The Al-Amar Ensemble is a new group to hit the NY scene, assembled by Timba Harris of Secret Chiefs 3
on the heels of his recent move from Seattle, in collaboration with drummer and percussionist, April Centrone (New York Arabic Orchestra, Secret Chiefs 3), and featuring Harris’ longtime colleague / renowned composer Gyan Riley on guitar, and stunning oud player and luthier, John Vergara (NY Arabic Orchestra). The combination is a new avant-garde, marrying Arabic music and tarab with rock, soul, sensuality and intense energy.

This is the premiere performance of Al-Amar Ensemble, and SoSaLa is excited to be joined by an Arabic influenced group for a night of Nu Iranian and Nu Arabic music.

Photo by Ryutaroo

Besides being a musician, Sohrab is also a certified teacher of Kendo, the modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting. To study Kendo was the main reason for him to leave his hometown Hamburg in Germany in 1974. He was twenty years old and ready to challenge himself in Japan which was almost unknown to Europeans. When he arrived in Osaka he couldn’t speak Japanese at all and didn’ like the food. He had all kinds of problems when communicating. Mentally, emotionally and physically he was in a state of culture shock.

He only knew a Kendo teacher, in Osaka, Mr. Okumura, who had invited him to stay at his home with his family for a while. His study of Kendo started almost after his arrival. Mr. Okumura found another Kendo teacher for him. The first thing he had to do was change his original name to Sohi Sadato so that the Japanese could pronounce his name. Besides Kendo, Sohrab also studied and practised Judo, but gave it up two years later when he felt he should focus only on one martial art.

Photo by Urs Lauterburg

So everyday from morning til evening Sohrab studied and practiced Kendo. He became so popular among Osaka’s Kendo teachers that he was invited to their dojos. They taught him the secret of their styles. At that time he was the only foreigner practicing at the head dojo of the Osaka Police. During his third year he found his real master who was teaching at the Osaka Sports College. Sohrab decided to enter his school and stayed there for the next six years studying under that master. When he graduated he was the holder of the 5th dan and was an official teacher.

Photo by Ryutaro

In 1984 he left Osaka for Tokyo because again he felt that he needed a big change in his Kendo life. In Tokyo the head Kendo teacher of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, who was Sohrab’s new and last master, was waiting for him. Under his guidance Sohrab accomplished his study and became a real Kendo master. In 1987 he passed the 6th dan examination and became the first foreigner receiving all his 6 dans in Japan and in the most speedy way:

Kendo1st dan and Judo 1st dan in 1974
Kendo 2nd dan in 1975
Kendo 3rd dan in 1976
Kendo 4th dan in 1978
Kendo 5th dan in 1981
Kendo 6th dan in 1987

Sohrab and his Kendo teacher and mentor Sato Hironobu sensei (Kendo & Iaido 8th dan hanshi)

Sato Hironobu sensei in his Kendo outfit

All this said, how could Sohrab get involved with music when Kendo was the main thing in his life in Japan?

Sohrab was so happy after the concert to find out that Kendo was appliable to other things in common life, such as music. He realized that music would open a new door to the world. Kendo was only good for Japan, but music was something that could speak to anybody around the world.

After the first rehearsal Sohrab asked the band to accept him as a member. They agreed and let him do vocals for a couple of months. Then they realized that his voice wasn’t “loud” enough, so they give him a used alto sax to play on without teaching him how to play it. He just felt cool “blowing” his horn and fell in love with every new sound he got out of it. The horn player taught him the basic fingering of the keys and how to put the reed on the mouthpiece. That’s all! The rest he taught himself based on Kendo. You could call him a “Kendo sax player playing Kendo music”. Sohrab never copied any other musician from the beginning and he has never been a sideman of any band. Without Kendo, Sohrab would never have become the musician he is now!

Photo by Ryutaro

What did he learn from Kendo and apply to his music?

A night of Avant experiMENTALism and indie rock, come brave the cold, let the sound beat away your chill…

Line up: Gripping (w. Jim Hoey/ Serious Heart Attack on guitar, Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi/SoSaLa on sax & vocal, April Centrone/NY Arabic Orchestra, The Secret Chiefs 3, SoSaLa on drums and percussion, and Dylan Ricards/Serious Heart Attack on bass), Tenrec and Multitudes (tba).

Other participating bands are Parakeets, Serious Heart Attack and Vise Massacre.

You can purchase new CD “Nu World Trash” at the venue.

Date: 

Sohrab’s playing in the 8pm ” Jazz Improvisation Persian night” with: Zack Fherzad on cello & trumpet, Koko on electric guitar, Sinan Gundogdu on oud, Dlez Villeneuve on percussion and  congas, Clete De Beate on drums, Sohrab Saadat  Ladjevardi on sax and Luoisa Calio poet