SHASHATY Biography
The title of ShaShaty’s first album of original material in over ten years says it all about the multi-talented saxophonist and composer’s excitement and optimism as he springboards into the next phase of his dynamic, ever-evolving career. While celebrating and looking forward to a “Brighter Day” – his debut collection for BFD/RED – the South Florida bred, L.A. based performer enters his third decade as an instrumental recording artist and continues his thriving creative relationship with contemporary jazz guitarist, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Steve Oliver. Oliver produced, engineered and arranged the 11 eclectic tracks while writing and co-writing many of them with ShaShaty. Their unique collaborative spirit drove the success of the saxophonist’s two previous albums, “From Me To You” (2007) and “Come Together” (2011), which showcased his re-imaginings of songs by many of the legendary artists who inspired his own musical journey.
While in many ways ShaShaty’s unique career perfectly embodies the title of “Dream Ride,” the infectious debut single from Brighter Day, the deeper reality is an inspiring, wild ride of a story about survival, determination, re-invention and a passion for sharing his music that has brought him to this promising new moment. After fronting an instrumental pop/rock band after high school and expanding his musical scope via jazz studies in a renowned jazz program in colllege, he got off to a blazing start on the thriving Miami and South Beach club scene. The roar ShaShaty made at clubs like The Clevelander and Tropics attracted the interest of one of the country’s then-top promoters, Cellar Door Concerts – and soon the saxophonist was opening for pop legends like REO Speedwagon, The Bee Gees, Peter Cetera, Gloria Estefan, Jon Secada and George Benson.
While ShaShaty’s early success as a live performer and recording artist perfectly paralleled the rise of the radio format that would later be pegged “smooth jazz,” his vision always ran deeper than simple labels and his edgier, eclectic vibe found him working with artists in a multitude of genres. ShaShaty gained national exposure as a featured performer on a PBS hour long special, “Sunfest ’99 Al Jarreau and ShaShaty” and TV commercials for one of the country’s top contemporary jazz venues of the era, the Pleasure Island Jazz Company, where he had a residency in the late 90s. The musician’s regional success also led to multiple opportunities to tour the East Coast, and he and his band began playing in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland (Baltimore’s Inner Harbor), Virginia and Washington, D.C. He also played at the Olympic Village in Atlanta during the 1996 Summer Olympics. Despite not fitting perfectly into the format’s mix, ShaShaty’s self-titled first EP secured rotation on Miami’s Smooth Jazz 93.9 Love 94 with “Brazlian Sunrise,” which for weeks was among the station’s top requested songs.
By the late 90s, the saxophonist was ready for some fresh new musical explorations. Enter Steve Oliver, emerging as a powerful force in contemporary instrumental music with his fascinating array of guitar, keyboards, lead vocals and percussive “vocalese.” ShaShaty met the multi-talented musician at a club where he played and did booking. He was assigned to bring in a national act and Oliver – who had risen to prominence in Steve Reid’s Bamboo Forest – fit the bill. The two hit it off and soon ShaShaty was doing light touring with Oliver, who later convinced the saxophonist that he should relocate to Los Angeles, where the music industry is more prominent, to further enhance his career.
The Brighter Day that ShaShaty is experiencing now extends to his unique relationship with BFD/RED, a division of the New York-based Bob Frank Entertainment distributed by Sony`s RED Distribution arm. Brighter Day has seen three singles to national and international radio and the Billboard charts. The charismatic saxophonist was invited by Universal Studios Hollywood, one of his performance venues, to appear on the TODAY Show with Kathy Lee and Hoda. Expanding his horizons, ShaShaty has now become one of the creators, producers and the host of “Vineyard Jazz,” a music-centric travel and wine industry show whose 18 episodes are taped at various wineries in Napa and the Central Coast.