James Lo

SoSaLa: 1993

by Chris May
November 7, 2023

Saxophonist SoSaLa--born Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi to Iranian parents in Switzerland, brought up in Germany, martial arts student in Japan, and a New York City resident since 2008--is the sort of wild card we need more of in jazz. Not necessarily because of the actual music he makes, which has limited appeal, but because of the energy he brings to its creation and the free-thinking attitude out of which it erupts. And also, actually, because it does have limited appeal. Jazz ...

Music Industry

James Louis "J.J." Johnson dies

Source: All About Jazz

INDIANAPOLIS -- James Louis “J.J." Johnson, an influential jazz trombonist who later forged a career arranging and recording scores for motion pictures and television, died Sunday. He was 77. Johnson, who had been ill in recent months, committed suicide at his home Sunday morning, the Marion County Sheriff's Department said. The Indianapolis native, who began playing piano at age 11, was a perennial winner of “Down Beat" magazine's reader's poll as best trombonist. While he was praised by jazz aficionados, ...
read more