Eyes Wide Open

Amazon.com His eyes may be wide open, but handsome 28-year-old newcomer Sachal Vanandani strives for a sleepy-sexy allure with his dark, cushy vocals and seeming inability to break a sweat. If you're waiting for a male Norah Jones to come along, this pop-inflected Indian-American artist may come as close as you're going to get. He too, has a healthy appetite for generic sampling, mixing a Percy Mayfield blues, a Jobim bossa, a Sade confection, a Billy Strayhorn "Flower is a Lovesome Thing," and his own searching ballads. But Vanandani, whose urbane sophistication and Chicago roots link him to Kurt Elling, is a truer jazz artist than Jones, comfortably bonding with a swinging trio headed by pianist Jeb Patton (a young veteran of the Heath Brothers) and guest players including vibraphonist Stefon Harris and trumpeter Marcus Printup. He can scat, too, without overplaying that gambit. Eyes Wide Open, his third album following two self-released titles, gets a bit staid at times, but it exudes promise. --Lloyd Sachs Product Description Sachal Vasandani's Mack Avenue debut release, Eyes Wide Open, showcases this uniquely gifted vocalist and songwriter. The New York Times tags him 'debonair" and critics describe the Thelonious Monk Institute Competition semi-finalist as "Red-hot... The finest young talent on the scene in addition, Vasandani's live performances have generated appreciation and praise from peers worldwide. Produced by John Clayton and Al Pryor. Review "...a superb debut of distinctive originals and intelligent makeovers that teem with a fresh vitality..." -- BILLBOARD "...a stunning and moving voice..." -- THE CULTERAL CONNECT About the Artist One of the most startling artistic revelations of 2007 is New York-based vocalist-songwriter-bandleader Sachal Vasandani, who makes his Mack Avenue Records debut with the exceptional CD, Eyes Wide Open. Indeed, the title says it all: This 12-song collection of stirring originals and smart covers is an eye-opener to a fresh, young talent who displays a singular, deep-brewed voice and possesses an uncanny sensibility to straddle the fine line between jazz and pop. Vasandani is in the company of his established trio (performing together since 2001) comprised of pianist Jeb Patton, bassist David Wong and drummer Quincy Davis. Guests on the CD include vibraphonist Stefon Harris, trumpeter Marcus Printup and guitarist Doug Wamble. The album is produced by esteemed bassist-bandleader John Clayton and veteran staff producer Al Pryor, engineered by Joe Ferla and mastered by Bob Ludwig. In an era where young male singers believe that trying to channel Frank Sinatra is the play-it-safe road to success, Vasandani instead strikes a chord as an original that evokes integrity as a songwriter and song stylist. As a result, there's a rare depth of emotion to the lyrics in many of these songs. "With the tunes I wrote and the songs I cover, I wanted to share feelings of both hope and loss," says Vasandani, who was a semi-finalist in the 2004 Thelonious Monk Institute Competition. "Songs often express sentiments in black-and-white; I wanted to get to a `gray' area of mixed emotions. Overall, I believe the album has a positive outlook, but acknowledges the struggle you go through to stay positive. That's the binding glue." Vasandani contributes three fine originals to Eyes Wide Open. His tune of sweet escapism, "Storybook Fiction" (for which Clayton "hammered out a bridge in the studio"), is, he says, "a song about a fictitious love that was borne out of living in crowded New York. You can almost see into a neighboring apartment, and the story begins there. It's a song that imagines and hopes for a perfect love." Originally conceived as a weighty ballad, for the album Vasandani re-imagined it in an uplifting light. "I wanted to give it an additional positive energy." Written with a driving rhythm and featuring a brilliant vibes solo by Harris, "Send `Em Up to Heaven" was partially inspired by the events of September 11. "It's a song about struggling to forgive," says Vasandani. "I thought Stefon's voice on it would really solidify the vibe." "Please Mr. Ogilvy" is a straight-talking number about an artist's desire to be supported, or as Vasandani sings, the need "just to be endorsed by you." He explains: "It's based on my realization that people with vision still need advocates to help them realize their goals. I've found that this song resonates with so many artists and people trying to do their own thing. We all need that advocacy, that endorsement." In addition to his own songs, Vasandani covers tunes performed by neo-soul songstress Sade (the quiet, lilting "It's Only Love That Gets You Through"), alt-folk band Iron & Wine (the gently swinging "Naked As We Came"), pop-blues great Percy Mayfield (a rarely covered gem, "Strange Things Happen," which Vasandani says is "a fun way to say, `watch out'"), Brazil's iconic songwriter Antonio Carlos Jobim (the upbeat bossa-dri
ASIN: B000NIIUT2
VSKU: DBV.B000NIIUT2.G
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:Sachal Vasandani
Binding: Audio cd
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