This band is keeping the tradition of jazz, swing and cabaret alive with their tasteful and expressive music.
Sasha's Bloc is like a Broadway show set to some of the best jazz and swing you will hear in our modern technical age.
So as they say in the song "Start the day with a smile and stop to enjoy!" I think that holds true if you have the track "Breakfast" playing to help give you that incentive.
Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck
More About Sasha's Bloc:
http://sashasbloc.com
“Alexander Gershman is not a jack of all trades; rather he is a master. He wears many hats and wears them all well: physician, surgeon, philanthropist, bandleader, songwriter and bassist to name a few.
The 8-piece small group which is Sasha’s Bloc sounded nothing short of amazing as they dazzled the capacity level VIP crowd. Songs like “Feels Like Jazz” and “Breakfast” were guest favorites, along with the sweet and melodic duet “Black and Blue.” Speaking of the songs, they are Gershman originals. And from my perspective, his writing is right up there with some of the classic songsmiths of the first part of the 20th century.” -International Review of Music by James DeFrances
Brandon Fields - Saxophone
Brandon Fields is one of the most talented and renowned saxophone players in the world. His debut recording “The Other Side Of The Story” was recorded in 1986. Three additional concept albums followed with great success.
World class Saxophone player who performed with Earth Wind & Fire, Elton John, Quincy Jones, Nancy Wilson, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Luis Miguel, Al Jarreau, Robben Ford, Nancy Sinatra, George Duke, Engelbert Humperdink
Mr. McChesney – Trombone
Mr. McChesney one of the most talented and renowned Trombone players in the world.
Some of his film credits include Rocky Balboa, The Pursuit of Happiness, Everyone's Hero, Shepherd, Mystic, Rush Hour, The Cooler, Space Jam, and many others. TV shows featuring his work include The Simpson’s, Family Guy, American Dad, Happy Hour, Looney Tunes, JAG, King of the Hill, Futurama, and more.
He can be heard as a jazz soloist on his own "No Laughing Matter - The Bob McChesney Quartet Plays Steve Allen", Horace Silver's It's Got to Be Funky(1993), Bob Florence's Grammy 2000 winning CD "Serendipity 18", along with others.
Alex Budman – Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone
Since his move to Los Angeles from San Francisco in 2005, Alex Budman has been in heavy demand as a session musician and soloist, recording on a wide variety of albums, TV shows and movies. His command of the saxophone, clarinet and flute keeps him busy playing in the top tier of LA's musical community. Alex can be found touring with songwriter Christopher Cross and has been fortunate over the years to perform or record with artists including Eric Clapton, Boz Scaggs, D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, Clare Fischer and Rosemary Clooney.
Kye Palmer – Trumpet
Trumpeter Bobby Shew first got Palmer his start on the Woody Herman Orchestra; Palmer toured 1988 through 1990 with the group. Palmer currently performs and records with the Chris Walden Big Band, Bill Cunliffe’s “Imaginacion” and other groups in the Los Angeles area. He has also performed and recorded with LeAnn Rimes, Hawk-Richard Jazz Orchestra, Bob Dylan, Tony Bennett, Joe Williams, and Diane Schuur, as well as touring Japan with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and Poncho Sanchez Latin jazz band. Television appearances include The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with David Letterman.
Palmer continues to teach trumpet and is serving as an adjunct professor at California State University, Fullerton.
Kevin Winard – Drums
When he was just twenty years old, Kevin began touring the country backing up one of the most successful pop duos in musical history—The Captain & Tennille - touring and recording with them for over ten years. In the summer of 1988, Kevin traveled the United States with the pop group Times Two, opening for Debbie Gibson on her Out Of The Blue tour, and went on to accompany French rock star David Hallyday for his European tour and live album, followed by a world tour with pop icon Paul Anka.
Andy Langham – Piano
Andy Langham studied jazz performance at the University of North Texas. His touring credits include Poncho Sanchez, Natalie Cole, Christian McBride, Ernie Watts, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, New York Voices, John Heard, and Dewey Redman. His recording and/or performance credits include John Abercrombie, Gary Bartz, Terence Blanchard, Arthur Blythe, Debby Boone, Randy Brecker, Bobby Caldwell, Pete Christlieb, Ravi Coltrane, Larry Coryell, John Fedchock, The Four Freshmen, Terry Gibbs, Gerry Gibbs, Tom Harrell, Jon Hendricks, Dave Liebman, Don Menza, Roy McCurdy, James Moody, Sam Rivers, Christian Scott, Bobby Shew, Lew Soloff, Mike Stern, Clark Terry and Steve Turre.
Steve Cotter - Guitar
Steve Cotter's first interest in jazz and studying guitar came about in his 17th year. Cotter excelled at the esteemed college playing in the One O' Clock band and obtaining the graduate teaching fellowship. At UNT he played along side distinguished jazz performers including Marc Johnson, Buster Wiliams, Gerry Muligan, and Randy Brecker.
He has performed with such notables as Joey DeFrancesco, Jimmy Smith, Dave Pike, John Pisano, Bill Perkins, Dale Fielder, Jane Getz, Bob Maize and Ernie Watts.
In 2005 to the present he has toured extensively with vocalist Steve Tyrell to Europe, Japan, Russia, and the U.S. including residencies in New York City. While in Los Angeles he started playing with Sasha’s Bloc Band
Tony Galla – Vocal
Internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Tony Galla was discovered in Buffalo, New York by renowned disc jockey Joey Reynolds, recording his first hit single, “In Love” (Swan Records). Climbing quickly up the Billboard charts, “In Love” became a national cult hit in the U.S. and throughout the UK and Europe, where it currently remains a popular hit.
After releasing their first album, Live at the Inferno (Discovery Records), rock legend Jimi Hendrix helped Raven land a recording contract with Clive Davis and Columbia Records, releasing a second album, Raven and the single, “Feeling Good.”
Soon Tony could be found jamming into the wee hours of the night with Jimi Hendrix or Janis Joplin at local nightclubs in New York City. Tony toured extensively with Raven gaining worldwide attention and opening for prominent groups like Joe Cocker, Led Zeppelin, Procol Harem, The Byrds, The Young Rascals, Blood Sweat and Tears, Three Dog Night, B.B. King, Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy. He is Now performing with Sasha’s Bloc
Jane Monheit
“Everything I’m singing now is a reflection of my truest self,” says Jane Monheit. “After all this time in the industry, after touring for 13 years, it’s time to just be me, with complete and utter freedom.”
It can be felt in her wide- ranging choice of material, in the unique arrangements, and in her own fearless performances and interpretations. The diverse and very personal set of songs includes both familiar standards and compositions by Lennon/McCartney, Randy Newman, two songs by Ivan Lins, recorded in the original Portuguese, and, for the first time, a Monheit original. She is now performing with Sasha’s Bloc.
Alvin Chea – Vocal
Alvin Chea was born in San Francisco, California. A graduate of Oakwood College, he earned a double-major Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Communications. As a veteran of the music industry, his singing voice has been heard on scores of movie soundtracks and music recordings, and he has been a Voice-over artist anchoring numerous commercials. A founding member of ten-time Grammy® award winning ‘Super group’ Take 6, Alvin Chea has toured the world extensively and shares glimpses of that life in his autobiography, BassLines. Over their twenty-year history, in addition to becoming the most nominated R&B, Gospel, or Jazz vocalists in Grammy® history, Take 6 has garnered several venerated music industry honors. In addition to the aforementioned activities he is also pursuing a Juris Doctorate in Entertainment Law.
He is now performing with Sasha’s Bloc.
Nora Rothman - Vocal
Los Angeles native Nora Rothman has been singing jazz professionally since age 16, when she was bewitched by the freedom, expressiveness, and honesty of America's classic art form.
At age 19, she moved to Providence, Rhode Island to earn her B.A. in Creative Writing from Brown University. While in college, Nora sung in ICCA award-winning jazz a'cappella group "The Higher Keys" and also toured Florence, Italy with the Nora Rothman Trio. In 2013, Nora returned to Los Angeles to pursue her career as a singer/songwriter/actress. She joined Sasha's Bloc in the fall of 2014, and made her live radio debut with Jane Monheit and Alvin Chea for the "Heart on Fire" release show on Kjazz 88.1 this spring.
Nora has already performed with such respected jazz stalwarts as Marcus Miller, Alan Pasqua and Bob Shepard. She can be found singing jazz in every corner of town--Vibrato, Catalina, the Dresden--with L.A.'s finest players.
Sasha’s Girls:
Glynis Leflore
Glynis LeFlore is an aspiring singer from New Orleans. She joined Sasha’s Bloc, September 2014.
Darah Fortier
Darah is an amazing singer, infectious and captivating performer, and an inspiring and prolific songwriter.. Thanks to some direction from special key figures in her life, the world now has access to a moving, touching and inspiring force. She joined Sasha’s Bloc September 2014.
Octavia Pace
Octavia is a successful and very talented background singer. She joined Sasha’s Bloc September 2014.
Jasmin Handon
Jasmin is a very talented vocalist who has been touring as a lead and background singer. Her passion is in R&B and Jazz. She joined Sasha’s Bloc February 2015.
