Sachal Vasandani

One of modern jazz's most revered vocalists, Sachal Vasandani, will perform at Blue Note with material from his latest album Best Life Now.

Although his work is deeply rooted in the jazz tradition, Vasandani easily crosses genre boundaries. With equal naturalness he finds himself both in energetic projects with big bands and in intimate, emotional interpretations of ballads. The artist impresses with his characteristic timbre of voice, sophisticated phrasing and extraordinary freedom of improvisation, thanks to which he has been among the most interesting personalities of the world jazz scene for years.

The Best Life Now album is a personal story about modern relationships and the emotions that accompany them. Subsequent tracks lead the listener through stories of love, fascination, disappointment, longing and coming to terms with loss. The whole is maintained in an aesthetic combining jazz with soul, funk and modern groove. The record is produced by the outstanding drummer Nate Smith, whose characteristic rhythms and melodic solutions perfectly emphasize Vasandani's mesmerizing vocals.

The artist has performed at the most important festivals and in prestigious theaters and jazz clubs around the world, collaborating with such musicians as Wynton Marsalis, Bobby McFerrin, Milton Nascimento, Bill Charlap, Natalia Lafourcade and Michael Feinstein. He is also an acclaimed composer and songwriter — his vocals and compositions have been featured on Gerald Clayton's Grammy-nominated album Life Forum, among others.

Band composition: Sachal Vasandani — vocals John Ellis — saxophone Femi Temowo — guitar