bioAlthough originally from Santa Cruz, California, where she grew up singing jazz professionally from the age of 16, Sasha Dobson, 26, now lives in New York City, performing original songs (by her and her band) in clubs around the Lower East Side. Her debut album, Modern Romance, a fusion of Brazilian groove/pop/jazz/American songbook, will be released on Secret Sun Recordings, the new label of singer/songwriter Jesse Harris. Harris produced the album along with singer/songwriter Richard Julian, and both contributed guitar work and songwriting. Tony Scherr (Bill Frisell, Willie Nelson) plays electric bass and Mauro Refosco (Bebel Gilberto, David Byrne) percussion. # # # |
PRESS RELEASE 08/21/06TIME MAGAZINE ADVISES: BEAT THE HEAT WITH SASHA DOBSON The new issue of Time Magazine, which hit stands today asks, "Need to cool down in the dog days?" Their solution is a round-up of six jazz vocalists making "refreshing" music. Singer/songwriter Sasha Dobson tops the list, which you can view here: New Yorkers: Dobson continues her weekly residency at the Rockwood Music Hall (196 Allen St) this Wednesday, Aug 23 at 8pm. Californians: Dobson heads west in Sept for gigs at SF's Make Out Room (Sept 14, LA's Hotel Cafe (Sept 17), and on Sept 15, a performance at the Monterey Jazz Festival. # # # |
PRESS RELEASE 08/17/06DAZZLING VOCALIST/SONGWRITER CONFIRMS SEPTEMBER CALIFORNIA DATES, INCLUDING MONTEREY JAZZ FEST NEW ALBUM "MODERN ROMANCE" OUT AUGUST 29 ON SECRET SUN RECORDINGS Sasha Dobson -- the enchanting NYC-based singer newly signed to Secret Sun Recordings -- has confirmed CA dates in September, including a performance at the Monterey Jazz Festival. The Monterey Jazz Festival marks a homecoming of sorts fourteen years ago a twelve year old Sasha shared the stage at the MJF with her father, acclaimed pianist Smith Dobson. Dobson will perform songs from her new album "Modern Romance," an enthralling amalgamation of Brazilian groove, pop and jazz. Backing Dobson will be the co-producers of her album, Richard Julian and Jesse Harris on guitar, Tony Scherr on bass (Willie Nelson, Norah Jones) and Dan Rieser (Little Willies) on percussion. The stripped down arrangements on "Modern Romance" allow Dobson’s vocals to soar effortlessly, paring away distractions and revealing a uniquely sultry voice. Dobson tackles original numbers, most of which she co-wrote with Harris and Julian. A Duke Ellington classic, and a dramatic reworking of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' tune that lends the album its title round out the set. # # # |
PRESS RELEASE 07/24/06BEGUILING MIX OF BRAZILIAN GROOVE, FOLK AND POP ON NEW ALBUM ‘MODERN ROMANCE’ (AUG 29/SECRET SUN RECORDINGS) BELIES SINGER/SONGWRITER’S JAZZ BONA FIDES WEEKLY RESIDENCY AT NYC’S ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL CONFIRMED FOR EVERY WEDNESDAY IN AUGUST(9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th 8pm) "A young singer trained in the verities of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, Sasha Dobson is starting to make music that’s more about her own time." - Ben Ratliff, THE NEW YORK TIMES Sasha Dobson’s forthcoming album ‘Modern Romance’ (Aug 29/Secret Sun Recordings), marks a creative flowering and stylistic turning point for the enchanting singer/songwriter. And while the album showcases her considerable songwriting talents, artful combination of Brazilian groove, folk and pop, and keen ear for unusual covers, it also hints at Dobson’s jazz-steeped upbringing. Dobson's father, the late great Smith Dobson, was an acclaimed, San Francisco jazz pianist. He played for years with vibraphone master Bobby Hutcherson and made recordings as a band leader as well, naming what would be his last recording "Sasha Bossa" after his daughter. A twelve year-old Sasha even performed with her father at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1992. She returns to the Festival in September, fourteen years on, to perform songs from "Modern Romance." Sasha made a series of recordings as a traditional jazz vocalist, before beginning to explore the eclectic mix of styles that are in evidence on "Modern Romance." She befriended NYC songwriting stalwarts Richard Julian and Jesse Harris, both of whom encouraged her to explore these different styles, and cultivate her own voice as a songwriter. Julian, Harris and Dobson ended up co-writing many of the songs on "Modern Romance", and they've been performing in her backing band all summer. Starting August 9, Sasha Dobson and her band - which also includes bassist Tony Scherr (Norah Jones, Willie Nelson) and Mauro Refosco (David Byrne, Bebel Gilberto) - returns to Manhattan's Rockwood Music Hall for a weekly Wednesday night residency (Aug 9, 16, 23, 30). The Rockwood shows begin at 8PM. # # # |
PRESS RELEASE 06/19/06STUNNING NEW VOCALIST/SONGWRITER CONFIRMS JULY RESIDENCY AT BROOKLYN'S MOTO FOLLOWING HER JUNE STANDING ROOM ONLY PERFORMANCES AT ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL COMPELLING, NUANCED NEW ALBUM "MODERN ROMANCE" OUT AUGUST 29 ON SECRET SUN RECORDINGS Sasha Dobson -- the captivating, nuanced singer newly signed to Secret Sun Recordings-- has confirmed a residency at Brooklyn hotspot Moto every Tuesday in July at 9pm, as well as an upcoming performance at The Living Room in NYC, July 5th at 9pm. Backing Dobson will be the co-producers of her album, acclaimed NYC songwriters Richard Julian and Jesse Harris on guitar, Tony Scherr (Willie Nelson, Norah Jones) on bass and Mauro Refosco (Bebel Gilberto, David Byrne) on percussion. WHO: Sasha Dobson with a four-piece band Dobson's Monday residency this month at Rockwood in NYC has drawn standing room only crowds with fans peering into the windows from the sidewalk. Her enchanting new album "Modern Romance" recently garnered the attention of the NY Times, which noted "A young singer trained in the verities of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, Sasha Dobson is starting to make music that's more about her own time." "Modern Romance" is an intriguing amalgam of Brazilian groove, pop and jazz. The stripped-down arrangements allow Dobson's vocals to soar effortlessly, paring away distractions and revealing a uniquely sultry voice. Dobson tackles twelve original numbers, most of which she co-wrote with Harris and Julian, plus a Duke Ellington classic, and a dramatic reworking of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' song that lends the album its title. # # # |
PRESS RELEASE 06/01/06STRIKING VOCALIST/SONGWRITER CONFIRMS RESIDENCY AT NYC'S ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL MONDAY NIGHTS IN JUNE STUNNING NATIONAL DEBUT ALBUM 'MODERN ROMANCE' OUT AUGUST 29 ON SECRET SUN RECORDINGS Sasha Dobson -- the enchanting singer newly signed to Secret Sun Recordings -- has confirmed a June residency at Rockwood Music for Monday nights. Dobson will be previewing songs from her inviting national debut "Modern Romance," an enthralling amalgamation of Brazilian groove, pop and jazz. Backing Dobson will be the co-producers of her album, Richard Julian and Jesse Harris on guitar, Tony Scherr on bass (Willie Nelson, Norah Jones) and Mauro Refosco on percussion (Bebel Gilberto, David Byrne). WHO: Sasha Dobson with a four-piece band The stripped down arrangements on "Modern Romance" allows Dobson's vocals to soar effortlessly, paring away distractions and revealing a uniquely sultry voice. Dobson tackles original numbers, most of which she co-wrote with NYC songwriters Harris and Julian; a Duke Ellington classic; and a dramatic reworking of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' tune that lends the album its title. # # # |
PRESS RELEASE 05/24/06SECRET SUN RECORDINGS TO RELEASE "MODERN ROMANCE" AUGUST 29th, NATIONAL DEBUT FROM EXQUISITELY VOICED NEW YORK CHANTEUSE ORIGINALS MINGLE WITH COVERS OF YEAH YEAH YEAHS AND DUKE ELLINGTON ON BRILLIANT ALBUM PRODUCED BY NYC SONGWRITING STALWARTS JESSE HARRIS AND RICHARD JULIAN NATIONAL TOUR SCHEDULED FOR FALL, INCLUDING PERFORMANCE AT MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL On August 29th Secret Sun Recordings will release "Modern Romance", the national debut from an exceptional new singing and songwriting talent, Sasha Dobson. The album, a fusion of Brazilian groove, pop and jazz showcases Dobson"s seasoned vocal ability and captures the very heart of an artist who simultaneously respects tradition and upends convention. "Modern Romance" features thirteen songs including eleven originals, and an uncanny pair of covers: The Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Modern Romance" and the Duke Ellington standard "Mood Indigo." Sasha takes the YYY's postmodern dirge from their "Fever To Tell" album and radically refashions it as a subtle, galloping love lament. Her cover of “Mood Indigo” also surprises with a strummed banjo accompaniment and soulfully plucked electric bass solo. The stripped down arrangements on "Modern Romance" allows Dobson's vocals to soar effortlessly, paring away distractions and revealing a uniquely sultry voice. The depth and clarity of her voice pays homage to her idols Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, while furthering the form. The whole feel of the album is intimate, soothing, and reflective. "Modern Romance" was recorded and mixed by studio legend Terry Manning (Big Star, Staple Singers, Shakira) and co-produced by Jesse Harris and Richard Julian, both of whom have earned acclaim for their own recent solo recordings. Tony Scherr (Bill Frisell, Willie Nelson) plays bass and Mauro Refosco (Bebel Gilberto, David Byrne) contributes percussion. Originally from Santa Cruz, California, Sasha grew up understanding jazz as a way of life. She is the daughter of two of the San Francisco Bay area's most notable jazz musicians, the late pianist Smith Dobson and singer Gail Dobson. She grew up singing jazz professionally from the age of 16, and now 26, lives in New York City, performing original songs in clubs around the Lower East Side Sasha Dobson will be on tour this September and October in support of "Modern Romance", including a show at the Monterey Jazz Fest in September. Her next NYC performance will be May 31st at The Living Room. Stay tuned for added tour dates. # # # |