Jazz Articles about Sam Newsome

Gregg August: Four by Six

by AAJ Italy Staff
June 11, 2013

Fattosi apprezzare e conoscere come componente del trio di JD Allen, il contrabbassista Gregg August porta avanti dal 2005 un percorso da leader, iniziato nel 2005 con Late August e proseguito con One Peace del 2007 e l'attuale Four by Six, inciso nell'estate 2011. Se i primi due lo vedevano a capo di sestetti, il titolo di questo lavoro allude all'alternarsi di due formazioni: un quartetto comprendente il sax soprano Sam Newsome, il pianista Luis Perdomo e il batterista EJ ...

Sam Newsome: The Art of the Soprano, Vol. 1

by Dan McClenaghan
October 11, 2012

Sam Newsome's The Art of the Soprano, Vol. 1 is a solo soprano saxophone outing, While not unprecedented--Steve Lacy and Evan Parker have done this before--it certainly is unusual. The straight horn all alone: no bass, no drums, no piano or guitar. Sounds lonely, and a little too sonically spare.But no one has gone deeper into solo soprano than Newsome. The saxophonist, who honed his artist chops in trumpeter Terence Blanchard's groups on tenor sax in the early ...

Take Five With Sam Newsome

by Sam Newsome
October 2, 2012

Meet Sam Newsome: One of the more important soprano saxophonists of his generation, Sam Newsome emerged onto the scene as a member of Terence Blanchard's quintet in the early 1990s, Newsome really hit his artistic stride when he began releasing a series of solo saxophone recordings expanding the sonic terrain of the soprano sax: Monk Abstractions (2007), Blue Soliloquy (2009), and The Art of the Soprano, Vol.1 (2012). Newsome is known for his extensive use of extended techniques ...

Joanna Wallfisch: Wild Swan

by Bruce Lindsay
May 22, 2012

After immersing herself in the New York jazz scene, English singer/songwriter Joanna Wallfisch decided to return to the city in December 2011 to record her debut album, Wild Swan. A great decision—Wallfisch's soaring and expressive voice combines with superb playing from Big Apple musicians to create a fascinating and original set of songs. The young vocalist cites Joni Mitchell and Norma Winstone as inspirations. Winstone is the most obvious vocal inspiration of the two, but Mitchell's quirky approach ...

Sam Newsome: Blue Soliloquy

by Terrell Kent Holmes
May 10, 2010

Sam Newsome's Blue Soliloquy is not just a recording of solo soprano saxophone pieces; it's an eloquent and daring discourse on the scope of possibilities that the instrument offers. As the CD title and song names suggest, the blues forms the foundation for everything Newsome writes and plays. He depends heavily on multiphonics but this complements, rather than submerges, the smooth, rich resonance of his overall tone.

There are Gershwin-esque flourishes in tunes like “Blues for Robert Johnson" and “Blue ...

Sam Newsome: Blue Soliloquy

by C. Michael Bailey
February 25, 2010

The soprano saxophone is one mean mistress; temperamental, demanding, and unforgiving. Few have mastered her, with Sidney Bechet, John Coltrane, and Steve Lacy coming to mind. Saxophonist Sam Newsome,late of the Terence Blanchard Quintet, has stepped up to provide his Das Wohltemperierte Klavier of the instrument in Soliloquy--Solo Works for Soprano Saxophone. Strongly recalling Bobby Watson's solo alto saxophone recital, This Little Light of Mine (Red Records, 1999), Blue Soliloquy researches and ultimately expands the tonal capability of the soprano ...

Sam Newsome: To Play or Not to Play the Soprano

by Sam Newsome
July 25, 2009

When I think about the radical move I made 14 years ago, switching from the tenor to the soprano saxophone, I sometimes ask myself: “What in the hell were you thinking?" Even though in hindsight I look back on my decision with amazement and disbelief, I'm happy to say that it's one I've never regretted. Becoming a soprano saxophonist for me has been a life-changing journey that has restored my curiosity and excitement about music. It has strengthened me as ...