American Songbook
Mer Sal Sings the American Songbook
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0:00/5:20
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0:00/4:25
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0:00/3:54
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0:00/3:12
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0:00/3:15
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0:00/4:17
Mer Sal
Mer Sal has contributed her unique vocal qualities to recordings and gigs with giants, working across diverse projects and genres.
Mer Sal has notably co-written and released a viral fusion-pop album called Adjustments with Los Angeles synth innovator Scott Kinsey, featuring contributions from notable collaborators including Scott Henderson, Jimmy Haslip, Danny Carey, Pedro Martins, Oz Noy, Nir Felder, Alex Machacek, Tim Lefebvre, Hadrien Feraud, Gary Novak, Gergo Borlai, Steve Tavaglione, Walt Fowler, and others.
Her sets can be a mixture of authentic soul, funk, and blues, or original fusion music involving vocals, with some of the most relevant fusion artists today! Mer has been compared to other rising singers of the fusion, jazz, neo-soul, and blues scene, but what makes her unique is the distinct sound of her voice.
Outside of Adjustments, Mer Sal has worked with a wide range of musicians in both studio and live settings, including (but not limited to): Francisco Fattorusso, Mohini Dey, Tim Lefebvre, Hadrien Feraud, Junior Braguinha, and her mentor Jimmy Haslip on bass; drummers such as Gergo Borlai, Gary Novak, Nicolas Viccaro, Justin Brown, Ronald Bruner Jr., Zach Danziger, Dennis Chambers, Go-Go Ray, and Alvino Bennett; guitarists like Jamie Kime, Alex Sill, Jeff Richman; saxophonists Patrick Bartley Jr, Bob Reynolds, Brandon Fields, Katisse Buckingham, and Steve Tavaglione; plus collaborations with Danny Carey (Tool) and Armenian musician Arto Tuncboyaciyan. She’s also recorded on The Native Dancer Series for Wayne Shorter by Vera’s Heartbeat, toured with We Speak Luniwaz: The Music of Joe Zawinul, directed jazz choir for a performance at the Köln Philharmonic, sung on ARC Trio’s Arceology with Jimmy Haslip and John Daversa Big Band, and performed on Karl Sterling’s The Dream — with additional forthcoming recordings from Italy and other projects.
Mer Sal at The Baked Potato, Studio City, Los Angeles - Scott Kinsey, Gary Novak, Pedro Martins, Francisco Fattorusso
QUOTES :
'“…of course if Jimmy Haslip says trust me, you listen. So I came to the vocal session and proceeded to meet Mer. We really hit it off on the session and got some really great vocal takes – her professionalism really knocked me out …"
"...I was really impressed by just how good she actually is .. “
-Scott Kinsey, in interview with Angel Romero, Progressive Rock Central, September 2021
"[Mer Sal] sets the standard against which all other female fronted Americana blues oriented recordings will be measured [...] in Colorado."
-Chris Kresge, The Colorado Sound Playlist
"Get [Smile], throw it on, and just listen to it. You will listen to it again and again. If not… you’re probably dead inside."
-Jay Wallace, Bandwagon Magazine
"Sal herself takes on the bass for “Tiny Circles” and “Bleeding Tears”, and Kinsey performs the Trilian bass on “Crying Smile” and “Fifty Circles Around the Sun.” Beyond that, they called on Tim Lefebvre, Hadrien Feraud, Jimmy Haslip, Junior Braguinha, and Michael Janisch to supply the low end."
-Kevin Johnson, No Treble
“Mer Sal is bumping with soulfulness!”
-Ferell Aubre, The Jazz Word
“Vocalist Mer Sal has a rich and expressive voice"
"She gets earthy!"
-George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
“Oh, did I mention that this woman can SING.”
-GREG "BLUESDOG" SZALONY, Blues Blast Magazine
"Sal scats through this tune and the mid-century vibe reminds me of jazzy buskers in the French Quarter.”
-Julia, BolderBeat
"Mer Sal’s dynamic vocals fit well!"
-Smooth Jazz Daily
"The vocal stylings of Mer Sal are thoughtful and sound like pop at first, until she reaches almost the halfway point in the song. Then, she switches to a little vocalese that any jazz fan would appreciate.” "Refreshing and worth hearing!"
-Dodie Miller-Gould, LemonWire
Available on these streaming services
“Mer Sal has a rich and expressive voice...She gets earthy!” - George W. Harris
— Jazz Weekly