"Fats" Sadi Pol Lallemand (23 October 1927, Andenne, Belgium – 20 February 2009, Huy) was a Belgian jazz musician, vocalist, and composer who played vibraphone and percussion.[1] He chose the name "Sadi" because he disliked his last name, which means "the German" in French. He led a quartet and nonet and won the Belgian Golden Django for best French-speaking artist in 1996.
Career[edit]
His first instrument was xylophone, which he played in a circus in the 1930s.[2] After World War II, he turned professional playing the vibraphonist. He performed with Bobby Jaspar in the Bob Shots, then with Don Byas.[2] From 1950 to 1961, he lived in Paris, where he played with Aimé Barelli, Django Reinhardt, and Martial Solal.[2]
In the 1960s, he moved to Brussels, Belgium, and was a member of Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band.[2][3] He worked for RTBF, the TV channel of the French Community in Belgium. Sadi became seriously ill in January 1995 and appeared rarely on stage.
Discography[edit]
As leader[edit]
- Mr. Fats Sadi, His Vibes and His Friends (MPS, 1966)
As sideman[edit]
With Don Byas
- Don Byas featuring Mary Lou Williams & Beryl Booker (Vogue, 1953)
- Memorial (Vogue, 1973)
- Don Byas (Inner City, 1980)
With Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band
- Handle with Care (Atlantic, 1963)
- Swing, Waltz, Swing (Philips, 1966)
- Sax No End (SABA, 1967)
- Out of the Folk Bag (Columbia, 1967)
- 17 Men and Their Music (Campi, 1967)
- Faces (MPS, 1971)
With Bobby Jaspar
- Bobby Jaspar & His Modern Jazz (Vogue, 1954–1955)
- Bobby Jaspar/Henri Renaud (Vogue, 1953–1954)
With Sahib Shihab
- Seeds (Vogue Schallplatten, 1970)
- Companionship (Vogue Schallplatten, 1971)
With others
- André Hodeir, The Vogue Sessions (Vogue)
- Django Reinhardt, Bruxelles/Paris (Musidisc, 1938–1953)
- Zoot Sims, Jazz in Paris: Zoot Sims & Henri Renaud (EmArcy)
- Martial Solal, The Complete Vogue Recordings Vol. 2 (Vogue, 1953–56) – Quartet co-led by Fats Sadi
References[edit]
- ^ Jazz in Belgium biography Archived 8 March 2005 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d Feather, Leonard; Gitler, Ira (2007). The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz. Oxford University Press. p. 579. ISBN 978-0-19-507418-5.
- ^ Brown, Tony. "The Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band: Where it all began" (1968) www.jazzprofessional.com Archived 13 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
External links[edit]
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