Category Archives: Anouncement

CD REVIEWS

Anouncement, News, POP BIZ Ltd

“SoSaLa is angry and letting it out here, his band punk-rocking slowly, churning, pounding, throbbing… Mr. Shimizu’s rubbery fretless bass is often at the center of these throbbing, post-punk diatribes…Although the vibe here is unsettling and at times disturbing, it is also heartfelt in describing what many of us feel about the injustices of life then and now as well. I lived throughout and dug this era of Creative Music in many ways, way back when. ” Review by Bruce Gallanther (Downtown Music Gallery, August 21, 2025)

“In addition to being a vibrant slice of nostalgia, 1994-Live at CBGB highlights a unique period in this multifaceted artist’s output, making for a rewarding listening experience and serving as a superb introduction to Saadat’s work and the sounds of the legendary venue.” – Review by Hrayr Attarian (All About Jazz), March 29, 2025

“These and the other tracks almost conjure a fantasy for me. It’s one where avant-garde sax great Albert Ayler didn’t meet his end in the East River but stayed alive and well and became a part of CBGB’s high-energy punk and No Wave community.” Review by Sal Cataldi (NYS MUSIC), February 22, 2025

“SoSaLa’s latest album, 1994, was released recently. It’s really great No Wave music from this NY-based music activist. Here’s my brief album review.” <ahref=”https://www.scottishjazzspace.co.uk/sosalas-latest-album-1994-was-released-recently-its-really-great-no-wave-music-from-this-ny-based-music-activist-heres-my-brief-album-review/” Review by Fiona Mactaggart (Scottish Jazz Space ), January 23, 2025

“Listening to this album, one relives the days of an earlier age when musicians fearlessly experimented with forms and concepts. Where old rules were broken, and new ones were being written – and broken. Sadato had the vision and balls to introduce No Wave into the Japanese independent rock music scene and make it work.” –  Review by Dawoud Kringle (DooBeeDooBeeDoo NY), December 17th, 2024

R.I.P. Chris May

Anouncement, News, ,

A couple of days ago, UK music writer and journalist Chris May died in London. His friend and ex-Fela Kuti manager Rikki Stein emailed SoSaLa this sad news. SoSaLa got to know Chris via the Jazz webpage or platform, All About Jazz, when he was looking for a writer for last year’s 1993 album.

Luckily, Chris agreed to review it.

“…SoSaLa’s message to the media announcing the release of this 1993 recording starts with the headline: “A Noisy Voice Again With Powerful Messages” and ends with the observation: “Doing nothing and staying passive are unacceptable.” You can say that again in 2023, as much of jazz, like much of the rest of liberal, educated America, appears—at least as viewed from London—to have rolled over and given in to the seemingly inexorable march of domestic neo-fascism, which will hit the fan with the 2024 elections. Where is the tidal wave of opposition? Why is rap and rock left to do the heavy lifting? What happened to jazz’s rebellious nature?

1993 is loud, aggressive, primal, confrontational, as nuanced as a honey badger and what else have you got? It is a ferocious blend of late-period no-wave and free jazz… Basically, 1993 puts the art in cathartic. …” – By Chris May,