{"id":4985,"date":"2022-11-15T18:03:21","date_gmt":"2022-11-15T18:03:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/?p=4985"},"modified":"2022-11-15T18:03:22","modified_gmt":"2022-11-15T18:03:22","slug":"album-review-satya-words-sammy-stein","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/2022\/11\/15\/album-review-satya-words-sammy-stein\/","title":{"rendered":"Album Review – \u201cSatya\u201d. Words: Sammy Stein"},"content":{"rendered":"

Satya<\/span><\/span> ( Resonant Artists \u00a02022)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Satya<\/span><\/span> comprise<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span> Phil <\/span><\/span>Raskin<\/span><\/span> on percussion and <\/span><\/span>Frank <\/span><\/span>Doblekar<\/span><\/span> on saxophone. <\/span><\/span>T<\/span><\/span>hey are joined on the eponymous album ‘<\/span><\/span>Satya<\/span><\/span>‘ for two tracks by <\/span><\/span>Ratzo<\/span><\/span> Harris on bass. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Raskin<\/span><\/span> has been a professional musician since his teenage years in Cleveland, Ohio<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> and his four<\/span><\/span>-decade-<\/span><\/span>plus career has taken him across the world. <\/span><\/span>Raskin<\/span><\/span> was mentored by the legendary guitarist Bill <\/span><\/span>DeArango<\/span><\/span> and became a member of The Smiling Dog Saloon’s band<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> p<\/span><\/span>erforming at Cleveland’s jazz Mecca with some of the best musicians in the world, including Joe <\/span><\/span>Lovano<\/span><\/span>, Billy <\/span><\/span>Drewes<\/span><\/span>, Skip <\/span><\/span>Hadden<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> Kenny Werner<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> Stan Getz, Pharoah Sanders, Gary Burton<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> and Weather Report. S<\/span><\/span>o<\/span><\/span>me<\/span><\/span> of<\/span><\/span> these would become later collaborators.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Raskin<\/span><\/span> attend<\/span><\/span>ed Berklee<\/span><\/span> after studying with composer <\/span><\/span>Halim<\/span><\/span>El-<\/span><\/span>Dabh<\/span><\/span> at the center for Pan<\/span><\/span>–<\/span><\/span>African Studies at Kent State University<\/span><\/span>. H<\/span><\/span>e received a Berklee scholarship and<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> whil<\/span><\/span>e there, collaborated with Boston scene musicians, including Mike Gibbs, George <\/span><\/span>Garzone<\/span><\/span>, Rebecca Paris, Bob Mover, Wallace Rooney, and Wayne <\/span><\/span>Krantz<\/span><\/span>, among many others.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

His music includes many influences from around the world<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>and he continues to expand his musical palette.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Cleveland native Frank <\/span><\/span>Doblekar<\/span><\/span>‘<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span> musical career has also spanned over four decades. <\/span><\/span>Doblekar<\/span><\/span> began his life-long musical collaboration with friend Joe <\/span><\/span>Lovano<\/span><\/span> while they were both teenagers. Passionate in his love for jazz and world-influenced improvisational music<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> he worked extensively with Grammy award<\/span><\/span>–<\/span><\/span>winning producer Malcolm Cecil and performed regularly with Bill <\/span><\/span>DeArango<\/span><\/span>, Bill Dobbins, <\/span><\/span>Halim<\/span><\/span>El <\/span><\/span>Dabh<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>Ramnad<\/span><\/span> V. <\/span><\/span>Raghavan<\/span><\/span>, Roswell Rudd, and toured Europe with Donald Ayler. <\/span><\/span>Doblekar<\/span><\/span> was <\/span><\/span>the<\/span><\/span> first call for many artists<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> including Tony Bennett, Steve Allen, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Liberace, Tom Jones, Sammy Davis Jr.<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> and Jerry Lewis. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ratzo<\/span><\/span> Harris is a musician and writer hailing from Indianapolis, Indiana. He <\/span><\/span>gained a master<\/span><\/span>‘<\/span><\/span>s from <\/span><\/span>Rutgers <\/span><\/span>University <\/span><\/span>in Newark, New Jersey<\/span><\/span>. In a career spanning over four decades<\/span><\/span>, Harris has played with <\/span><\/span>Mose<\/span><\/span> Allison, Bruce Arnold , Joe <\/span><\/span>Lovano<\/span><\/span>, Judi <\/span><\/span>Silvano<\/span><\/span>, Dave Haskell, \u00a0and Tony Moreno, to name just a<\/span><\/span> few.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

‘<\/span><\/span>Satya<\/span><\/span>‘<\/span><\/span> is <\/span><\/span>a <\/span><\/span>musical <\/span><\/span>message of <\/span><\/span>l<\/span><\/span>ove and <\/span><\/span>p<\/span><\/span>eaceful <\/span><\/span>v<\/span><\/span>ibrations, exploring a way of playing together and communicating in a harmonious, truthful expression of sound and ideas.<\/span><\/span> The musicians share <\/span><\/span>mutual love and respect for the spirituality in the music. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Charlie Haden’s ‘Song for <\/span><\/span>Che<\/span><\/span>‘ opens the album and is a mystical, atmospheric number, with a sax solo for the first quarter before the percussion gently eases in, tentatively, then with ever<\/span><\/span>–<\/span><\/span>increasing sound as the saxophone develops the emotive melody lines. While the sax maintains the lead, the percussive elements <\/span><\/span>create complex and altercating patterns, emphasizing the melody’s gorgeous lines<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ayler’s ‘Spirits’ is admirably executed with restrain<\/span><\/span>t<\/span><\/span> and a concentration on the melodic form which Ayler so dexterously hid behind a wrath of mystical extrudes. <\/span><\/span>H<\/span><\/span>ere, the beauty and simplicity of the notation <\/span><\/span>are<\/span><\/span> heard<\/span><\/span>\u2013<\/span><\/span> and felt. The percussive element finds the spaces a<\/span><\/span>nd<\/span><\/span> the timing to serve a faithful and free accompaniment, redolent of the free-wheeling style of the original<\/span><\/span>\u2014a<\/span><\/span> glorious combination of styles. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

‘You Started It’ opens with <\/span><\/span>the <\/span><\/span>saxophone creating beautiful, atmospheric echoes using linked melodic riffs<\/span><\/span>. The percussion provides a solid platform of sound that<\/span><\/span> rolls into and onto itself, forming a wave-like sense of <\/span><\/span>undulative<\/span><\/span> support. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

‘Where He Leads Me’ is a <\/span><\/span>balladic<\/span><\/span> song of sound with drums underpinning a simple yet effective melodic top line. <\/span><\/span>The percussion’s complexity emphasizes the saxophone’s melody<\/span><\/span>, creating a track <\/span><\/span>that<\/span><\/span> speaks profoundly to the listener.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

‘ Blessed Quietness’ is gentle <\/span><\/span>and <\/span><\/span>mesmeric and features such <\/span><\/span>soft<\/span><\/span> percussion it might be a whisper behind the sweetness of the saxophone lines<\/span><\/span>;<\/span><\/span> the gradual diminuendo is subtle and beautiful. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

‘ <\/span><\/span>Ghosts’ is quietly energetic, the full force of the beautifully placed notes of the melody, which Ayler had a knack <\/span><\/span>for<\/span><\/span>, conveyed in the intuitive <\/span><\/span>and respectful <\/span><\/span>playing style of <\/span><\/span>Doblekar<\/span><\/span>. Dipping, rising<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> and soaring, the sax travels across octaves at ease with the flying nature of the melody. Simply beautiful, especially when the notes are subtly flattened in the second third. The percussion comes to the fore on this track in many places<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> creating a true duality between the two musicians<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

‘Incantation’ is wonderfully atmospheric, the saxophone sighing and soaring across the melody into near silence, into which the percussion edges with varied sounds but always allowing the saxophone to carry its voice<\/span><\/span>\u2014a<\/span><\/span> stunning track. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

‘ <\/span><\/span>Sonetto<\/span><\/span> 1′ feels like a gentle, slow dance, with sax playing melody over tricky percussive rhythms, which add texture and intrigue to the sound, while ‘<\/span><\/span>Sonetto<\/span><\/span> 2′ is spacey, atmospheric<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>and a<\/span><\/span>n<\/span><\/span> example of the conversational nature of the musicians, as the percussion slips into the spaces with intuitive dexterity.<\/span><\/span>The rich tones of the sax as it dips low and then rises <\/span><\/span>are<\/span><\/span> a delight.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

‘ <\/span><\/span>Sonetto<\/span><\/span> 3′ <\/span><\/span>is a continuation of the interaction between the two musicians and is another atmospheric track, building from a gentle start to a series of repeated phrases under and into which the percussive elements are woven.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The two final numbers come under the ‘Suite Requiem for Ukraine.’ ‘Sadness’ features the bass of <\/span><\/span>Ratzo<\/span><\/span> Harris bass adding deep, sonorous undertones over which the sax and percussion add texture and energy. The middle third is a thing of beauty with <\/span><\/span>the <\/span><\/span>sax crying, then softly singing as if to itself, the percussion <\/span><\/span>adding whistles which fade, like birdsong, before the sax too fades. ‘Angels’ is delivered with panache <\/span><\/span>and <\/span><\/span>is like a meditation in sound. The sax travels the registers and is, at times, just glorious. The percussion solos make outstanding interludes, and after the second one, the saxophone switches time pattern and emphasis, adding to the interest of the music. The heavy, dynamic improvisational essence of this number verges on the exquisite.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/span>As Joe <\/span><\/span>Lovano<\/span><\/span> said of this recording, “‘<\/span><\/span>Satya<\/span><\/span>‘<\/span><\/span> has a oneness about it that is a heartfelt Prayer of Truth, Understanding, Trust, and State of Being.\u00a0 Let this offering transport you to a beautiful state of being all your own, as it did for me.<\/span><\/span>“<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 Joe <\/span><\/span>Lovano<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Proceeds from the downloads go to support World Central Kitchen <\/span><\/span>WCK@WCKitchen<\/span><\/span>, an organisation on the ground in Ukraine helping feed people in desperate need. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

FYI the album is available on all streaming platforms in CD quality and HD audio on <\/span><\/span>Bandcamp<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

https:\/\/satyaworld.bandcamp.com\/album\/satya\"\"<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Satya ( Resonant Artists \u00a02022) Satya comprises Phil Raskin on percussion and Frank Doblekar on saxophone. They are joined on the eponymous album ‘Satya‘ for two tracks by Ratzo Harris on bass. Raskin has been a professional musician since his teenage years in Cleveland, Ohio, and his four-decade-plus career has taken him across the world. … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4986,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[139,30,140,227],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-jazz","category-music","category-review","category-sammy-stein"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4985"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4985\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4987,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4985\/revisions\/4987"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}