This is the third album that Vasandani has released; this singer has been garnering strong reviews from all sides of the jazz community since 2007. Hi-Fly showcases a singer that can power through traditional jazz tracks and experiment at length. What results is one of the most unique albums that we’ve been able to review, while still showcasing eir skill at every turn. Hi-Fly starts out with “The Very Thought of You”, an extremely emotional opening that shows that Vasandani does not want to play. “Love is a Losing Game” continues this trend, while giving listeners a better sense of eir range.
After hooking listeners, Vasandani is able to move away from the straight-forward stuff and really begin to impress with “I See Your Face Before Me”. “I See Your Face” is one of those tracks that has Vasandani taking on more than one role. Where a vocalist’s role typically is to forward the narrative side of things, this track gives listeners the opportunity to hear Vasandani’s voice take on a much more instrumental tone. By flitting and bouncing through the instrumental arrangements, Vasandani imbues the track with a natural unity. As the tracks on “Hi-Fly” continue, the quality stays constant.
This means that even “There’s A Boat” can contribute to the album’s mythos, instead of merely being late disc filler. Without a misstep to be heard, Hi-Fly is a perfect example of an album done right. Vasandani may only be three albums into eir career, but there is a maturity present in each of Hi-Fly’s tracks that will ensure that listeners come back for more. Check it out today.
Top Tracks: The Very Thought of You, That’s All I Want From you
Rating: 8.0/10
Sachal Vasandani – Hi-Fly (CD) / 2011 Mack Avenue / 12 Tracks / http://www.sachalvasandani.com/ / http://www.mackavenue.com