Music- NEW RECORD JUNE 21 '11

Hi-Fly

With his breakthrough 2007 debut, Eyes Wide Open, vocalist/composer/arranger Sachal Vasandani established himself as one of the most promising voices in modern jazz. A 2010 DownBeat "Rising Star" poll winner, Vasandani presented his distinctive blend of jazz and pop with the critically acclaimed release, We Move in 2009.

Vasandani’s third Mack Avenue release, Hi-Fly, confirms the high praise showered on its two predecessors and proves the singer is one of the freshest, most versatile artists to emerge onto the scene in recent memory. Produced by renowned Grammy® award winning bassist John Clayton and Grammy nominated Mack Avenue EVP of A&R Al Pryor, both long-time supporters, Hi-Fly is an exciting mix of standards, originals and pop covers showcasing Vasandani’s ability to filter a wide range of material through his highly individual vision.

We Move

Some notes on some of the songs off of We Move (See About Page for Press):

The title track was written with Vasandani's friend and great bass player Erik Privert .. Vasandani's lyrics on this record, beginning with "We Move," reflect his struggle "to accept myself without guilt."

"Royal Eyes," again infused with Wamble's guitar colors and embellished by Vasandani's overdubbed background vocals. "The song is a reminder for me to love what I have. Even though this song has a folksier feel, I wanted the colors of the other voices to be messy, human."

The bright CD opener, Rodgers & Hart's "There's a Small Hotel" has a Vasandani intro ("Escape") that gives the standard a fresh feel.

"Ring Road (Back to You)" was written by our drummer, Quincy Davis, with lyrics by Sachal. it's a song for all the travelers leaving someone at home...

Thelonious Monk's "Monk's Dream" (with lyrics by Hendricks) that Vasandani says pays tribute to the piano giant's "unfettered, creative spirit. I love most all of Monk's music. Of course, he's known for unusual harmonies, but his melodies are so catchy". Check out Dayna Stephens' amazing solo.

"Heartbeat" is a bright song written by Sachal...an impatient, head-over-heels storyteller waiting for his girl to get back in his arms quickly.