“1994 Live At CBGB, DooBeeDoo, 2024
9/22/2026
The moniker of Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi, who is a New York resident Swiss-born Iranian-American saxophonist, vocalist, composer, and music activist, as SoSaLa he meshes free jazz, noise, No-Wave, electronics, and traditional Persian influences into this set captured at CBGB’s way back in 1994.
“Yurei” starts with Toshimaru Nakamura’s dense guitar amid SoSaLa’s animated and howling vocals and rich sax for the noisey climate, and “Death” follows with shouted vocals alongside Masaki Shimizu’s thick bass in the jagged delivery.
Deeper into the set, “Life Drunk” is dedicated to UK’s Gallon Drunk, where a bluesy bass line is met with acrobatic jazz bursts, while “Positive Ja” blends punk, blues and psychedelic nods into a diatribe about those who complain, where Ryo Kato’s thumping drums won’t go unnoticed.
Further yet, “35 Cents Puppy Sandwich” tips its hat to Fugazi’s ethics with animated sax and a driving rhythm section that suits the loud singing, and “65” exits with a wandering melody that complements the squealing sax, scrappy drums, dissonant bass and feedback soaked guitar.
An extremely creative listen that might seem like jazz one minute but pretty soon points towards No Wave, SoSaLa’s adaptable pipes sing, yelp and communicate firmly via an iconoclastic vision that sure has aged well.
Travels well with: SoSaLa– 1983- Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival and the Rathausplatz Bern; SoSaLa– 1987- Hajime” – Review by Tom Hogan (Take Effect), 9/23/2026
“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
