The Flute and Tankard

TUESDAY 17th MARCH

SAM LEAK TRIO - THE CRAFT OF SOUND TOUR

Sam Leak | Simon Read | Will Glaser

The Sam Leak Trio perform 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 1960s trios, the ensemble maintains a sense of the tradition whilst performing music that is very much rooted in the UK Jazz movement of the moment. Drawing on Leak's background in music psychology the music will be interspersed with fascinating insights about music and how we perceive it.

Featuring SIMON READ on double bass, and WILL GLASER on drums, the band mainly perform Sam's original material, notably including the music from his recent album release “Adrift,” recorded in duet with Lee Konitz/Ben Wendel pianist Dan Tepfer, and which Marcus O’Dair has called ‘astonishing.’ Described as “compelling” and “reaching far beyond the jazz loop” by the Guardian's John Fordham, ‘Adrift’ is a unique composition for two pianos that explores the range of colours and possibilities offered by the unconventional lineup. Sometimes densely complex, at others eerily sparse; the writing is engaging and melodic, conjuring up images of a snow-brushed New York in winter. The composition was originally written for 2014’s Steinway festival, held at London’s Pizza Express Jazz Club. The success of this performance led the pianists to record the album at the Yamaha Piano Rooms in Midtown New York in January 2016. 

"Multi-faceted and smart as a pin, this is poetic chamber jazz of a very high order" MOJO ★★★★

"This is assured and sophisticated acoustic jazz with deep roots in the tradition, that knows exactly what it's trying to do - and succeeds"
Daniel Spicer, BBC Music Magazine

"The Royal Academy of Music's jazz programme has produced a remarkable crop of newcomers in recent times: notably the Mercury-nominated pianists Gwilym Simcock and Kit Downes. Now comes Sam Leak, an artist of comparable promise...Leak is a subtle storyteller who keeps the grooves and colours changing."
John Fordham, The Guardian

£7/£5concessions