Tag Archives: Werner Martin

SMADJ from Istanbul and Paris to Australia.

Full interview between Smadj and 3CR’s Werner Martin

 

I had the pleasure of meeting Tunisian born, Parisian musician Jean-Pierre Smadja aka SMADJ who is currently on tour along the east coast of Australia performing with his signature Oud, both acoustic and electric.

With it’s origins in the Middle East the Oud is considered a sacred instrument often described as the King of Instruments. Legend has it that the Oud was invented by Lamech, the sixth grandson of Adam from the pharaonic era stretching back over 5,000 years.

Smadj grew up listening to Oriental, Brazilian, funk and folk music and started his musical career as a Jazz guitarist at age 15. His interest in the mechanics of making music lead him to pursue a degree in sound engineering resulting in a fruitful career as a recording and sound engineer for other famous musicians.

Smadj’s discography includes 17 albums with his first in 1993.

In 2000 he became recognised on an international scale for his signature blending of acoustic and electronic sounds on Equilibriste which ascended on the European World Music charts to 4th position.

On his current Australian tour he will be performing songs from his soon to be release album “Oud Solotronic”.

An authentic musical collaborator and Oud master, Smadj along with his musical kindred spirits and world class musicians has transported the Oud to the 21st century.

For more information smadjmusic.com

SMADJ – Australian tour 2016

4 March 2016 – Arrive to Melbourne

5 March 2016 – Melbourne – Mesopotamia (Underground music Festival

6 March 2016 – Sydney – The Basement

7-8 March 2016 – Promotional activities

9 March 2016 – Tasmania – Fluke and Bruce

10 March 2016 – Tasmania promotional activities

11 March 2016 – Melbourne -Memo Music Hall

12 March 2016 – Melbourne – private event at the Glasshouse.

13 March 2016 – Melbourne – Queen Victoria Market Festival (with Bashka)

14 March – Melbourne – Belle Ville

15 March – Melbourne – Rest

16 March – Brisbane – promotional Activities

17 March 2016 – Brisbane – The Wooly Mammoth

18 March 2016 – Canberra – White Eagle Polish Club

19 March 2016 – Sydney – Private Party

20 March 2016 – Melbourne – Musica VIVA Festival (with Bashka)

20 March 2016 – Return to Paris

 

Blues legend Ivan Zar & Werner Martin

I had the opportunity of filming a live to air interview at 3CR between Blues journalist / presenter Werner Martin and visiting Blues legend Ivan Zar.

Ivan painted a picture through word and song about his experiences touring indigenous communities throughout the Kimberley over a 20 year period. Fascinating to say the least. And I will present that footage in the not too distant future for your viewing pleasure.

In the interim, I would like to inform our readers about some gigs that are coming up later this week where you can catch Blues legend Ivan Zar performing  with Melbourne sensation Ezra Lee.

COMING GIGS:  Ezra Lee & Rocking Ray with special guest Blues legend Ivan Zar

The Drunken Poets

Thurs. 26 Feb. 2016

65 Peel Street, Melbourne

8 – 10 pm

The Dogs Bar

Friday 26 Feb. 2016

54 Acland Street, St Kilda

8 – 11.30 pm

1417515198_Ezra_Fire

Heroes & Laments by Olive Knight

I had the opportunity to be present for an interview between Olive Knight and 3CR’s Rhythm and Blues journalist Werner Martin for his Hot Damn Tamale show aired Saturday nights between 7 – 8pm.  The interview is jammed full of interesting information as well as tracks and discussion about her latest album Heroes and Laments  produced by Desert Feet Records.

Blues Journalist and 3CR presenter Werner Martin from Hot Damn Tamale with Kankara Nagarra (Olive Knight)
Blues Journalist and 3CR presenter Werner Martin from Hot Damn Tamale with Kankawa Nagarra (Olive Knight)

Below is the audio of the last half of this fascinating interview for listening pleasure. Full interview below.

 

Kankawa Nagarra (Olive Knight) is an Indigenous elder from the Wangkatjungka  community in a remote part of the Kimberly.  Among her many attributes, Kankawa is a powerful gospel blues singer / songwriter.

Olive is in Melbourne for two major reasons. Firstly, she is employed as a teacher and mentor at Wesley College for the indigenous students.

Secondly, Olive is  currently preparing for her performances with Hugh Jackman in the national concert tour of his new show Broadway to Oz which will be premiering at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on the 24 November.

This is the fourth concert tour that Olive has performed alongside Hugh Jackman.

Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman

Not long after she produced her first album Gospel Blues at the Edge of the Desert  with her Blues mentor Ivan Zar she was invited to debut in Jackman’s 2011 sell-out hit concert Back to Broadway.

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Full interview

The Blues unrooted

 Blues … a pulse of the soul … for some a gateway to salvation and others a mystical resonance, either way the Blues is a timeless rhyme that hits our core.

Williamstown’s Way Out West Roots Music Club today hosted the June 2015 benefit concert for 3CR’s R&B shows’ Nightowls On Rhythm presented by Steve Fraser and  The Hot Damn Tamale  presented by Werner Martin.

The afternoon featured top Rhyme and Blues artists from around the country with Sweet Felicia & The Honeytones featuring Fast Eddy Boyle, the legendary Delta Blues artist Ivan Zar from Perth, Dan Robinson’s Wild Cherries, Phil Manning (Chain) and Backwood Creatures.

Blues fans, that do not already know, listen up …

Way Out West Roots Music Club is run by a dedicated group of volunteer enthusiasts and is located at the very well decked out Williamstown RSL. Not only does this venue have GREAT ACCOUSTICS the club hosts both local and international roots musicians and endeavours to support and promote young artists by giving the vast majority of gig funds directly to the performers!

To find out about upcoming gigs go to Way Out West Roots Music Club.

Perth's Delta Blues man Ivan Zar
Perth’s Delta Blues man Ivan Zar
Sweet Felicia & The Honeytones
Sweet Felicia & The Honeytones
Fast Eddy Boyle
Fast Eddy Boyle
Steve Fraser and Werner Martin
Steve Fraser and Werner Martin