EFG London Jazz Festival: Sam Leak Trio "The Craft of Sound"

Contemporary jazz with a gospel-tinged, and folk-inspired, freedom and abandon. Conjuring up the joy and emotion typified by Paul Bley and Keith Jarrett's trios, a sense of the tradition permeates a music that is very much rooted in the present. Sam Leak is a London-based Jazz pianist described by JazzFM's Helen Mayhew as 'One of the brightest stars in the Jazz piano galaxy, a heavenly improviser, and a brilliant prospect for the future.' His eponymous 2011 debut album was listed in MOJO Magazine as one of the 'Top Ten International Releases of the Year.' The 2013 follow up, Places, was described by the Guardian's John Fordham as 'surefooted creativity... way beyond respectful expertise,' and by BBC Music Magazine's Daniel Spicer as ‘assured and sophisticated acoustic jazz with deep roots in the tradition, that knows exactly what it's trying to do - and succeeds.’ Jamie Cullum introduced Leak's cohort as ‘the heavyweights of the British Jazz scene’ and described himself as a ‘fan’ of the band in his regular BBC broadcast. In 2018 Leak released Adrift, a duet with New York's Dan Tepfer, a long-time collaborator of legendary veteran saxophonist Lee Konitz. Of this album, The Wire's Marcus O'Dair has said: 'Sam Leak and Dan Tepfer are two of the best pianists of their generation, and their convergence on this recording is astonishing.' The New York City Jazz Record have described it as 'magical' and 'constantly evolving and engaging.' For this special London Jazz Festival concert, Sam's new piano trio will be exploring a set of brand-new compositions ahead of their next trip into the studio. Fresh off a tour that has left audiences across the UK spellbound, this performance is not to be missed. Sam Leak - Piano Simon Read - Double Bass Will Glaser - Drums