Sai has been inspired and mentored by some of the industry’s leading music professionals including John Blake Jr., Jon Faddis, Sasha Alexander, Gwen Laster, Bernard Phillips, James Carter, Bill Lee, Bill Saxon, Patience Higgins, Olu Dara, Max Bertrand, Alexander Yudkovsky, Marcus Perciani, Nioka Workman and David Burnett.
SAI BIO
In 2004, Sai moved to Charlotte, NC and began working as a full-time musician performing and teaching. She started performing locally at nightclubs, restaurants and weddings. She had weekly residencies at Blue Restaurant, Georges Brasserie, Mickey and Mooch, House of Jazz, The Pewter Rose and Dean and DeLuca. In between performing, Sai opened her teaching studio, giving violin and piano to young and older students in the community. She would hold periodic recitals for the students. She also taught briefly with Music & Arts and she also worked with The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra in securing a Grant for Winterfield Elementary School After School Music Program.
In 2010, Sai founded The Sai Musiq Jazz Series. She featured the best local, national and international jazz artists including The Robert Glasper Experiment, Cyrus Chestnut, Christian Howes, Tyrone Jefferson, Jon Alexander and Branford Marsalis. The series was unlike any performance venue in Charlotte at the time. She presented 2 shows per evening and offered a music workshop before the concert for students and young professionals. In 2011, she was featured in Creative Loafing and Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins on WFAE/NPR Radio.
In 2020, at the start and throughout the pandemic, I would perform locally at neighborhood venues. Once the world began to fully open back up, she started traveling full time, busking in various cities up and down the east coast. She traveled to Atlanta, Charleston, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Greensboro, Greenville, Stockbridge, Atlantic City, Maryland, Washington DC, Myrtle Beach and Virginia. While visiting these cities, she would book local weddings and private parties.
EARLY MUSIC INFLUENCES AND EDUCATION
Tsyala Khudad-Zade “Mrs. Delilah” - piano
Betty Allen - HSA Director, Voice
INSTRUCTORS/ MENTORS
Regina Manevich - violin
Fima Farberg - piano
Alexander Yudkovsky - violin
David Brunett - violin
Gwen Laster - violin
Laurie Smuckler -violin
Sanford Allen - violin
Tim Macek -violin
Tsyala Khudad-Zade - piano
Nioka Workman - cello
David Breen - art
Betty Allen - voice
Bernard Phillips - flute
Jon Faddis - trumpet
Audrey Joy Levine - music business
Nioka Workman - cello
Max Bertrand - voice
Kelvyn Bell - guitar
Donald Eaton- percussion
MUSIC SCHOOLS
Harlem School of the Arts - Harlem, NY
LaGuardia Performing Arts High School - Manhattan, NY
NY School For Strings - Manhattan, NY
SUNY at Purchase College - Westchester, NY
Howard University - Washington, DC
Add Joy To Learning -
PREPARATORY ORCHESTRAS
Harlem School of the Arts, NY
LaGuardia Performing Arts High School, NY
State University of New York at Purchase
Howard University, Washington, DC
New York All City Orchestra, NY
New York All State Orchestra, NY
WORKSHOPS / SESSIONS
Bill Lee - piano
William Phipps - piano
Daniel Phillips - violin
John Blake Jr. - violin
Olu Dara - trumpet
Sounds Of Sai (SOS) is the ultimate grouping of various musicians, producers and engineers who collectively perform the most popular jazz, r&b and pop music. Throughout the years, members have fluctuated but the core essence still remains, versatility and creativity above all. Sounds of Sai members have included symphony orchestra players, touring artists, jazz innovators and educators well respected in the music community.
Former Corporate Clients
The Arts & Science Council of Charlotte
The Deltas of Charlotte
The Charlotte Symphony
Jack and Jill of America
Johnson C. Smith University
Omegas of Charlotte
The NAACP
Atrium Health
Carolina Healthcare
Tippens and Zurosky Law
Community In Schools
Former Performance Venues
(NEW YORK)
Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center
Madison Square Garden
The Apollo Theater
The Harlem School of the Arts
The Donell Library Center
Londel’s SupperClub
Robin’s Nest
The Schomburg Center
Symphony Space
The Port Authority of New York
The Bank of America Building
(WASHINGTON DC)
Twins Jazz
Cafe Nema
(GREENSBORO)
First Horizon Coliseum
(CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA)
Mickey and Mooch
Georges Brasserie
The Corkscrew
The House of Jazz
Delta’s Restaurant
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Vivace
Villa Bistro at Ballantyne
The Nascar Hall of Fame
Le Meridian Hotel
QC Social Lounge
The Matthew Farmers Market
Del Friscos
Northwest School of the Arts
The Palm
Forte
TCB 5400
Tropical Heat
The Dunhill
Treehouse Vineyards
Dolceto Wine Bar
The Double Tree Hotel
Luciano’s
The Pewter Rose
Whole Foods Market
The Knight Theater
The Fillmore
The McGlohon Theater
Aria Tuscan Grill
Romano’s Macaroni Grill
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
The Double Door Inn
Blue Restaurant
Sophia’s Lounge, The Ivey’s Hotel
The Fig Tree
The Ritz-Carlton
The Music Yard at Southbound
Cafe Monet
Georges Brasserie
The Harvey B Gantt Center
The Hilton
Steinway Piano Gallery
The Grape Wine Bar
The Holiday Inn
The Levin Museum of the New South
Compare Foods
Prevue Lounge
Cosmos Cafe
The Historic Excelsior Club
The Oasis Shriners
The Charlotte City Club
Walmart Supercenter
The Duke Mansion
The Mint Museum Uptown
The Neighborhood Theater
The Mint Museum Randolph
Foundation For The Carolinas
The Omni Hotel
Longleaf Vineyards
Sounds Of Sai Former Members
Gerard Benson - bass
Troy Conn - guitar
Corey McClure - piano, drums
Jeremy Alsop “Burpie” - comedian
Bobby Donaldson - guitar
Cree Richardson - drums
Ocie Davis - guitar
Adrian Crutchfield - sax
Stephen Gordan - drums
Arnold Whitley - bass
Van Sachs - guitar
Adam Sztyber - guitar
Hanoch Hickman - piano
Lovell Bradford - piano
Chris Whitley - drums
Gary Marcus - piano
Jim Brock - drums
Mark Stallings - piano
Shamon Scull - drums
Michael Baker - piano
Eric Brice - guitar
Rick Blackwell - bass
Carlos - percussion
Grub - organ
Andrew Williams - guitar
Lucianna Padmore - drums
Mandel Harvey - sound
Jay R - piano
James Brock - drums