Sasha’s Bloc is a group of musicians led by bassist and founder Alexander Gershman. The Los Angeles based band is focused on the classic music songs and culture from the 1920s – 1930s. They blend it with today’s modern jazz with a core octet and nine guest artists. Corina Cooper,[…]
Melancholy Reviews
The Entertainment Bank
by Cassandra Walker Break out the bathtub gin, because we are about to have a party!!! “Melancholy” by Sasha’s Bloc is this group’s freshman release and it pays tribute to the music of the 1920’s and 30’s. Being a fan of that period of music, this CD was such a[…]
L.A. Bassist Alex Gershman Revisits, By Way of Soviet Russia, Early Jazz In ‘Sasha’s Bloc’
By Greg Ptacek Already a fixture on the L.A. music scene with a string of sold-outperformances at local jazz clubs, Alexander Gershman (actually, that’s “Dr. Gershman”) performs with his band Sasha’s Bloc – a group of talented studio musicians who like him are fascinated by jazz’s early 20th century iterations. L.A.[…]
Melancholy from Sasha’s Bloc Vintage Jazz for Big Bands and Ballrooms
by Susan Frances, Yahoo! Contributor Network On a mission to revive the heyday of jazz from the 1920’s and ’30s, Sasha’s Bloc is a project inspired by its leader bassist Alex Gershman who made the recording in memory of his parents. The music is a synthesis of American blues, ballroom dance, and[…]
Sasha’s Bloc @ Catalina’s
by George Harris You get the hint that something special is in the air at Catalina’s when a) the show starts RIGHT ON TIME (this is a jazz club?!?) and b) the set begins with a guy having his back facing you (no, it’s not Miles Davis), who then turns[…]
Critical Jazz Review
An intriguing ensemble to say the least, founded in 2012 we find a jazz collective in the truest sense of the word. Sasha’s Bloc is an eclectic mix of some top flight musicians that first made their name working the L.A. scene where 50 live performances were consistent sell outs[…]
Jersey Jazz Review
by Joe Lang SASHA’S BLOC has an interesting origin. Russian-born founder Alexander Gershman is a renowned Urologic Surgeon who also happens to be a bass player with a passion for music. He is particularly inspired by the jazz of the 1920s and 1930s. Melancholy is a nine-tune collection of original[…]
FAME Review – Melancholy CD by Sasha’s Bloc
Available from CD Baby. Sasha’s Bloc, in Melancholy, has managed to fuse soul with Gershwin with Goodman with rag with gypsy with Leon Redbone with, well, all the best elements of old timey music in a spirited melange that will remind you of those great old Betty Boop cartoons, the Bowery Boys,[…]
Live Jazz: Sascha’s Bloc Band Upstairs at Vitello’s
By Don Heckman Hearing a collective of mostly Russian musicians impressively swinging their way through a program of jazz standards and Great American Songbook classics wasn’t exactly what one ordinarily expects to hear Upstairs at Vitellos. Yet there they were Friday night – Sasha’s Bloc Band – playing everything from “C Jam Blues”[…]
