Journal of the New Jersey Jazz Society

September 2010 - CD REVIEW [Sandyland]

SANDY SASSO has been one of the best vocalists on the New Jersey scene for many years. She has a new album out titled Sandyland (Charlie Boy Records – 003), and it is sure to win an even wider audience for her. The choice of material is interesting and eclectic. It is not often that you hear Gilbert & Sullivan on a jazz vocal album, but when you hear Sasso sing “Things Are Seldom What They Seem,” it makes perfect sense. Her version of “Artificial Flowers” brings a new life to this song from the Broadway show Tenderloin. One of her two original songs on the disc, “Walkin’ on Up (to Heaven’s Door),” is a heartfelt spiritual tribute to the victims of the Haitian earthquake. Sasso’s strong performances are abetted by a fine support group including Rio Clemente, who also provided input on several of the arrangements, on piano and B3 organ, Bill Easley on reeds, Mac Gohellon on trumpet, Steve Nelson on vibes, Calvin Jones on bass, Chembo Corniel on percussion, and Steve Johns on drums. Sasso and company have produced a well programmed and consistently entertaining visit to Sandyland.

...Up until now, I had been knocked out this year by three women, all relatively unknown, and on small, independent labels, who had delivered exceptional work: Sandy Sasso, Sue Tucker, and the recently Grammy-nominated Roberta Gambarini.

- Curtis Davenport

Sandy Sasso
All My Men - Charlie Boy Records

All My Men, the title of Sandy Sasso's latest release, is sure to convince you to join the illustrious group of which it speaks. That's because once you hear it, and Sasso's unique vocal style - not to mention her excellent band - you'll fall in love and consider yourself to be one of Sasso's men. The program is a collection of interesting songs, with amusing and often humorous lyrics. This light sense of humor carries over into the music and the bouncy swing that permeates the album.

"Everything I've Got Belongs to You," the disc opener, begins with Joe Ascione's light brushes sweeping out time on the snare. Sasso sings a verse accompanied by only the drums, the first of many clues scattered throughout the album that point toward Sasso's being a rhythmically motivated singer. The band enters in a medium swing tempo and Harry Allen answers Sasso's vocal on tenor saxophone. The first of two originals by the singer, "All My Men" follows. The tune is a medium up blues and features interesting solos from all band members. The tempo and mood relax for the slow, oozing swing of "Black Coffee." Sasso does "smooth and sultry" superbly. The bossa nova "Antonio's Song" - complete with Brazilian flavored acoustic guitar by Bob DeVos, provides a nice contrast to the serious swing of the first three tunes and "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea," which follows, set in a medium swing tempo.

Horace Silver's classic, "Song for My Father," continues the CD. The lyric to this often instrumentally played song was also written by Silver. Sasso delivers her vocals with style and the band plays the bossa to perfection. The lyrics to Oscar Brown Jr. and Bobby Timmons' "Dat Dere" are more commonly heard. Perhaps this is why Sasso decided to write an additional set of lyrics, which compliment the original ones nicely and match their whimsical and innocent tone. The band returns to the bossa nova for a rendition of Cole Porter's standard, "Love for Sale." DeVos and pianist Onaje Allan Gumbs are particularly copasetic and entertaining on this track. Sasso also adds some additional lyrics to the bluesy swing tune"Saturday Fish Fry," with lyrics about New Orleans food - always a popular subject among jazz lyricists. The album closes with the unusual choice of Neil Young's "Tin Man," performed as a ballad, and Sasso's second original, "Just Whistlin' Along," a medium swing tune with a free and easy feel.

Sandy Sasso has a sweet, smooth voice. Sure, that sounds silly (Sorry, I just can't help myself with the alliteration)... but cliché though it may be, in this instance, it's the truth. Her phrasing is unique and tasteful. Her songs are interesting and not overly complicated. Her band plays with a swing sensibility, tempered by a touch of the blues. All My Men is definitely a CD worth getting and Sasso is a singer worth watching.

- Dave Miele

Sandy Sasso - All My Men

Après avoir chanté avec le Tommy Dorsey Big Band, celui de Benny Goodman et de Nelson Riddle, Sandy Sasso poursuit sa carrière en adoptant ici un répertoire qui couvre une étendue stylistique d'une ampleur continentale puisqu'on passe des contrées éloignées habitées par Bobby Timmons à celles où déambule Michael Franks, en passant par l'univers de Louis Jordan et celui de Neil Young, sans oublier Horace Silver, les standards et les deux compositions de la vocaliste. Sandy Sasso possède une voix chaleureuse dont les inévitables maniérismes sont compensés par une élégance réelle.

Le duo avec Grady Tate est charmant mais la voix du chanteur-batteur (uniquement vocaliste ici) est emplie d'un blues dont elle est dépourvue. Peu importe, elle a d'autres armes pour interpréter «Black Coffee». Mais elle est carrément dans un autre genre que le jazz sur «Tin Man». Elle a cependant l'avantage d'un groupe superbe, les interventions racées de Harry Allen et d'un très sage Onaje Allan Gumbs sont d'un professionnalisme qui embellit et donne du relief aux morceaux les plus usés («Song for My Father», «Love for Sale»). Car si Sasso ressasse sans cesse ces scies, c'est assurément sans sirupeux, sans sucre et sans céder sur son style perso qui reste concis et assez sympa. Vous aurez compris que ce bon disque, sans être d'une intensité fulgurante, illustre le haut niveau musical de l'univers du jazz outre-atlantique.

- Jean Szlamowicz