Brooklyn Qawwali Party CD Giveaway

11. March 2009 · 89 comments · Categories: CD Giveaway, Middle Eastern Music · Tags: , , ,

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Qawwali:  a form of Sufi devotional music popular in South Asia, particularly in areas with a historically strong Muslim presence, such as southern Pakistan, and parts of India. (Wikipedia)

You’ve probably never heard anything like the Brooklyn Qawwali Party.  I know I never have.  Energetic, jazzy music with a Middle Eastern hook, BQP gives us a whirlwind of sound in their self-titled CD.  Celebrating the music of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, this collection features four intense tracks:  Mustt Mustt, Man Kunto Mavla, Beh Haadh Ramza Dhasdha, and Allah Hu.  

Who was Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan? He was a Pakistani musician famous for his qawwali music.  His traditional songs, put in the hands and the souls of BQP’s 14 capable and talented band members, results in a magical, heartfelt musical explosion.  Band founder and percussionist Brook Martinez became hooked on Nusrat’s music while attending the World Music Institute.  Martinez was struck by how closely the spiritual sounds were related to the jazz he loved.  He proves his point brilliantly through the arrangements performed by BQP. 

If you have eclectic tastes, if  you like  your music to take you places both global and spiritual, BQP is the place you want to go.  We can start you on that journey now – BQP is giving away a copy of their CD to one carp(e) libris reviews reader.  Please take a moment to visit the band’s site and listen to their sounds.  I want to hear what you think!

Or buy the BQP MP3 version here.

Multiple Options for Entry:

1.) Just visit BQP’s Website, turn up your speakers, and explain to me why their sound interests you.  (You may enter once a day.) Remember, leave an interesting comment.  If I cannot contact the winner, you might be chosen instead based on your comment.

2.) Email subscribers get an extra entry for as long as their subscription is active.

     Already a subscriber?  Leave me a separate comment on this post to let me know you’re interested in this giveaway.

     Want to subscribe?  Just enter your email address in the “Subscribe” box on the left. (Please make sure to verify your Feedburner subscription by responding to the email they send you. If you do not receive it, check your junk mail. Only verified subscriptions are entered for all the giveaways.)

3.) Blog about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post.  Come back and leave me a Comment with a link to your blog post. (If your comment doesn’t show up right away, don’t worry – I may have to approve it first.  My blog might think it’s spam but gosh darn, I certainly don’t!)

4.) I’m feeling Twittery.  If you Twitter a link to this giveaway, come back and comment here to let me know your Twitter name for another entry! (I’m dkmommy if you want to follow me.)

Feel free to do all four to gain several entries to win! You have until midnight EST on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, to enter.

Check out all current giveaways for both my blogs here.

Treasury of Jewels by Yoko – CD Giveaway

09. March 2009 · 80 comments · Categories: CD Giveaway, Indian Music, Tibetan Music · Tags: , , ,

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Today’s CD review takes us on a musical tour of the distant and otherworldly Tibet, melded with the beauty of India, to experience the music of Yoko.  Treasury of Jewels is Yoko’s first release.  Interestingly, this Canadian woman isn’t in the habit of just performing Tibetan mantra music.  Also a jazz singer who has sung R&B and hip-hop, Yoko’s first CD release is instead a testament to her faith.  Strongly rooted in the Tibetan Buddhist and Indian traditions of the mantra with the familiar low vocal intonations of Tibet as an occasional backup, listeners will be surprised to find Yoko’s love of jazz discreetly emerging and blending rather effortlessly.  I was pleasantly caught off guard at the occasional gentle fusion of jazz and far eastern music.

Yoko’s strongpoint no doubt is her beautiful one-of-a-kind voice, able to handle the foreign vocal maneuvers that frequently occur in the Tibetan and Indian styles.  Calming and peaceful, Yoko’s voice is backed by flutes, traditional Tibetan and Indian instruments, and gorgeous orchestrations that beckon the listener to stop and focus on simply being.

Would you like to win a copy of Treasury of Jewels?  One carp(e) libris reader will win!

Multiple Options for Entry:

1.) Just turn up your speakers and visit Yoko’s CDBaby Page. Listen to some music samples in the left-hand column and tell me what you most like about her music.  (You may enter once a day.) Remember, leave an interesting comment.  If I cannot contact the winner, you might be chosen instead based on your comment.

2.) Email subscribers get an extra entry for as long as their subscription is active.

     Already a subscriber?  Leave me a separate comment on this post to let me know you’re interested in this giveaway.

     Want to subscribe?  Just enter your email address in the “Subscribe” box on the left. (Please make sure to verify your Feedburner subscription by responding to the email they send you. If you do not receive it, check your junk mail. Only verified subscriptions are entered for all the giveaways.)

3.) Blog about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post.  Come back and leave me a Comment with a link to your blog post. (If your comment doesn’t show up right away, don’t worry – I may have to approve it first.  My blog might think it’s spam but gosh darn, I certainly don’t!)

4.) I’m feeling Twittery.  If you Twitter a link to this giveaway, come back and comment here to let me know your Twitter name for another entry! (I’m dkmommy if you want to follow me.)

Feel free to do all four to gain several entries to win! You have until midnight EST on Monday, March 16, 2009, to enter.

Check out all current giveaways for both my blogs here.

Figments Studio Journal Gift Set Giveaway

04. March 2009 · 439 comments · Categories: Giveaways, Journals · Tags: , , ,

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A journal must be inspiring in many ways.  If you have an old notebook, it won’t beckon, can never become a proper muse.  But with a proper journal sitting within sight, you feel compelled to write.  The more you write, the better you become – not only as a writer but as a person.  Figments Studio has a way of inspiring the writer within.  I have had the pleasure of getting to know a handcrafted journal from Figments Studio, and I can tell we’ll be longtime friends.

This particular journal is from their Large Frame collection.  As with all the journals, it is crafted to appear like an old leather book, timeworn and cherished.  Designer Jill Marie Crvich has been inspired by medieval books and Grimm’s Fairy Tales.  Each design was originally hand sculpted, then resin cast.  The covers have been hand painted and the pages are a wonderful natural tan acid-free recycled paper; the pages are gilded, the care in each detail apparent.  

I was immediately impressed with the detail that went into the packaging.  If you’re looking for a grad gift or something really special to give someone, you must take a moment to visit Figments Studio.  The box in which the journal is presented is one you’ll definitely keep.  Beautiful tissue, wax seals, ribbons – the works.  Even the address label on my package was in calligraphy.  It’s an inspiring journal from start to finish.

Hark! I believe a giveaway approacheth!  Dare I think it?  Yes, so it is – a Once Upon a Time Journal Gift Set ($99.95 retail) from the land of Figments Studio.  And what doth it contain?  One journal in a beautiful gift box, a pen box, an inkwell penholder, a classic feather pen, and even some vintage photo corners.  Woudst thou care to winneth it?  Perchance to dream….  (Flourish a sword here if you have one.)

Multiple Options for Entry:

1.) Just visit Figments Studio and tell me what item strikes your fancy.  (You may enter once a day.) Remember, leave an interesting comment.  If I cannot contact the winner, you might be chosen instead based on your comment.

2.) Email subscribers get an extra entry for as long as their subscription is active.

     Already a subscriber?  Leave me a separate comment on this post to let me know you’re interested in this giveaway.

     Want to subscribe?  Just enter your email address in the “Subscribe” box on the left. (Please make sure to verify your Feedburner subscription by responding to the email they send you. If you do not receive it, check your junk mail. Only verified subscriptions are entered for all the giveaways.)

3.) Blog about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post.  Come back and leave me a Comment with a link to your blog post. (If your comment doesn’t show up right away, don’t worry – I may have to approve it first.  My blog might think it’s spam but gosh darn, I certainly don’t!)

4.) I’m feeling Twittery.  If you Twitter a link to this giveaway, come back and comment here to let me know your Twitter name for another entry! (I’m dkmommy if you want to follow me.)

Feel free to do all four to gain several entries to win! You have until midnight EST on Wednesday, March 11, 2009, to enter.

Check out all current giveaways for both my blogs here.

Sam Lamont Self-Titled CD Giveaway

02. March 2009 · 91 comments · Categories: Blues Music, CD Giveaway, Folk Music · Tags: , , ,

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Sam Lamont’s self-titled folk blues CD is a taste of sheer brilliance sure to inspire spontaneous fits of joy.  Pure, clean accoustics, earthy down-home vocals, and a musician who can do it all.  Lamont’s style is an easy, free-flowing sound with fantastic harmonies which gives the listener a break from the fast-paced soundtrack to life most uf us are accustomed to.  Lamont writes some clever lyrics as well, reflecting the things we all can relate to – broken hearts, worrying about wasting life’s opportunities, enjoying the perfect day with the perfect girl.  Hist oft-times Dylanesque stylings will have you lost in singing along.  Track #10, Nebo, gets me belting it out every time, now that I’ve heard the CD numerous times.  Many of these songs already feel like old friends.

Probably the most impressive aspect of Lamont’s feel-good music occurs when you realize he’s every guitar, bass, vocal, harmonica within the Cd.  he composed every song – a one-man folk and blues band, the production of such a work may just make you feel like quite the underachiever.  But no need to fret over your possible lack of self-motivation – just pop the Sam Lamont CD back in the player, grab a spot of sunshine on your porch, and press the play button again.  When you’ve got this one playing, everything’s gonna be alright.

Options for Multiple Entries:

1.) Just visit Sam Lamont’sCD Baby Page and give his songs a listen (down in the left-hand column).  Come back here to tell me what you like about it.  (You may comment once a day.) Remember,leave an interesting comment.  If I cannot contact the winner, you might be chosen instead based on your comment.

2.) Email subscribers get an extra entry for as long as their subscription is active.

     Already a subscriber?  Leave me a separate comment on this post to let me know you’re interested in this giveaway.

     Want to subscribe?  Just enter your email address in the “Subscribe” box on the left. (Please make sure to verify your Feedburner subscription by responding to the email they send you. If you do not receive it, check your junk mail. Only verified subscriptions are entered for all the giveaways.)

3.) Blog about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post.  Come back and leave me a Comment with a link to your blog post. (If your comment doesn’t show up right away, don’t worry – I may have to approve it first.  My blog might think it’s spam but gosh darn, I certainly don’t!)

4.) I’m feeling Twittery.  If you Twitter a link to this giveaway, come back and comment here to let me know your Twitter name for another entry! (I’m dkmommy if you want to follow me.)

Feel free to do all four to gain several entries to win! You have until midnight EST on Monday, March 9, 2009, to enter.

Check out all current giveaways for both my blogs here.

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