PopImpressKA Journal | Events, Charities, Art, Fashion, Movies

PopImpressKA Journal: Benefit for Midnight Mission Event

by Olga Papkovitch

November 15, 2016

Benefit for Midnight Mission Event

www.midnightmission.org

Jazz collective Sasha’s Bloc featuring Alex Gershman, Jane Monheit and Alvin Chea – Celebration of CD release;

Red Carpet Event Thursday, March 19th

Red Carpet Hosted by: Damian De Langeron www.damiandelangeron.com

Co-host: Oksana Grigorieva

Assistance: Josh Ben David, Den Avash, Svetlana Nemkova, Eva Mejl

Video, photo: Vitalijus Ramaneuskas

Stylist: Vanessa Terrazas www.vanessaterrazas.com, Eva De Langeron evadelangeron.com

Red Carpet Celebrity and VIP Guests:

Larry King

Seth MacFarlan

Valerie Von Sobel

Frank Gambali

Babyface

Kenny G

Cheech Marin

Frank Sinatra J

Lu Parker

Robert, Linell Shapiro

Steve Cooke/Sandra

Gary Dourdan

Rob Minkoff

Patrick Kilpatrick

Richard and Francesca Harrison

Bill Blair

Louis Lombardi

Gail Garrison

Claudia Christian

Eric Lutes

Richard Tyson

Penny Marshal

Tracy Reiner

Michael, Kathy Foroutan

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBM-tfm9tqk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L0XRGV8Uf4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubU4ofH8UUU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrucp5xbPHU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_783XRaI0Bw

http://goldenheartawards.org/events.php

http://www.midnightmission.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/3-19-15-Sashas-Bloc-Event-PR-2.pdf

What: *** March 19th at Vibrato Jazz Grill will feature Red Carpet Entry, Photo/interview/video opportunities

Where: 2930 Beverly Glen Cir, Los Angeles, CA 90077

Time: Red Carpet 7pm;

Cocktails 8pm-8:30pm;

Showtime 8:30pm

Guest speaker: CEO Midnight Mission Larry Adamson www.midnightmission.org

Event in Partnership with The De Langeron Club www.thedelangeronclub.com

Four Sasha’s Bloc LA Concerts are confirmed to celebrate release of new CD ‘Heart On Fire’ – Concerts are March 18, 19, 20, 21

LA Concerts – venue info for all upcoming dates: March 18 and 19 at Vibrato Jazz Grill - (featuring a KJAZZ Radio live broadcast on 3/18 and then a ‘theatrical event’ on 3/19, complete with red carpet!) http://sashasbloc.com/?page_id=307

March 20 and 21 at Catalina Bar and Grill http://www.ticketmaster.com/Sashas-Block-CD-Release-Heart-On-tickets/artist/2079414

ABOUT SASHA’S BLOC: Conceived by bassist and songwriter Alex Gershman, and featuring Grammy-nominated vocalist Jane Monheit performing on multiple tracks, Sasha’s Bloc is an international ensemble -- an amalgam of varied artists, nationalities and experiences, aiming to deliver a sound that is consistently big, boisterous, full of spirit and rich in everything that makes jazz linger as an American phenomenon. With a performance style that evokes such seminal acts as Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Count Basie, Scott Joplin, Ella Fitzgerald and more, the group looks forward to four concerts in their hometown of Los Angeles to celebrate the release of the new album. All concerts will feature Monheit as well as Alvin Chea.

Listen to audio samples of ‘Heart On Fire’, here: https://soundcloud.com/sashasblocheartonfire/sets/heart-on-fire- sashas-bloc/s-qSSL6 Watch the EPK, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o69AnKFlMgY SomethingElseReviews – Exclusive Track Premiere 2/9/15, by Nick DeRiso http://somethingelsereviews.com/2015/02/09/sashas-bloc-jane- monheit-feels-like-jazz-stream/

BlogCritics - Four-Star CD Review 1/29/15, By Jack Goodstein http://blogcritics.org/music-review-sashas-bloc-heart-on-fire/

With the March, 2015 release of ‘Heart On Fire’, jazz collective Sasha’s Bloc aims to solidify their growing presence on the U.S. music scene with an original album that hearkens back to the Big Jazz Band sound of the 1920s, 30s and 40s. The group has built a name for itself in recent years via multiple sold out concerts at the key Jazz Clubs in Los Angeles, including Catalina Bar and Grill, Vibrato and Vitello’s. Citing Fats Waller, Scott Joplin and Duke Ellington as primary examples, Gershman comments, “My hope is that the Sasha’s Bloc will help bring these great American cultural achievements to modern life and contemporary audiences.”

The group’s core nonet is comprised of Nora Rothman, vocal; Brandon Fields, saxophone; Alex Budman, saxophone, clarinet; Kye Palmer, trumpet, Bob McChesney, trombone; Kevin Winnard, drums; Steve Cotter, guitar; Andy Langham, piano. Guest artists on the upcoming album include: Jane Monheit, vocal; Alvin Chea, vocal; Patrick Tuzzolino, vocal; Princess Fortier, vocal; Glynis Leflore vocal; Octavia Pace vocal; James Lum, banjo; Jason Fabus, accordion; Marc T. Bolin, Tuba. Gershman plays upright bass and electric bass.

Each track on the album is an Alex Gershman original, written with the goal of evoking this aforementioned, distinctive era in the evolution of jazz. Gershman collaborated Bob McChesney on songs 1 and 10, and with Bob Garad on song 4. Music arrangements are by Elliot Deitch, with vocal arrangements by Bob Garad. The CD was Produced by Joe Diblasi, with Sound by Mauricio Gurrero, and package Design by Yana Bannikova.

Visit: www.sashasbloc.com

For more information about Sasha’s Bloc, to receive a review copy, or to set an interview with Alex Gershman or other band members prior to the Red Carpet event, please contact sethcohenpr@earthlink.net