SoSaLa w. WNUR Chicago host Eric Ricks, December 6, 2013
Friday, Dec 6th:WNUR FM interview with host Eric Ricks at 11:30am and live performance by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi, Alex Wing (oud) and Lukas Gillen (djembe).
Saturday, Dec 7th: Q4 AM with hosts Bill Turck and Brian Murray.
Sohrab’s interview starts from 00:35:00. And he performs “Sohrab’s Shushtari” from 01:12:13.
Again interview and peformnance of “Low Key Blues” from 01:47:27.
All shows went fine… All the musicians gave their best… All audiences of the three shows enjoyed the music (except of one Iranian guy at Blue Nile who couldn’t accept my interpretation of the deaths of four Iranian musicians – members of the Yellow Dogs – in New York’s Williamsburg, November 11th. He yelled at Sohrab and left the venue furiously.) After the shows CDs and the new SoSaLa t-shirt sold very well.
Two unexpected incidents happened at the Blue Nile show:
#1 In the beginning of “Sad Sake ” Sohrab’s sax suddenly didn’t make any sound after inviting Martin Krusche on stage. He tried to fix this problem while the band was playing but in vain. He signed to his guitar player, Chris, to play a longer solo and gave his sax to Martin who’s also Sohrab’s sax repair man to fix it. Luckily he could do that, he saved Sohrab from a tragedy. Sohrab thanked him with a big hug. Until this day Sohrab can’t forget this night. Have you ever heard of an incident like this? Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!
#2 When Sohrab started to talk about the killings of three Iranian rock musicians – members of the indie rock band the Yellow Dogs – in East Williamsburg, an Iranian in the audience freaked out and yelled at Sohrab: ” How can you say that this incident has something to do with Iran and make Iranians responsible for this?” Then he threw the SoSaLa CD and the t-shirt, which he purchased before the show, on stage and left the club. Sohrab tried to stop him from stage and shouted: “Hey, let’s talk about it.” But the Iranian ignored Sohrab and rushed out of the club. The audience was irritated by this incident and couldn’t understand what was happening between Sohrab and the Iranian guy. Sohrab used this happening as a chance to explain the audience what has been going wrong in Iran and between Iranians for the last 35 years since the beginning of the Iranain revolution.
Videos from the Blue Nile show
Sohrab interviewed by WTUL 91.5 FM radio interview, November 17, 2013
A scetch of Sohrab by Nasser @ Bossa (Washington DC), August 11, 2013
From August 10 through August 14 2013 SoSaLa played three concerts in Baltimore and Washington DC. Due to budget reasons Sohrab’s NY regular musicians couldn’t join him. Instead he invited local musicians to join him under the name of SoSaLa. Before each concert Sohrab had a rehearsal of 90 minutes with the members. It was the first time that he had no oud player in the band. The sound of each concert was different and equally good. All musicians had no problem to follow Sohrab’s instructions and guidance.
The response of all audiences was exceptional positive. Especially the Bossa audience which was attended by many Iranian-Americans, had a good time and danced to songs like “Khorasan”, “Nu Persian Flamenco” and “Heavy Funk.” After the shows Sohrab was able to sell many CDs, especially at Bossa.
After all shows all managers were very happy about the music and invited SoSaLa back to play again in the near future. Spring 2014 maybe?
Venues/Cities
1. An Die Musik (Baltimore, MD)
Date: Saturday, August 10, 2013
The SoSaLa members are: Sohrab on tenor sax and vocals, Rob Fontana on keyboards, Luke Stewart on bass and Louie Rozier on drums.
2. Bossa Bistro & Lounge (Washington, DC)
Date: Sunday, August 11, 2013
The SoSaLa members are: Sohrab on tenor sax and vocals, Rob Coltun on electric guitar ( Cheick Hamala Diabate Band), Michael Coltun on electric bass (Les Rhinocéros/Tzadik Rec), Mosno Al-Moseeki on djembe and Byron McWilliams on drums.
Opening acts: The Chakavak Ensemble (traditional Persian Music) and Rumi poetry by Rogan Tousi in Farsi and in English with music by The Barefoot Revolution.
3. Shaw’s Tavern (Washington, DC, Tuesday, August 13, 2013)
The SoSaLa members are: Sohrab on tenor sax and vocals, Luke Stewart on bass, Louie Rozier on drums and Rob Fontana on keyboards.
Special thanks to the venue owners and mangers: Henry Wong (An Die Musik), Rob Coltun (Bossa) and Rob Heim (Shaw’s Tavern)
Sohrab, Ardavan Roozbeh & Mosno Al-Moseeki (photo courtesy of Radio Koocheh)Sohrab and Mosno Al-Moseeki (photo courtesy of Radio Koocheh)
Bobby Hill/WPFW 89.3FM (concert announcements)
Steve Monroe of jazzavenues.com (tweeted a preview of the DC
shows)
PR support by following organization and individuals
Thanks to:PAAIA DC, Fariba Khonsari, Nasser, Teporah Bilezikian, Rob Coltun, Ardavan Roozbeh (Radio Koocheh), Seyed Moussavi, Massama Dogo, Bernard Lyons, Tiffany DeFoe, Abbas Fathi, Ali Tabatabai, Behrooz Moazam, Ali Banifazl, Miyuki Williams, Paul Iwancio, Mustafa Nuri Sakarya and John Lewis (Life-Changing Art: Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi).
Special Thanks to all musicians
Luke Stewart, Louie Rozier, Rob Fontana, Rob Coltun, Michael Coltun, Mosno Al-Moseeki and Byron McWilliams
Saturday, Dec 7th: Q4 AM with hosts Bill Turck and Brian Murray.
