Sam Sadigursky - bio summary

Friday, 8th May 2009 15:45

Saxophonist, multi-reedist and composer Sam Sadigursky is one of the most versatile musicians of his generation, equally comfortable in a variety of musical and improvisational landscapes. His critically-lauded first recording, The Words Project, hailed as "an impressive debut" by the New York Times, was given a four star review by Time Out New York, who also named it one of the Top Ten Albums of 2007. Noted music critic Steve Smith called it "that rare anomaly: a jazz-and-poetry record that sounds utterly natural and convincing.” And his 2008 follow-up, Words Project II, just released on New York’s New Amsterdam Records label "may even surpass the first one" as reviewed by jazzchicago.net. His unique sound and sense of lyricism has been noted by Cadence magazine for its "subtlety and restraint, combined with power and purpose."

As a composer whose works show a deep knowledge and fascination with classical harmony and instrumentation, he has been commissioned by vocal groups, film directors, and has collaborated with modern dance choreographers in live performance of their works. He is a three-time winner of the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award and more recently recipient of a prestigious Chamber Music America/French American Cultural Exchange grant.

In 2009, Sam produced the first in an ongoing series of New Art Song concerts featuring composers and ensembles working in this medium. Sam has performed with, among others, the Mingus Orchestra, ECM recording artist Anat Fort, and Gabriel Kahane. He appears on numerous recordings for labels such as Fresh Sound/New Talent, Playscape Recordings, Chonta Records, and World Culture Music and has played in New York venues such as Brooklyn Academy of Music, Joe’s Pub, and Lincoln Center.

For more information, visit www.samsadigursky.com.