NEWS
11/2/2024
SoSaLa on Keyna Wilkin’s New York Sessions Digital Release
In April 2023, Australian musician-composer Keyna Wilkins visited New York and led several stream-of-consciousness recorded improvisation sessions with local New York musicians Michael Kevin Walsh (keys), David Belmont (percussion, poetry, and vocal sounds), Kevin Kuhn (electric guitar), Ron Wasserman (electric bass), and SoSaLa (tenor and soprano saxes, vocals, and clapping).
The sessions were arranged and facilitated by Musicians For Musicians, a New York-based musicians’ rights association, and SoSaLa. All tracks were recorded by Michael Kevin Walsh at The Smooth Spot (NY), mixed by Michael Kevin Walsh and David Belmont (a bandmate of SoSaLa), and further mixed and mastered by Matt Stewart at A Sharp Studios Sydney. Artwork by Yoko Kuroda and Yogahatti.
Stream and buy here:
9/30/2024
SoSaLa ZOOM Event Producer…
MFM Presents “Music Is Essential,” a Zoom Roundtable Discussion Among MFM Members—musicians with a Deep Connection to African Music—speaking on the Value of Studying Music in Africa.
Date: Monday, October 7th, 2024
Time: 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm. ET
Venue: ZOOM
Ticket: $5 for non-members
Register and pay here: https://mfmassociation.thrivecart.com/african-music-zoom-roundtable/
MFM President Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi, aka SoSaLa, produces this event, and David Gilden will host the roundtable discussion.
This MFM event is the first to bring together musicians who have spent significant time in Africa to further their artistry. The panel will discuss their experiences in Africa and deep immersion in a foreign culture, experiences that can be realized no other way.
9/22/2024
Host: freelance jazz broadcaster Steve Bewick at www.mixcloud.com/stevebewick/
Show title: South Downs Suite Reviewed and much more jazz
Link: https://www.mixcloud.com/stevebewick/south-downs-suite-reviewed-and-much-more-jazz/
SoSaLa “Vor Geschlossener Tuer”: 05:11 – 9:40
8/16/2024
News from SHORT FILMS MATTER
The Spotlight feature of SoSaLa is now live, and “we are thrilled to further showcase you and your short films.”
Find the Spotlight page here: https://shortfilmsmatter.com/
7/23/2024
SoSaLa featured on UK’s ConnectsMusic (musician network platform): https://connectsmusic.com/listing/sosala/
SoSaLa aka Sadato in his Kendo armor. Getting ready for a Keiko (practice). The two kanjis of his zekken (“name pouch”) on the hip protectors tell your opponent one’s location/city and surname. The top kanji reads Osaka and the two kanjis below are “Sada” and “To.” Without the zekken, you can’t identify your opponent.
7/3/2024
It was in 1993 that SoSaLa met legendary couple AIRTO MOREIRA (Miles Davis, RETURN TO FOREVER, WEATHER REPORT, etc.) & “FOURTH WORLD” FLORA PURIM at the Blue Note Club in Tokyo. Airto is a Brazilian jazz drummer and percussionist who’s married to jazz singer Flora Purim. As a fan of both SoSaLa attended their show privately and luckily met both in the Green Room after the show. The show was fantastic. Airto’s playing was so energic, uplifting, and sometimes funny. Flora’s singing and voicing were very original and passionate. Bravo!
Flora and Airto made time to chat with SoSaLa. Appreciating the couple’s kindness, SoSaLa presented Airto with a t-shirt from his music company POP BIZ. At the end they exchanged addresses. Airto invited SoSaLa with his horn to see him in London. Unfortunately, this never happened because both of us couldn’t make time.
Speaking of Airtos’s health issues: Airto has been suffering severe health problems for the last two years. He and Flora moved to Rio. Flora is now his full-time caregiver. A GoFundMe page was set up by their daughter Niura, who’s also a singer, with the aim of raising funds to move Airto to a more suitable care facility.
I feel so bad for him and wish him a fast recovery. My love goes to Flora as well.
6/26/2024
A historical ZOOM event produced by SoSaLa.
6/24/2024
SoSaLa found a new spot to play for the people, namely at Carl Schurz Park in NY’s Upper East Side. He’ll be playing there early evening.
5/31/2024
It was in Tokyo in 1981 when SoSaLa acted in a Japanese indie short film called Out To Lunch directed by Tokyo’s filmmaker Hideaki Sasaki. He plays a gaijin (foreigner). The film was shot in Tokyo’s Shinjuku (Shinjuku is a whole city within Tokyo. Developed in the latter half of the 20th century, it’s become widely synonymous with Tokyo and is one of Tokyo’s most famous neighborhoods. It’s a microcosm of Tokyo, with skyscrapers and neon, but also yakitori stalls) around the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building early morning. After digitalizing the video, SoSaLa is going to speak about the plot.
4/10/2024
SoSaLa featured on Sound Forms (Kingston Radio 107.9FM): Ep 181 Easter and Beyond on April 31st, 2024
The show hosted by Peter Wetzler featured Easter music selections from Bach and other Baroque composers, Faure and Brad Mehldau followed by live guests Stephen Johnson and Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi (aka SoSaLa) from MFM (Musicians For Musicians) including the music of SoSoLa, Future 350 Nu Bossa and more.
Listen here (from 1:07:52 till the end of the show): https://radiokingston.org/en/broadcast/sound-forms-classical-music-and-beyond/episodes/sound-forms-ep-181-easter-and-mfm-guests
SoSaLa’s first produced public ZOOM Event – a roundtable discussion about musician, band leader, activist, and politician Fela Kuti (Uganda).
“Music is the weapon of the future.” – Fela
MFM Presents “Music Is Essential,” a Zoom Roundtable Discussion on the Legacy and Impact of Fela Kuti’s Music and Activism on the African Continent. With Special guests who knew or worked with the godfather of Afrobeat.
Date: Friday, April 19, 2024 – Time: 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. ET
Venue: ZOOM
Ticket: $5 (up to 100 for sale. Save your seat TODAY!)
Register and pay here: https://mfmassociation.thrivecart.com/fela-kuti-roundtable/
3/12/2024
Another BIG loss: my dear music colleague and friend bassist TM Stevens passed away two days ago suffering from dementia. The last time we talked over the phone, especially about his “Africans in the Snow” recording and his divorce from his Japanese wife, was perhaps in 2010 before his Europe Tour. In the next years, I tried to call him but in vain. Since 2017 he has suffered from his illness. Lately, I found out about his whereabouts but wasn’t able to see him because I had knee replacement surgery and didn’t have a car to drive to his nursing home somewhere in New Jersey.
TM I feel so bad about how you ended your life. Why with dementia? You made me think about how I will die. R.I.P., brother.
Besides, I had known TM before moving to NY from Tokyo, because I had promoted his SPV CDs in Japan when I was running the music company POP BIZ Ltd in Tokyo. More about him here:
https://doobeedoobeedoo.info/in-memoriam-bassist-t-m-stevens/
2/8/2024
“Khorasan” on Air!!! – Kingston Radio 107.9FM’s “Sound Forms: Ep 172“
A ‘mixed bag’ episode beginning with music of Palestine and continuing with SoSaLa’s aggressive protest song KHODAHAFEZ (GOODBYE) which wants to end all social injustice here in the US and around the world, honoring Black … Sound Forms: Classical Music and Beyond hosted by Peter Wetzler
Listen to the whole show here: https://radiokingston.org/en/broadcast/sound-forms-classical-music-and-beyond/episodes/sound-forms-ep-172
Look for KHODAHAFEZ and Peter’s commentary from 7:36 min to 10:11 min.
1/30/2024
1/26/2024
With my Iranian background and history, I’ve been always fond of Persian Classical music and very interested in Iranian musicians’ work inside and outside of Iran, especially the indie/alternative rock, avant-garde, and jazz musicians.
I think the composer, vocalist, performance artist, and activist Susan Deyhim was maybe the first Iranian-American musician who’s internationally known for her invention of a unique sonic/vocal language. She got into NY’s downtown music, NO WAVE, and arts scenes in the eighties. Performing with my mentor Ornette Coleman, John Zorn, Art Lindsay, Richard Horowitz who became her husband later, Bill Laswel, Peter Gabriel; and many others. I think I met her for the first time in NY early 80s. Here is a music video of her from that time. (I considered collaborating with her but unfortunately, it didn’t work out.)
12/26/2023
Short film ‘Sa-da-to Slick‘ SFM review: “Step back in time to the eccentric and vibrant summer of 1990 as SoSaLa delivers a wild and entertaining jazz-infused performance.” You can find the complete review here: https://shortfilmsmatter.com/
12/2/2023
SoSaLa joined the American Association of Independent Musc (A2IM).
11/14/2023
“Basically, 1993 puts the art in cathartic.”
CD review by Chris May (All About Jazz, 11/7/2023)
Saxophonist SoSaLa—born Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi to Iranian parents in Switzerland, brought up in Germany, martial arts student in Japan, and a New York City resident since 2008—is the sort of wild card we need more of in jazz. Not necessarily because of the actual music he makes, which has limited appeal, but because of the energy he brings to its creation and the free-thinking attitude out of which it erupts. And also, actually, because it does have limited appeal. Jazz likes minorities…continued here: https://www.allaboutjazz.com/1993-sosala-doobeedoo-records
10/31/2023
A Rare Gig: Soprano Sax/Spoken Word Duet by SoSaLa and David Belmont
SoSaLa and his buddy David Motamed will be performing at the last “Moving Body Resources” Salon of the year, coming right up on Friday November 3. An evening of live music, dance, spoken word, noshing, drinking, schmoozing, and more.
David-SoSaLa are the starting act at 7pm. Followed by:
This is the second time for the duo to perform at MBS. As the starter they will perfom 15 minutes starting with David’s poetry, which are new works, written in the past few months, for 10 minutes and a soprano sax/spoken word duet on two new pieces for the last 5 minutes.
10/24/2023
Forthcoming Free In-Store Live Events
(Note: these gigs are ALL free in-store events with the intention to promote and sell SoSaLa CDs, especially the new one 1993.)
1. DOWNTOWN MUSIC GALLERY ( 13 Monroe St, New York, NY 10002)
Date/Time: Tuesday, November 28, 2023 / 8:30 to 9:15pm
The Musicians:
SoSaLa on tenor and soprano saxes and vocals/spoken words, Jean-Marie Collatin-Faye on congas, djembe and percussion, Mark C (LIVE SKULL) electric guitar, David Belmont (poetry) and Chris Coluzzi (snare drums)
2. PARADISE OF REPLICA (297 Grand St., #2A, New York, NY 10002)
Date/Time: Tuesday, December 19, 2023 / 7pm – 8pm
The Musicians:
T.B.A.
Type of music: improvised jazzy, bluesy, African, Oriental music with social “WAKE UP” messages.
10/1/2023
“Vor Geschlossener Tur (In Front of a Closed Door) ” from 1993 Featured Song at All About Jazz today!
“Hello fellow Jazz fans!
This is a one time announcement to let you know that SoSaLa “Vor Geschlossener Tur (In Front of a Closed Door)” from 1993 is the featured song at All About Jazz today.
Listen to it and download it for free from here: https://www.allaboutjazz.com/media/track-vor-geschlossener-tur-in-front-of-a-closed-door-by-sosala
Please share the link on your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.” – ALL ABOUT JAZZ
9/26/2023
9/23/2023
Another record store in China Town (NY) carrying SoSaLa CDs: PARADISE OF REPLICA (297 Grand Street, New York, NY 10002). Owner, DJ and film maker: Kyle Molzan. Might do there an in-store event in the near future. Being a DJ himself he supports musicians rights and believes in #MakingMusicIsAProfession.
At his shop I met the producer Daniel April and exchanged business cards with him.
9/17/2023
“Hi Sohrab, I did have a chance to listen before we left for Croatia yesterday.. I want to congratulate you on expressing exactly who you are as a musician and a man the way you did at 40.. I heard and felt it all, your attitude was loud and clear.. your frustration, anger, despair, aggressive attacking tone was disturbing to my sensibilities.. Your message was an obviously honest expression of your life’s experiences at that time but with this reissue 30 years later you are still living in that world and telling the same sad story.. I would hope you would have a more compassionate world view of the humanity that surrounds us every day.. I would suggest following this reissue up with a message of love in your next recorded project at 70.. ” – CD jazz sax maestro Joe Lovano texted me this comment (August 30th, 2023).
9/10/2023
In-Store Live Event
Venue: DOWNTOWN MUSIC GALLERY ( 13 Monroe St, New York, NY 10002)
Date/Time: Tuesday, November 28, 2023 / 8:30 to 9:15pm
(Note: Because this is an in-store gig which intents to help the venue to sell SoSaLa’s new CD 1993 and his back catalogue, the concert is free of charge. Hopefully, people enjoy the gig so much that they’re willing to purchase a CD.)
The line up:
SoSaLa on tenor and soprano saxes and vocals (spoken word) and Jean-Marie Collatin-Faye on djembe and percussion
9/6/2023
“Yeah, nice! I’ll hit both CD’s (NU WORLD TRASHED and 1993) back to back this Friday. I’m on 12PM – 3PM ET. Stream here: www.wnur.org.”
Chicago’s WNUR FM 89.3 jazz host Eric Ricks will feature SoSaLa on his regular radio show this Friday, September 8th, 2023.
Check out SoSaLa’s WNUR interview in 2013: https://soundcloud.com/sohrab-saadat-ladjevardi/sosala-interview-with-wnur
9/2/2023
“Yeah, I listened to it. It rocks! Punk, jazz, not dead!” – all mighty guitarist (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, John Zorn), band leader and musician rights activist Marc Ribot
8/30/2023
“Hello Sohrab, thanks for the Sosala’link, it’s a powerfull performance.” – French Lo’Jo band leader, composer and performer Denis Péan
8/25/2023
“Twenty years later, it still sounds daunting, brutal and in-your-face. At 25 minutes, it feels long enough to catch us off-guard and we can still relate to the anger or frustration at the center.” – Bruce Lee Gallanter / Downtown Muic Gallery
8/20/2023
Reg. SoSaLa 1993 CD:
8/14/2023
SoSaLa is starting soon rehearsing with a new band consisting of:
David Belmont (dobro and percussion),
Chris Coluzzi (drums)
Joe Belle (guitar)
Mark C (guitar)
Jean-Marie Colattin-Faye (djembe, percussion)
8/13/2023
“Sohrab’s music is honest and fierce taking no prisoners. It should be mandatory in school and club situations.” – legendary jazz man David Liebman (7/31/2323)
8/12/2023
Reminder! Tomorrow on Sunday….SoSaLa on Air!
Bob Osborne (UK radio host) will be featuring the following Aural Delights on the Overflow Sunday Service – River Gibbs FM – (11am ET/4pm UK) August 13th.
SoSoLa “Vor Geschlossener Tur” from 1993
The Dave Graney Show “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (Acoustic Remake)” from Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (2015 Expanded Edition)
Charlie Marshall “Time Will Come” from Single
The Silversound “Sunn Raga” from The Silversound
Nina Simone “Blues for Mama” from You’ve Got To Learn
Venustribes “LA LOBA Bone Woman” from 3.5 >MORE THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS
Elk City “Strong (You’re Not Alone)” from Undertow
TELFORD! y EL ZOMBIE ESPACIAL “Blown” from La fiesta continua
Malcolm Hill & Live Flesh “The One” from Centaur
The Fall “Winter” from The Complete Peel Sessions
Sonic Youth “Sugar Kane” from Dirty (Expanded Edition)
All shows are also available on demand via Podbean and on my Different Noises Blog
8/6/2023
SoSaLa on Air!
As usual the show will be also be available on demand via Podbean and on Bob’s Different Noises Blog.
7/30/2023
SoSaLa CDs are available in New York City @ ROUGH TRADE NYC and Downtown Music Gallery. Detailed info here: https://sohrab.info/2023/07/30/stores/
7/25/2023
CD Review: SoSaLa “1993” – A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Read here: https://doobeedoobeedoo.info/2023/07/24/cd-review-sosala-1993-a-portrait-of-the-artist-as-a-young-man/
7/9/2023
As you might know Mali is my favorite African music country. Checkout AFRO POP WORLDWIDE’s Mali feature.
In 2004 I appeared with Salif Keita at a concert commemorating Salif’s appointment as United Nations ambassador for culture and sport in Bamako (Mali).
5/19/2023
As a member of NY’s Recording Academy (Grammys) Chapter SoSaLa had the opportunity to meet his chapter President Torae Carr two days ago. As you know me well that was my chance and the best way for me to expose myself as a member of RA and as a music activist and President of Musicians For Musicians, Inc – MFM. We talked about 10 minutes and got a good feel for each other. Hope things will work out well and result in a RA-MFM alliance soon. I invited him to attend with me the “FAIR PAY @ SXSW” RALLY in NY’s Mid Town, May 31st representing the RA community. The address is: Penske Media Corporation building, 475 5th Ave, 12pm to 1pm. Music Workers Alliance Recording Academy / GRAMMYs