Sam Newsome
Soprano Saxophonist Improviser
Solo Performer
LATEST NEWS
2018 WFMU Interview
Appearance on "Minature Minotaurs" with Kurt Gottschalk on WFMU. On-air performance and interview.
2018 Downbeat Critics Poll
Placed in the top 10 at #6 in the Soprano Saxophone category in the 2018 Downbeat Critics Poll.
1. Jane Ira Bloom
2. Wayne Shorter
3. Dave Liebman
4. Jane Bunnett
5. Anat Cohen
6. Sam Newsome
7. Branford Marsalis
8. Steve Wilson
9. Ravi Coltrane
10. Evan Parker
2018 New Music USA Grant Awardees!
Recording project "Solo Works for Prepared Soprano Saxophone" was awarded the 2018 New Music USA grant. Mr. Newsome was one of the 108 awardees of the 1114 applicants. Mr. Newsome says that this recording will venture into a new creative territory. He plans to finish recording this project by August 2018.
2018 The Alpert/Ragdale Prize in Music Composition
Recipient of the Alpert/Ragdale Prize in Music Composition. Mr. Newsome will use this residency prize as an opportunity to compose new music in the summer of 2019. This prize was made possible by the Herb Alpert Foundation.
2018 Jazz Journalists Award Nominees
Nominated as Soprano Saxophonist of the Year by the 2018 Jazz Journalists Association. Other nominees include Jane Ira Bloom and Dave Liebman.
2018 Solo Concert at St. Mary's
On March 10, Mr. Newsome gave a solo saxophone performance at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, located at 521 126th street, New York, NY 10027. Showtime is at 3:30 PM. I will showcase some new prepared soprano techniques.
2018 Jazz Times Review!
Read Here: Dan Bilawsky's JazzTimes review of my duo CD with pianist Jean-Michel Pilc.
2018 Downbeat Magazine Review!
READ HERE: Bill Milkowski's DOWNBEAT review of Fay Victor and SoundNoiseFUNK at the 2018 Winter 2018 Winter Jazz Fest.
2018 Annual Jazz Station Awards
Nominated as one of the top soprano saxophone performances on 2017 in the 39th Annual Jazz Station Awards/The Best of 2017 for his performance on Fire Dance with vocalist Beater Pater.
2018 International Critics Polls!
Placed second in the 2017 DÉCIMA ENCUESTA ANUAL A PERIODISTAS INTERNACIONALES: Tenth Annual International Critics Polls.
Soprano Saxophone Category
1. Jane Ira Bloom
2. Sam Newsome
3. Evan Parker
4. Roscoe Mitchell
5. John Butcher
Upcoming Performances
January 9, 2018
Sam Newsome-Amirtha Kidambi Duo
Arts for Art Series
The Clemente
107 Suffolk Street
New York, NY
SHOWTIME: 9:00 PM
TICKET INFO
January 12, 2018
The 2018 Winter Jazz Fest
w/ Fay Victor and SoundNoise Funk
Fay Victor, voice
Sam Newsome, soprano sax
Joe Morris, guitar
Reggie Nicholson, drums
The New School
5th Floor
55 W. 13th Street
New York, New York
Showtime 9:00 PM
TICKET INFO
January 30, 2018 - February 3, 2018
L'Entrepot in Le Haillan (Residency)
Olivier Gatto and Spiritual Warriors
Shekinah Rodz, woodwinds
Sam Newsome, soprano sax
Meg Okura, violin, piano
Dimitris Sevdalis
Justin Varnes, drums
February 16, 2018
Pepperland (Mark Morris Dance Group)
Seattle Theatre Group
February 24, 2018
Pepperland (Mark Morris Dance Group)
Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
Toronto, Canada
TICKET INFO
February 25, 2018
Toronto's Improviser Orchestra (Special Guest Sam Newsome)
ArrayMusic
Toronto, Canada
TICKET INFO
March 1, 2018
University of Wisconsin-River Fall RADD Jazz Series & the UWRF Jazz Festival (Special Guest Artist)
Rehearsal with the UW-River Falls Jazz Ensemble
March 3, 2018
University of Wisconsin-River Fall RADD Jazz Series & the UWRF Jazz Festival (Special Guest Artist)
RADD Jazz Series, PMconcert with the UW-River Falls Jazz Ensemble, 7:30 PMconcert with the UW-River Falls Jazz Ensemble, 7:30 PMconcert with the UW-River Falls Jazz Ensemble, 7:30 PMconcert with the UW-River Falls Jazz Ensemble, 7:30 PMconcert with the UW-River Falls Jazz Ensemble, 7:30 PMconcert with the UW-River Falls Jazz Ensemble, 7:30 PMconcert with the UW-River Falls Jazz Ensemble, 7:30 PMconcert with the UW-River Falls Jazz Ensemble, 7:30 PMconcert with the UW-River Falls Jazz Ensemble, 7:30 PMconcert
TICKET INFO
March 17, 2018
Sam Newsome
Solo Saxophone
St. Mary's Episcopal Church
521 West 126th Streettreet
New York, New York 10027
Showtime: 3:30 PM
TICKET INFO:T INFO:
May 10, 2018
Pepperland (Mark Morris Dance Group)
UCSB Arts & Lectures
The Granda TheatreGranda Theatre
Santa, Barbara, California
TICKET INFO
May 12, 2018
Pepperland (Mark Morris Dance Group)
La Jolla Music Society
San Diego, California
TICKET INFO
May 18, 2018
Sam Newsome Trio
Sam Newsome, soprano sax
Hilliard Greene, bass
Reggie Nicholson, drums
Smalls Jazz Club
183 W. 10th Street
New York, NY 10014
Showtime: 10:00 PM and Midnight.
May 19, 2018
Sam Newsome Trio
Sam Newsome, soprano sax
Angelica Sanchez, piano
Hilliard Greene, bass
Reggie Nicholson, drums
Smalls Jazz Club
183 W. 10th Street
New York, NY 10014
Showtime: 10:00 PM and Midnight.
TICKET INFO
Sunday, June 3, 2018
Sam Newsome - SOLO
The Downtown Music Gallery
In-Store Concert Series
13 Monroe Street
New York, NY
Showtime: 7:00 PM
TICKET INFO
June 21, 2018
Pepperland (Mark Morris Dance Group)
International Festival of Arts & Ideas
Shubert Theater
New Haven, Conn
TICKET INFO
June 22, 2018
Pepperland (Mark Morris Dance Group)
International Festival of Arts & Ideas
Shubert Theater
New Haven, Conn
TICKET INFO
June 24, 2018
Barbès
Vinnie Sperrazza Quartet
Sam Newsome, soprano sax
Angelica Sanchez, piano
Zach Lober, bass
Vinnie Sperrazza, drums
Brooklyn, NY
TICKET INFO
June 28, 2018
Pepperland (Mark Morris Dance Group)
Hopkins Center for the Arts – Dartmouth College
The Moore Theater
Hanover, NH
TICKET INFO
June 29, 2018
Pepperland (Mark Morris Dance Group)
Hopkins Center for the Arts – Dartmouth College
The Moore Theater
Hanover, NH
TICKET INFO
June 30, 2018
Pepperland (Mark Morris Dance Group)
Hopkins Center for the Arts – Dartmouth College
The Moore Theater
Hanover, NH
TICKET INFO
July 13, 2018
Sam Newsome - Interview and on-air solo saxophone performance
WFMU - Miniature Minotaurs hosted Kurt Gottschalk (1:00 PM - 2:00 PM)
Jersey City, NJ
TICKET INFO
July 16, 2018
The Sam Newsome Trio
Sam Newsome, soprano sax
Hill Greene, bass
Reggie Nicholson, drums
Bushwick Public House
Brooklyn, NY
July 26, 2018
Fay Victor's Birthday Bash at 7:00 PM
55 Bar
New York, NY
August 11, 2018
Sam Newsome (solo)
Washington, DC
August 20, 2018
Meg Okura's Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble
Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola
New York, NY
TICKET INFO
August 30, 2018
Mara Rosenberg Trio
Mara Rosenberg, piano
Sam Newsome, soprano sax
Sean Conly, bass
Brooklyn, NY
September 15, 2018
Sam Newsome / Joe Morris / Charmaine Lee
Children's Magical Gardens / Arts for Art
128 Stanton Street at 2:30 PM
TICKET INFO
September 19, 2018
Sam Newsome / Angelica Sanchez duo
Mezzrow Jazz Club
New York, NY
TICKET INFO
September 28, 2018
Pepperland (Mark Morris Dance Group)
Cal Performances
Zellerbach Hall
Berkeley, CA
TICKET INFO
September 29, 2018
Pepperland (Mark Morris Dance Group)
Cal Performances
Zellerbach Hall
Berkeley, CA
TICKET INFO
September 30, 2018
Pepperland (Mark Morris Dance Group)
Cal Performances
Zellerbach Hall
Berkeley, CA
TICKET INFO
October 5, 2018
Vinnie Sperrazza Quartet
Greenwich House Music at 8:00 PM
Sam Newsome, soprano saxophone
Angelica Sanchez, piano
Michael Formanek, bass
Vinnie Sperrazza, drums
New York, NY
October 13, 2018
Fay Victor & SoundNoise FUNK
Raza y Resistencia Festival
Fay Victor, voice
Sam Newsome, soprano sax
Joe Morris, guitar
Reggie Nicholson
215 99th Street
New York, NY
TICKET INFO
October 14, 2018
Francisco Mora Catlett & Afro Horn
215 99th Street
New York, NY
October 18, 2018
Fay Victor and the SoundNoise Trio
Fay Victor, voice
Sam Newsome, soprano saxophone
Reggie Nicholson, drums
Seattle, WA
October 19, 2018
Andrew Cyrille/Sam Newsome Duo
Tribute to Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams at 8:00PM8:00PM
The Community Church of New York
(Bet. Madison & Park Ave.)
40 East 35th Street, NYC
The Community Church of New York 40 East 35th Street, NYC (Bet. Madison & Park Ave.)
October 25, 2018
Darius Jones Quartet
UMASS Amherst Fine Arts Center - Old Chapel
Darius Jones, alto saxophone
Sam Newsome, soprano saxophone
Cooper Moore, organ
Chad Jones, drums
Amherst, MASS
TICKET INFO
October 26, 2018
Darius Jones Quartet
Firehouse 12
Darius Jones, alto saxophone
Sam Newsome, soprano saxophone
Cooper Moore, organ
Chad Jones, drums
New Haven, CONN
TICKET INFO
October 27, 2018
Darius Jones Quartet
The Jazz Gallery
Darius Jones, alto saxophone
Sam Newsome, soprano saxophone
Cooper Moore, organ
Chad Jones, drums
New Haven, CONN
TICKET INFO
November 5, 2018
Darius Jones Ensemble
"Games Pieces-Protest-Pre-Election" (Players TBA)
Brooklyn, NY
November 11, 2018
Sam Newsome & Sandy Ewen
"Prepared Saxophone & Prepared Guitar"
In-Store Concert Series
13 Monroe Street
New York, NY
November 27, 2018
Angelica Sanchez Residency
The Stone/Glass Box Theatre @ The New School
Angelica Sanchez, piano
Sam Newsome, soprano sax
Andrew Cyrille, drums
New York, NY
TICKET INFO
November 29, 2018
Sam Newsome Trio
Sam Newsome, soprano sax
Hilliard Greene, bass
Reggie Nicholson, drums
Pittsburgh, Penn
TICKET INFO
December 9, 2019
Sam Newsome (solo)
Arete Gallery at 6:30 PM
Brooklyn, NY
Greenpoint
"He has an outsize command of the horn, especially in the realm of extended technique: split-tone multiphonics, slap-tongue articulation, seamless circular breathing."
- Nate Chinen, The New York Times
INTERVIEW ON NEON JAZZ WITH JOE DIMINO
Life Lessons from the Horn
Life Lessons from the Horn is my first book. It's a series of essays that all pertain to music from a technical and philosophical perspective. I first put this together with the idea creating something that musicians and artists alike would find inspirational. I've always been a firm believer that the gifts of inspiration and hope are two of the most valuable things you can give to an artist.
But do check it out. I think you'll that it's worth the read.
"I wish I had this book when I was much younger, as I'd probably be further along in my studies by now!" - Ethan Iverson
The Straight Horn of Africa: A Path to Liberation - An Amazon Kindle Essay
A compelling personal essay about jazz, creativity, and the creation of the CD, The Straight Horn of Africa: A Path to Liberation.
Customer Review:
"An informative and provocative essay. Gives insight into Mr. Newsome's creative process and the issues, challenges, and questions that fuelled it.
I found it to be very inspiring..."
Projects
Project 1: Solo Saxophone
My solo saxophone project is something I've been honing for the past 15 years. Intinially I started off as a poor imitiation of Steve Lacy and Evan Parker. But I'm happy to say that in recent years, I begun to come into my own. For the past year or two I've been working with the concept of prepared soprano--which is some really wild stuff. Check out my blog Soprano Sax Talk, to read and hear more detailed explaining of those things.
Project 2: Magic Circle (San Newsome and Jean-Michel Pilc)
Jean-Michel and I have had this project for over 10 years. But being busy with a multitude of other projects and opportunities, we just never made the time to record and tour with this project. I'm happy to say that all has changed. We have a new CD out titlesthat has been getting wonderful reviews and we're looking to tour Europe in the fall of 2018. I'm glad we're finally getting a chance to share our unique way of deconstructing standards with the world. Stay tuned!
Project 3: THE SN TRIO
Sam Newsome, soprano sax
Hilliard Greene, bass
Reggie Nicholson, drum
This trio with bassist Hillard Greene and drummer Reggie Nicholson is the band that I have ever had where we only play free. And it never gets boring. We never rehearse nor discuss what we're going to play. We just allow our instincts to take us on a collective journey, and it always works out. I'm looking to record this summer. I'll keep you posted!
RECENT CDS
An innovative take on jazz standards that successfully combines improvised music, free jazz, and elements European classical.
"This music is exquisite..."
Bruce Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
The 22 tracks on this solo soprano saxophone tour de force, showcases the true sonic versatility of this under-utilized instrument. Steve Lacy said that the "potential for the saxophone is unlimited." This album proves his point many times over.
"A cult classic, for the soprano cult."
- Otto Kokke, The Burning Ambulance
PRESS QUOTES
"Sam Newsome, one of our most talented and important jazz voices, completely outdoes himself with Sopranoville.”
Terrell Holmes, The New York City Jazz Record
"Newsome cuts around the edges of the soprano’s fundamentally sweet sound to mimic double-reed instruments from the Middle East, the native singing of Mongolia, bamboo flutes from the Orient."
Nick DeRiso, Something Else Reviews
"A cult classic, for the soprano cult.
Otto Kokke, The Burning Ambulance
"As solo sax recordings go, I remain a big fan of the Anthony Braxton / John Butcher styles and approaches. However, in view of Sopranoville, I’ll be adding Newsome to the list of individuals whose future output is of interest."
Avant Music News
"...extended technique but taken to the next power."
Ken Ackermann, All About Jazz
"A nice look at the outer edges from a cat with the chops to pull it off."
MIdwest Records
"On his latest album Newsome has pushed the limits on his saxophone exploring experimental and avant-garde sounds."
Jon Neudorf, Sea of Tranquility
Newsome expands the sound of a single soprano into a one-man band."
Mark Corroto, All About Jazz
INTERVIEWS
NPR’s FRESH AIR - K. Whitehead
NEON JAZZ - Joe Dimino
The Burning Ambulance
- Phil Freeman
The Jazz Session - Jason Crane
McGill University Press - Chris Maskell
The Radical Imagination
From Inside Out - Debbie Burke
Hot House Magazine -
Seton Hawkins
New York City Jazz Record
- Kurt Gottschalk
JAZZARIUM.PL
- Maciej Krawiec
The Jazz Chronicles
- Michael Pelias
DISCOGRAPHY
(Click on CD Covers to BUY or LISTEN)
Magic Circle - Sam Newsome and Jean-Michel Pilc (2017)
Sopranoville - Sam Newsome (2017)
The Straight Horn of Africa: A Path to Liberation (2014)
The Art of the Soprano, Vol. 1 (2012)
Blue Soliloquy (2009)
Monk Abstractions (2007)
The Solo Concert: Sam Newsome Plays Monk and Ellington (2013)
Global Unity (2001)
Sam Newsome & Global Unity (1999)
Sam I AM (1994)
PRESS PHOTOS
Click on BUTTONS below for HI RES versions of photos
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