NEWS
11/10/2024
1994-Live at CBGB – A Resurrected Masterpiece of Japanese NO WAVE in NYC.
“Man, you’re a real rocker! :-)” – Marc Ribot
“I can feel the power and passion in your music!”– Morgan Fisher (Mott the Hoople)
Release date: December 16th, 2024
SoSaLa (whose artist name was Sadato at the time this album was recorded) has released his next retrospective recording, 1994 – Live at CBGB. This live album follows up on the previous album, 1993, this time looking back to 1994, a significant year in SoSaLa’s music career. The music was performed live at the legendary punk club CBGB in New York on January 8th, 1994, with SoSaLa’s Tokyo-based quartet, SADATO.
SADATO was a well-known band in the Japanese independent rock and noise music scene and one of the first and few with a DIY approach to music. Because of this, the song “Life Drunk” was dedicated to Gallon Drunk, and “35 Cent Puppy Sandwich” was devoted to FUGAZI and their DIY attitude. SADATO fearlessly pioneered New York City underground NO WAVE music to audiences in Tokyo. SADATO’s music was deep, noisy, and angry indie rock, with dada-inspired messages expressed in the lyrics. CBGB’s manager, Louise Parnassa Staley, loved their music so much that she invited them to perform twice the same week.
This retrospective album, recorded and mixed by famed producer and engineer Martin Bisi, is another must-have for fans of SoSaLa’s unique and accomplished music career.
The CD is a high-end 24-bit limited edition, with only 100 autographed copies.
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
Date: 9/21/2024
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
SoSaLa the actor…
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
As you know SoSaLa cares for his retailers. He wants to assist them in selling and promoting his “music” and CDs. Yesterday he visited ROUGH TRADE in Midtown NY and met his new stock manager Ellis. He introduced himself. And they chatted for a while. One thing they discussed was the possibility of booking SoSaLa for an in-store gig. At the end of the conversation, SoSaLa took a picture of Ellis.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
5/5/2023
Nu World Trashed Review by Bruce Lee Gallanter (Downtown Music Gallery Newsletter for May 5th, 2023)
SoSoLa – Nu World Trashed (DooBeeDoo Records 95269-03330; USA) Featuring SoSoLa (Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi) on tenor sax & compositions, Hubl Greiner on electronics, mixing & mastering), Paul Amrod on electric piano, Mike Irish on electronics, Dr. Cornel West – voice, Massamba Diop on talking drum, Mar Gueye on sabar (Senegalese hand drum), David Belmont on dobro, Baba Don Eaton on percussion, Kaveh Haghtalab on kamancheh and Genetic Drugs on drums & synth. I’ve known Sohrab for a decade now and always admire his work as a serious activist for Creative Musicians. He seems to take his time in between records, the last one I reviewed was in 2012. “Welcome to Nu World” opens with haunting tenor sax, eerie electric piano and spaced out electronics (from Hubl Greiner). The overall effect is most hypnotic. On Enough is Enough” both Sohrab and Dr. Cornel West do some effective spoken word vocals, mostly talking about social justice. Mike Irish provides the electronic/sampled groove. On “Mystical Full Moon Hymn for Ornette Coleman”, Genetic Drugs provides a lush electronic groove while Sohrab adds several layers of tenor sax. Nice. “Sad, Sad, Sad Sake” is a hymn of sorts for some soft bluesy dobro, kamancheh (Iranian long neck string instrument) and soft distant percussion. On “Anybody Out There” Sohrab recorded his tenor sax on his I-phone, with Genetic Drugs adding layers of spacious electronics and a slow, sly beat/groove. I like the way several layers of sax harmonies have been added. Most of these songs have visuals as well which are posted on Vimeo. I found that all of these pieces have a hypnotic undertow which allows us to go along for the inner ride if we choose to do so. On “What’s What”, Sohrab asks what is going on in our city (NYC), thinking out loud about things he observes. I like the way the middle-eastern and Downtown sounds are blended here into something new. Got to keep listening to SoSaLa’s voice/music/sound to find out where his muse will take us next. Hopefully we won’t have to wait for another decade. Peace. – Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
SoSaLa Nu World Trashed CD: BUY NOW
4/29/2023
New CD SoSaLa 1993 in Stock!!! Buy HERE.
4/21/2023
Jam Sessions w. Keyna Wilkins (Australia) and Friends
Joe Belle (elec. guitar)
3/17/2023
SoSaLa was featured on the World of Jazz Show 566 on March 5th 2023 with three tracks from his album Nu World Trashed: “Enough Is Enough,” “Sad, Sad, Sad Sake” and “What’s What?.” You can listen to this show on All About Jazz‘s radio section here: https://www.allaboutjazz.com/schubert-uchihashi-and-kugel-breaking-boundaries-and-more-klaus-kugel
3/6/2023
SoSaLa On Air in the UK! Thanks Bob Osborne!!!
SoSaLa was featured on the World of Jazz Show 566 on March 5th 2023 with three tracks from his album Nu World Trashed: “Enough Is Enough,” “Sad, Sad, Sad Sake” and “What’s What?.”
The show is available on demand via Podbean and on Bob’s Different Noises blog.
On this show there are new releases by Frank Paul Schubert, Kazuhisa Uchihashi and Klaus Kugel, Sam Bardfeld, Leap Day Trio, Satoko Fujii and Otomo Yoshihide, and Mike Bell.
3/1/2023
SoSaLa Nu World Trashed will be featured on the World of Jazz Showon March 5th 2023 at 8pm UK/ 3pm EST on taintradio.
This is repeated the following Friday at 3am UK /Thursday 10pm EST.
All About Jazz will feature the show in their radio section a week on Thursday after the broadcast.
2/16/2023
SoSaLa’s “Mystical Full Moon Hymn For Ornette Coleman” was featured on the UK Internet radio show Aural Delights On The Overflow 154 last Sunday. Hosted by Bob Osborne!
2/10/2023
SoSaLa On “Digital Air” in the UK!
“Mystical Full Moon Hymn For Ornette Coleman” will be on Aural Delights on the Overflow Sunday Service edition 154 – River Gibbs FM which will be broadcast on February 12th (11am ET/4pm UK). Radio host: Bob Osborne.
2/8/2023
New Sounds by SoSaLa and Chris Coluzzi! Nu world trash, NO WAVE, Nu Jazz, Noise, Improv…WUNDERBAR!
Members:
SoSaLa on tenor sax
Chris Coluzzi on drums
Recorded @ the Music Building (NY) – Studio 305.
Date: 2023.02.05
2/6/23023
Afarin, Shervin Hajipour – Iran’s Musical Voice!
“Congrats! What I had expected happened last night: First Lady Jill Biden presented the first ever Best Song For Social Change Award to “BARAYE” by Shervin Hajipour at the 2023 GRAMMYs last night. My submitted song “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH” of course couldn’t make it. I hope that Shervin’s song and this award will still have some impact on the freedom movement in Iran achieving the change that Iranians are hoping of: a free Iran from oppression.” – SoSaLa
1/20/2023
Reg. networking: SoSaLa got another rep in Europe. This time for Germany: Hubl Greiner. Email: hubl@hubl.com.
1/11/2023 – Jeff Beck Died Today!!!
(I’m not sure whether this track of mine is the right one to dedicate to Jeff. But give it a listen. The track is called “DEATH” from the CD SADATO NO MORE REGGAE.)
One of my blues-rock guitar heroes JEFF BECK died today. He’s nine years older than me. What a loss for me, the international musicians and music communities!!!
I’ve never seen him playing live, but the records and YouTube videos have always helped me to connect with him and observe his musical journey. Besides of Jeff, Jimmy Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Frank Zappa were all my heroes in the 60s and 70s. They all gave the electric guitar a personal and emotional voice and character which can’t be copied by other instruments.
1/10/2023
Liking Your Music
By Dawoud Kringle
My name is Dawoud Kringle (a.k.a. Dawoud the Renegade Sufi). I’m a musician, writer, artist, and whatever else I can get away with. I have known Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi (a.k.a.SoSaLa) for a long time. We have played music together and shared many experiences and adventures together. In fact, I was with him when he was still formulating the concept of Musicians For Musicians.
One relevant incident stands out in my memory. At one point during one of his performances some years ago, he played something that was truly beautiful and transcendental. It was a moment where he exceeded his own abilities. I looked at him amazed while the ghosts of Ornette Coleman and John Coltrane nodded in approval.
The first thing you must realize about Sohrab is that he is an original. I can think of no one who plays like him. His combination of influences and musical and cultural roots produced something that really stands out as unique. Being a quintessential Musician With Attitude, he has the courage and conviction to do what he believes is right. If people like it, he would certainly be grateful. If they don’t, he is not going to compromise his musical vision or his personal convictions.
I understand and respect this because I feel the same way about my music.
Beyond this is the passion in his work. It’s the Blues, but his Blues. His Blues have their roots in Persian, Japanese, and Harmolodic elements. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, his music is not definable by genre or style. It’s really only definable by emotional content. This is the Blues of a warrior’s inner sense of compassion and love.
This is who he is. Anyone who doesn’t hear that in his music is not really hearing it.
If you are someone who holds the same high ideals in life and in music, give SoSaLa a listen. The music will resonate with you in a profound way.
1/4/2023
First of all I wish you all , my dear fans and supporters, a Happy New Year!
Last year was a non-exciting year for me: no gigs, no tour, no interviews, poor CD and download sales. You don’t know, how much I miss to play in front of people. I really miss my audience around the world. So, in stead of making music I made myself busy with running my non-profit musicians rights organization Musicians For Musicians, Inc – MFM. My activism kept me busy and alive.
I hope 2023 will be a better year for me and my band. A CD release called 1992 is planned for sometime this year. Waiting for the right timing to do the release. I still try to find out when and how to make this release happen. Just releasing a CD makes no sense to me and is a waste of time and money. I need a sales point or a reason to publish the CD. However, it will happen by September of next year, because I want to submit it to the Grammys.
Meanwhile I will make a video of “Omar Khayyam in NY” a 1993 track with the videographer Mark C (of LIVE SKULL) who plays also the electric guitar in 1993.
I’m also going to record a couple of jam sessions at Mark C’s recording studio with musicians I haven’t played yet. Perhaps some of the tracks are eligible for getting released.
Due to the uprisings in Iran, last year I started to reach out to Iranian musicians to inspire them to organize and act collectively for musician rights and social justice in Iran.
I hope to see you all in person soon. So please stay strong and positive in this crazy time.
I love you all.
SoSaLa
11/11/2022
“…Our vision transcends the stifling diatribes of “leaders” who care only for the sustaining and expansion of their own power. Artists and musicians have tapped into the essence of absolute reality itself, and our craft is one of the few ways to articulate this and make it manifest. Music is the doorway between worlds, and we are the gatekeepers. We touch people’s hearts and souls in a way they can neither achieve nor comprehend.”SoSaLa’s first home country IRAN has been uprising for more than 6 weeks.
10/14/2022
Announcement
“A vital journalist specializing in the Scottish music scene, with a particular affinity for jazz and new music,” Scottish Jazz advocate and drummer Fiona Mactaggart became SoSaLa’s representative for the UK and Scotland.
For any UK related inquiries, please contact her by email: fifimactaggart@gmail.
10/10/2022
LET’S CARE FOR AMERICAN JAZZ MUSICIANS! America’s Voice Demands Social Justice! In solidarity and Music.
9/26/2022
Listen here:
8/20/2022
Support All Music Makers on Capitol Hill
At the 20th GRAMMYs on the Hill, the Recording Academy and its members are fighting for all music makers and advancing creators’ rights on Capitol Hill. Join us in telling Congress to stand up for artists, songwriters, and studio professionals by:
- Passing the HITS Act
- Advancing the American Music Fairness Act
- Ensuring fair compensation for all songwriters
Now, more than ever, we need Congress’s support. Take action to urge your lawmakers in Washington to build a better world for music and its makers.
7/22/22
I’m the proud President of the musicians rights organization MFM. It’s a hot and humid summer here in NY. The right time to purchase a MFM t-shirt. Please support my music activism purchasing a MFM t-shirt here: https://musiciansformusicians.org/product-category/t-shirts/
6/29/2022
SoSaLa joined two musicians rights organizations:
Independent Musicians Alliance (IMA) and the Recording Academy (Grammys).
6/20/2022
We’re getting closer to the new CD SoSaLa 1993 release. Adam Reifsteck has started to master the “NO WAVE’ tracks. Featuring NY musicians guitarist Mark C of Live Skull, sax player Peter Gordon (LOVE OF LIFE ORCHESTRA), bassist David Motamed (CELL/DAS DAMEN), a.o.. Recorded and mixed by Martin Bisi at BISI STUDIOS in Brooklyn, in 1993.
5/30/2022
Good to see fans wearing the SoSaLa t-shirt in public. This time it’s Chris Coluzzi, a passionate punk, heavy metal, indie rock drummer and Elvin Jones student, who took a walk with SoSaLa in Riverside Park, New York. Do you like the t-shirt? If yes, order and purchase the t-shirt here: https://sohrab.info/merchandise/
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SoSaLaon air January 13, 2022…Maker Parker Radio show “Just Jazz After Dark” w. host John Pietaro.
Track: Enough Is Enough
Stream here:
SoSaLa Nu World Trashed CD (Limited Edition) Out NOW!!
BUY Domestic (US): https://doobeedoobizllc.thrivecart.com/nuworldtrashed/
BUY International (from Amazon US): https://www.amazon.com/s?k=SoSaLa+CD&i=digital-text&ref=nb_sb_noss
Press Release here: https://sohrab.info/press-2/
Nu World Trashed Recent CD Reviews
“Overall, the saxophonist jubilantly radiates a third- world spirit, brimming with urban soundscapes.” – Glenn Astarita (ALL ABOUT JAZZ)
(NEW) ALL ABOUT JAZZ (NY) CD review – 9/9/2021 by Glenn Astarita: https://www.allaboutjazz.com/nu-world-trashed-so-sa-la-doo-bee-doo-records
Jazzwise (UK) CD on-line review (May 2021 edition)
Lucid Culture/ New York Music Daily CD review – 2/22/2021: https://newyorkmusicdaily.wordpress.com/2021/02/22/sosola/
London Jazz News (UK) CD review – 2/15/2021 by Fiona MacTaggart: https://londonjazznews.com/2021/02/15/sosala-nu-world-trashed/
DooBeeDooBeeDoo NY CD review – 12/19/2020 by Dawoud Kringle: https://doobeedoobeedoo.info/2020/12/19/cd-review-sosala-nu-world-trashed/
MFM SPEAKS OUT Podcast Interview
NYS Music Interview by Sal Cataldi (11/5/2020)
“Musicians For Musicians Founder Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi is the personification of the activist-musician. He’s got the high-energy, super creative foreign import that keeps New York City’s melting pot, eternally percolating.” – Sal Cataldi
About SoSaLa
” I went to see the musician, Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi a few nights ago, and I must say,
that I was totally impressed by his honesty and sincerity. That’s perhaps one of the things that is missing in many practitioners of the music. It was quite refreshing to experience his concert presentation.
PS. It is sometimes good to get “outside of oneself” and see what someone else may be experiencing about his music.” – Legendary jazz manBilly Harper (January 9th, 2018)
SoSaLa is a proud musician. He’s passionate about music and cares for musicians and their social-political issues.
On and off stage SoSaLa advocates that music is not free! It has value. Good quality music is produced by hard work. Musicians need to get compensated for their work, because music is “work” and goes hand in hand with business.
Since 1979 SoSaLa has been on the bandwagon. Releasing a couple of LPs, CDs and music videos. Touring Japan, Europe, the US and Hong Kong. He knows the world and experienced the power of music many times in his long career.
For almost four decades he’s been polishing his craft and sound. Sohrab’s sax sounds like nobody else’s. His sound touches people’s hearts around the world. He’s not only an original player and composer, but also a great entertainer on stage. He interacts smoothly with his audience and let them even participate in his concert.
This is how SoSaLa and his band SADATO GROUP sounded in 1984….
Here is how SoSaLa sounds now with his music project SoSaLa in 2018: https://sohrab.info/SoSaLa
ASoSaLa concert review:
…This was chamber music, infused with subtle elements of performance art. Yet, it would have worked just as well in a large venue. Each musician brought their own strengths to the mix: Saadat constantly moving forward with his unique vision, Belmont adding depths of familiar yet unexpected colors and textures, Haghtalab bringing his sublime musical poetry, and Baba Don with his authoritative presence and worldly wise manner.The purpose was to create an inner experience for the audience, a musical excursion in the places where cultures overlap, and new emotions are felt. And the concert was a success. The audience went away knowing they’d bore witness to a rare and beautiful event. – By Dawoud Kringle (DooBeeDooBeeDoo NY, Jauary 19, 2018)
NU WORLD TRASH CD Reviews…
Freedom, as in civil liberties and free jazz, is the word that best captures “Nu World Trash,” the irrepressible debut by SoSaLa, the intercontinental collective led by Iranian saxophonist and activist Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi. Boasting a formidable musical résumé, Ladjevardi has worked with everyone from Malian pop star Salif Keita to Ornette Coleman and Bachir Attar of Morocco’s Master Musicians of Jajouka. – By Bill Friskics-Warren (The Washington Post, March 12, 2012)
Ladjevardi merges his inward-looking persona with the jazz vernacular and a world music vibe. He chants and hollers when getting his point across, relating to a thematic forum where he scrutinizes his Iranian roots. – By Glenn Astarita (all about jazz, April 18, 2012)