#4916, From the 25th Annual New York Guitar Festival at Merkin Hall

New Sounds | Aug 10

From the 25th annual New York Guitar Festival, hear sets by lap-tapping guitarist Yasmin Williams, sitarist Neel Murgai with guitarist Kunal Prakash; and Moroccan singer and sintir (bass lute) player Maalem Hassan BenJaafar. 

Virginia-based Yasmin Williams has extended the “tapping” technique into a whole new way of approaching the guitar - often laying the instrument in her lap and raining fingers down on the strings from above. Occasionally she adds tap shoes and kalimba to the sound, becoming a literal one-woman band. Listen to a set from Yasmin Williams, including work from her latest record, Acadia, due out on Nonesuch Records in October of 2024.

The NYGF has long presented related instruments from around the world; listen to music for sitar, then sintir. Listen to work by sitarist Neel Murgai, co-director of the globally-inspired Brooklyn Raga Massive, joined by Jeff The Brotherhood guitarist Kunal Prakash – in an extreme minimalist duo version of “In D”.

Rounding out this episode of New Sounds is an improvisation from New York-based Moroccan singer, sintir (bass lute) player, and bandleader Maalem Hassan BenJaafar with Saha Gnawa. (He also leads Innov Gnawa – a band who plays the traditional healing and spiritual music of the Gnawa people of Morocco.) All music and performances were recorded live at Kaufman Music Center’s Merkin Hall in June of 2024. - Caryn Havlik

Program #4916, From the 2024 NYGF at Merkin Hall (First aired 8/29/2024)

ARTIST: Yasmin Williams
WORK: Nectar [1:30]
RECORDING: Live, June 14, 2024 at Merkin Hall
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: The song is available here: https://yasminwilliams.lnk.to/acadia

ARTIST: Neel Murgai and Kunal Prakash
WORK: Raga Yaman [12:31]
RECORDING: Live, June 14, 2024 at Merkin Hall
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: The work has been recorded by the Neel Murgai Ensemble

ARTIST: Neel Murgai and Kunal Prakash
WORK: In D [5:35]
RECORDING: Live, June 14, 2024 at Merkin Hall
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: There is a recording of "In D" by Brooklyn Raga Massive

ARTIST: Yasmin Williams
WORK: Cliffwalk [4:54]
RECORDING: Live, June 14, 2024 at Merkin Hall
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: The song is available here: https://yasminwilliams.lnk.to/acadia

ARTIST: Yasmin Williams
WORK: Nectar [2:46]
RECORDING: Live, June 14, 2024 at Merkin Hall
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: The song is available here: https://yasminwilliams.lnk.to/acadia

ARTIST: Yasmin Williams
WORK: Guitka [3:39]
RECORDING: Live, June 14, 2024 at Merkin Hall
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: The song appears on Unwind  

ARTIST: Yasmin Williams
WORK: Restless Heart [3:16]
RECORDING: Live, June 14, 2024 at Merkin Hall
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: The song appears on Unwind  

ARTIST: Maalem Hassan BenJaafar / Saha Gnawa
WORK: Improvisation [5:42]
RECORDING: Live, June 15, 2024 at Merkin Hall
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: https://www.maalemhassanbenjaafar.com/

Top Stories

Make classrooms analog again? A new bill aims to limit tech in schools.

Elementary schools would largely be screen free under legislation introduced by Sen. Andrew Gounardes.
Gothamist |

Long Live the Art of Shoe-Leather Reporting!

Plus, combing through the Epstein Files.
On the Media |

Summer Friday: Elie Mystal; Kimberlé Crenshaw; Mason Williams; Rossana Rosado

For this Summer Friday, some favorite recent interviews, including Elie Mystal on the Supreme Court; Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw; Mason Williams; and Rossana Rosado.
The Brian Lehrer Show |

How to Grow Up Without Becoming a Grown-Up

All Of It with Alison Stewart |
YOU ARE ONLINE