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Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi aka SoSaLa

NY's SoSaLa is an American-Iranian professional musician, band leader of SoSaLa, President of the musician organization Musicians For Musicians (MFM), Local 802 member, editor of the music digital magazine DooBeeDooBeeDoo NY; and guest speaker.

About Me

In SoSaLa, front-man, saxophonist and vocalist SoSaLa blends melancholic melodies with those of his native Iran. Fueled by improvisation, with lo-fi electronics, the diverse instruments make for an ambient and psychedelic take on World music.

SoSala is also the founder and President of the non-profit musicians rights organization MUSICIANS FOR MUSICIANS (MFM). It's an association of freelance musicians. A membership organization inviting all working musicians from all genres to join. Established in 2015 and with its head office in New York. MFM's mission is to elevate the work of musicians to a level of a real profession. Other policy tasks are: • Fighting for music workers at the federal, state and city levels for access to benefits, fair protections, and jobs • Economic justice and fair working conditions for music workers in live venues and recorded music settings • Economic Justice in the Digital Domain • Social Justice/Culture shift (equal access for people of color and other underrepresented groups in the industry).

More info here: https://www.MusiciansForMusicians.org

My Jazz Story

I'm not a jazz musician, because I don't play jazz. BUT I love jazz and have a lot of respect for the jazz innovators, such as Ornette Coleman, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Albert Ayler, Pharoah Sanders, Tony Williams, Horace Silver, Nina Simone, and many others. Calling me a "jazz musician" is the best compliment I could ever receive. Why is jazz cool? Firstly, jazz is the music of "the moment" due to the important role of improvising in this music style. Secondly, jazz is open to all kind of music styles. Jazz musicians are eager to learn from other music styles and incorporate them in their compositions. Thirdly, jazz has always a message. It's a social-political-cultural force in our society. I was first exposed to jazz by Gunther Hampel in Hamburg (Germany), around 1972. Started to play my horn when I was 26 (quite late). Ornette Coleman was my mentor until his death. He convinced me to continue to be what I was-am, as a human being and as a musician. The best concerts I ever attended were with Jimi Hendrix in Hamburg early 70s and Salif Keita at the Blue Note in Tokyo in 2001. The first jazz record I bought was the Tony Scott and Hozan Yamamoto LP. My advice to new listeners: when you listen to my music, please be a part of it.