Sachal Vasandani On 'Piano Jazz: Rising Stars'

Enlarge Courtesy of the artist

Sachal Vasandani's vocal revelation stems back to middle school: "I would raise my hand to do a scat solo on one of the jazz choir songs and found out that the ideas that were in my head were coming out a lot easier in my voice than on the French horn."

Courtesy of the artist

Sachal Vasandani's vocal revelation stems back to middle school: "I would raise my hand to do a scat solo on one of the jazz choir songs and found out that the ideas that were in my head were coming out a lot easier in my voice than on the French horn."

No one sounds like vocalist Sachal Vasandani right now. In fact, host Jon Weber jokes at the beginning of this session that the thirtysomething Vasandani sounds like "a young Sachal Vasandani." But the Chicago-born singer is quick to acknowledge his influences.

"I wouldn't be doing my own thing if it wasn't for the inspiration and, frankly, the perspiration of trying to ape a lot of the great singers of the jazz lexicon and from outside of jazz," Vasandani says. "It's all in pursuit of being your own best individual you — but, hopefully, that's just greater than the sum of all these different parts."

There's something sincere and genuine about Vasandani's performance, which can be heard in this program featuring a set of standards and originals from his latest album, Hi-Fly.