in all, it was a marvelous experience. Me and the other sax player left at the same time and shared a train ride. He was telling me that people often try to take advantage of Ornette; and that he choses carefully who he tells that he plays with Ornette. You know: "Hey! Can you get me a gig with him? Give him my CD! Hook me up!" I thought, and said outloud, that sure, I'd like a gig with him, and if he ever asks me to play with him, I'll do the gig. But  what Ornette already gave me was priceless! The music, the conversations. The entire evening was a great treasure.
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