Substance beyond the sheen
Opener ‘Best Life Now’ is stating the blindingly obvious Paul Simon-like, meaning – specifically – that it’s got the feel and momentum of ‘You Can Call Me Al’ – so somehow you think you know the thing rhythmically subliminally and the conversational style great singer Sachal adopts is paradigmatic. The Simon connection ends there.
There’s still lots of substance beyond the sheen.
Known for his work with storming jazz-rock late period Chick Corea band The Vigil, Charles Altura’s very African sounding guitar is an ideal foil.
But lyrically is where the song is most interesting and that applies throughout this fine album – basically the protagonist voice is very humble, vulnerable but positive. The piano solo ultimately takes this home like a Bruce Hornsby tune. Fundamentally it’s very 80s. Very pop jazz in a not at all Jamie Cullum-esque sense that is given that the English jazz singer’s Twentysomething style derives from Harry Connick Jr’s rewriting of the Rat Pack crooner playbook.
Monster groove
Sachal doesn’t do that. The gnomic drummer seen on screen in the fabulous Alejandro González Iñárritu Oscar winning film Birdman Nate Smith produces and plays on the album. And he seizes one of the best moments with the sheer thump and wallop he generates on ‘Incredible Kindness’ which has a monster groove and a whip like snare sound that crackles with energy and comes complete with some very compelling bass.
The vocal highlight is a duo with Gretchen Parlato on ‘Right On Time,’ even better than Parlato’s work with Lionel Loueke. To us Sachal’s best work before this was his version of Abbey Lincoln’s ‘Throw It Away’ on Midnight Shelter.
This is poppier which is his natural terrain on some levels. And it’s easily his best work to date.
We’re fans of Shayna Steele and the singer materialises mirage-like on the album too – Sachal was on Steele’s storming Gold Dust.
One of the great voices anywhere Sachal does a nuanced version of the Bob Haggart/Johnny Burke standard ‘What’s New’ just as good as Ian Shaw’s on his album of the same name with Jamie Safir and Iain Ballamy 5 years ago. Although I think Ian still ”owns” the song given his wit and admirable puckishness. His take is boisterous; Sachal’s silkier. Horses for courses.
Shayna Steele connection
Hailing from Chicago, Sachal studied jazz and classical music at the University of Michigan. He debuted with Eyes Wide Open released in 2007. Collaborations along the way include work with Wynton Marsalis and the ultimate singer’s singer, Bobby McFerrin.
We’re fans of Shayna Steele and it’s good she pops up on Living My Best Life although hasn’t a featured song – Sachal was on her storming alt country tinged Gold Dust we loved some years ago and so there’s a circle in the round in her involvement.
It’s not at all a sax player’s record but fine commmunicative saxist Dayna Stephens is a bit player on ‘Call Me’ but it is counter intuitively actually one of the tracks that I liked least much as I am a fan of Stephens’. He scores more on his soloing found during ‘What’s New?’
The keys player is Jon Cowherd whose album Kings Highway with Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band was the marlbank album of the year in 2023. He doesn’t disappoint especially on electric piano.
Brian Cockerham’s bass stands out brilliantly on ‘Incredible Kindness’. He was on Steele’s Gold Dust including that album’s incredibly powerful hymn of consciousness and self-belief, ‘The Bloodline.’
Different feel to the Sachal you think you know
There’s a different feel to the more intimate piano vocals reveries found on Sachal’s Still Life and the earlier Midnight Shelter. Exuberance suits the singer better.
Break up song ‘Blame Love’ is one of the best of what is a strong originals strewn album. The writing is the equal of the vocals. Album of the week. Do yourselves a favour, friend – play the album to death this week and beyond into the deep blue yonder. You won’t regret it.
