Gerald Clark’s Nakba – A Masterpiece for Palestine

http://www.counterpunch.org/

By Gilad Atzmon

The other day I learned that Gerald Clark, pretty much an unfamiliar name to me, was about to launch a Jazz suite dedicated to the Nakba and the Palestinian people. I was intrigued, I contacted Gerald and offered my help. A day later, the album found its way to my letterbox. 

I am usually bored by ‘political music.’  Occasionally it lacks the necessary wit let alone a musical edge. But Clark’s Nakba is a masterpiece - music in its purest and most genuine form. It’s probably best described as a ‘Blue Note for Palestine’.  This new album is a treat, and you should seriously consider adding it to your Jazz collection.

A sampler medley of the album can be heard here: https://soundcloud.com/geraldcmin6/nakba-album-sampler-medley

You can buy the album here.

I asked Clark about his musical background? Are you a professional musician? What instrument do you compose on?

Gerald Clark: I am not a full-time professional musician at this stage.  I write all kinds of music: film scores, pop songs, etc.  I've recorded an album as a singer-songwriter (The Great Divide), and six short film scores, but I have a feature film to score in the new year, which I'm already doing quite a lot of work for.  I've written a symphonic suite and a string quartet, mostly to see if I could do it, and several jazz works.  I'm a piano player predominately, and virtually all my composition starts sitting at the piano.

Gilad Atzmon: What made you compose a suite for Palestine?

Gerald Clark: It was 2002, the second 'Intifada' had started and Jenin was being attacked.  I've always been involved with political campaigns and I'd been on a couple of ‘Freedom for Palestine’ marches.  I'd been playing around with a rhythmical figure on the piano (which is now the riff at the start of Jenin), when I developed another one (now the riff at the start of Intifada).  Then I saw Jocelyn Hurndall give a very moving talk about the death of her son Tom.  It all fell into place around those ideas.  Ultimately I wanted to do something to help.  It took a while to finish it and put it together, but now I have a finished product and I know that every time someone buys the album I'll be personally donating money to a Palestinian charity, so it feels worthwhile. 

Gilad Atzmon: This is beautiful. I was very surprised to find out that you didn’t play on the album. I then realised that you were the composer. An unusual role in jazz. How would you describe the process of making an album with a jazz team?

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GILAD ATZMON & FRIENDS @ THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL/LJF

The Orient House Ensemble (Frank Harrison, Eddie Hick & Yaron Stavi, The Sigamos Quartet led by Ros Stephen, Sarah Gillespie, Asaf Sirkis, Jennifer Bennett,   Yair Avidor and the legendary Norman Watt Roy.

To book tickets click here

Watch a latest video

On 21st November,  I will be celebrating 20 Years in Britain at the London Jazz Festival/The Queen Elizabeth Concert Hall, London South Bank.

We are planning a musical spectacle.  The concert will offer a journey through my varied musical activity, including some very special collaborations. It is promised to be a unforgettable night. 

http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/gilad-atzmon-74480

I enjoy every second of this tour...

Ch4 Niqab Debate Islamophobe Panellists Exposed

http://www.islam21c.com/

By Laura Stuart

Is it not rather strange and incomprehensible that one (Douglas Murray) who claims to loath the so called intolerance of Muslims and who according to the above is a staunch believer in freedom of expression would want to dictate what a tiny minority of British women wear? Hardly a beacon of tolerance himself then.

This week Channel 4 aired interviews and a debate on the British Muslim women who choose to wear the face veil or niqab. One of the highlights of the series of programs was a panel debate, with audience participation and which consisted of those for and against a potential ban on wearing the face veil in Britain.

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Ryan Dawson interviews Gilad Atzmon (very interesting)

 An expose of the deceit that is intrinsic to Jewish Identity politics and Jewish Left in particular. We spoke about Palestine, BDS, Soros, Identity politics, JVP, Holocaust, victimhood, truth, ethics, my detractors and more.

The Wandering Who? A Study Of Jewish Identity Politics - available on Amazon.com  & Amazon.co.uk

To Become A Jew...(must watch)

A Loyalist from Northern Ireland becomes Jewish, he plans to move to Israel and settle and start a new life. He exclaims that Palestine was a "political invention" and tells Palestinians who have lived there their whole life "you have had a nice holiday, time to go home". This is an extremely valid argument as this man has never set foot on the Land of Israel or Palestine. This Snippet was taken from the BBC documentary called Shalom Belfast.

We are not dealing here with Jewish race or gene. Taking on the Jewish religion in this case introduces a set of supremacist non ethical beliefs. This is what Jewishness is all about.

The Wandering Who? A Study Of Jewish Identity Politics - available on Amazon.com  & Amazon.co.uk

Remember (must watch)

Earlier today i found in my mailbox  the above clip with the following lines by Vincent Chittock:

"Remember

Whose war?

My war?

Your war?  

Our war?

Their war

Politicians war

Corporations war

Bankers war

The old lie

Betrayal today

Betrayal yesterday

And tomorrow

Until

Unless

We stand

And hold ‘they’ to account

There is much to remember

This Remembrance Day"

Was Jesus Really Crucified: New Evidence Proves Otherwise

http://www.salem-news.com/

Lisa Spaulding, Journalist and Researcher Salem-News.com

"Agron Belica’s controversial book, vigorously challenges the conventional view of John the Baptist as little more than the baptizer of Jesus and the herald of his messiahship"
- Dr. Jay R. Crook Author of The Bible: An Islamic Perspective

Agron Belica at Harvard Book Store

(WASHINGTON DC) - It is said that history is written by the winners. As one engaged in research and journalism and who keeps that old saw in mind, I am always interested in new ideas and new interpreta-tions of accepted truths.

Cover design by Lisa Spaulding

This carefully researched study of one of the most important events in human history certainly answers to both of those interests.

The author re-examines the conventional ideas about the relationship between the Baptist and the Christ that most people have accepted for centuries as gospel truth. He uncovers mani-fest discrepancies in the biblical narratives that have dominated European and even Muslim thought and, moreover, between them and lesser-known external sources such as the writings of Josephus.

The calm logic of his analyses overturn convention and lead inexorably to startling new visions of John and Jesus and even the Passion itself.

The Passion of the Baptist, Not the Christ is a well-written and interesting book. It is recommended reading for those interested in redressing the distortions of “history written by the winners.”

To read more: http://www.salem-news.com/

A Modest Proposal to the Anti-Defamation League

Open letter to Abe Foxman from If Americans Knew

http://www.counterpunch.org/

By ALISON WEIR

Dear Abe Foxman,

Thank you! Our organization, If Americans Knew, is enormously honored by our inclusion in your recent Top Ten list of “anti-Israel groups” – in reality, organizations working most strenuously and effectively to oppose Israel’s brutal human rights abuses and violent ethnic cleansing project.

As you note, hundreds of such groups “operate in the U.S. today,” and, I might add, a great many of them produce profoundly valuable work. This makes us particularly honored to have been included among the ten most effective.

Your organization apparently finds those working on behalf of justice and equality for all abhorrent when this includes Palestinians. Happily, many disagree with you. In fact, a large and growing number of people (of all ethnicities, religions, races, and political persuasions) believe that universal principles of morality do not contain exceptions.

Britain’s “Redress Information & Analysis” calls inclusion on your list “one of the highest accolades truth-telling fighters against racism and bigotry could hope for.”

Your Top Ten report appears to be an important element of your fundraising outreach, which rakes in almost $60 million for your annual budget – on top of your $115 million net assets.

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Hot Off The Press: Israel was behind the hacking of millions of French phones

The Daily Mail reports today tha Israel and not America was behind the hacking of millions of French phones, it was claimed today.

In the latest extraordinary twist in the global eavesdropping scandal, Israeli agents are said to have intercepted more than 70 million calls and text messages a month.

Up until now the French have been blaming the U.S., even summoning the country’s Paris ambassador to provide an explanation.

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