Sachal Vasandani
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Sachal Vasandani, known professionally as Sachal, is an American
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
singer. Vasandani released ''Slow Motion Miracles'' on the
Okeh OKeh Records () is an American record label founded by the Otto Heinemann Phonograph Corporation, a phonograph supplier established in 1916, which branched out into phonograph records in 1918. The name originally was spelled "OkeH" from the init ...
label in 2015. He previously released three albums on
Mack Avenue Records Mack Avenue Records is an independent record label in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. Background Mack Avenue was founded in 1999 by Gretchen Carhartt Valade, a jazz fan and Chairperson, chair of the American apparel company Carhartt. The company ...
, ''Eyes Wide Open'' in 2007, ''We Move'' in 2009, and ''Hi-Fly'' in 2011. He is known for his unique interpretations of jazz standards and instrumental music, and is also a songwriter, composer and improvisor. A native of Chicago, Vasandani attracted attention in 1999 when he was named ''
Down Beat ''DownBeat'' (styled in all caps) is an American music magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond", the last word indicating its expansion beyond the jazz realm that it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1 ...
'' magazine's Collegiate Jazz Vocalist of the Year. He has worked with
Wynton Marsalis Wynton Learson Marsalis (born October 18, 1961) is an American trumpeter, composer, and music instructor, who is currently the artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. He has been active in promoting classical and jazz music, often to young ...
and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. His debut album was ''Eyes Wide Open''. He has performed consistently worldwide since his first release on Mack Avenue Records in 2007. His second album, ''We Move'' (2009), was a ''New York Times'' Critics' Pick. He has collaborated with many of the prominent jazz artists of his generation and those of earlier generations, including: Jon Hendricks, Wynton Marsalis, Bill Charlap, Bobby McFerrin, John Clayton, Stefon Harris, Gerald Clayton, Taylor Eigsti, Gretchen Parlato, Becca Stevens, Camila Meza, and others. He is a graduate of the
University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...
, where he studied jazz and classical music.


Reception

2015's "Slow Motion Miracles" was described as "Profoundly beautiful.. wide-eyed wonder that subtly threads its sway through much of the album" in a 4-star review by Jazzwise magazine. In 2010, Vasandani received the Downbeat Magazine Critic's Poll for "Rising Star Jazz Vocalist" In a September 20, 2009, review in ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', Nate Chinen called Vasandani "a jazz singer with good ideas, including some about what a jazz singer can be." In a review of ''Eyes Wide Open'', ''
The Boston Globe ''The Boston Globe,'' also known locally as ''the Globe'', is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes. ''The Boston Globe'' is the oldest and largest daily new ...
'' suggested that Vasandani is "mature in sound and rich in texture but also possesses enough youthful angst in its lyrical themes to ward off the fogeyism that male vocalists so easily slip into before their time." In an
NPR National Public Radio (NPR) is an American public broadcasting organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It serves as a national Radio syndication, syndicator to a network of more ...
interview that aired in 2011, anchor
Michele Norris Michele L. Norris ( ; born September 7, 1961) is an American journalist. From 2019 to 2024 Norris was an opinion columnist with ''The Washington Post''. She co-hosted National Public Radio's evening news program ''All Things Considered'' from 20 ...
said, "Every now and again you hear a special voice that makes you sit up and take notice. Sachal Vasandani has that voice". ''Slow Motion Miracles'' (2015) features original compositions, incorporating "an almost undefinable fusion of the best of pop, electronic, and jazz."AXS.com The album was produced by
Michael Leonhart Michael Leonhart (born April 21, 1974) is an American jazz trumpeter and multi-instrumentalist. Solo career In 1992 Leonhart was honored with the first Grammy Award for outstanding high school musician in the US (he attended Fiorello H. LaGuardi ...
.


Discography


Albums


Singles

* ''Use somebody'', with Gerald Clayton and Harish Raghavan (GSI, 2020).


Compilations

* ''It's Christmas on Mack Avenue'' (Mack Avenue, 2014)


References


External links

*
Review from ''Albany Times Union''
American jazz singers Singers from Chicago University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance alumni American male musicians of Indian descent American people of Indian descent American people of Sindhi descent American Hindus 1978 births Living people Jazz musicians from Illinois Okeh Records artists Mack Avenue Records artists {{US-jazz-singer-stub