Fats Sadi

"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

With Bobby Jaspar

  • Bobby Jaspar & His Modern Jazz (Vogue, 1954–1955)
  • Bobby Jaspar/Henri Renaud (Vogue, 1953–1954)

With Sahib Shihab

With others

References[edit]

  1. ^ Jazz in Belgium biography Archived 8 March 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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]