Jazz Articles about Samir Zarif

About Samir Zarif

Album Review

The excitement of hearing the voice from a musician of significant new talent knows no bounds. Violinist Majid Khaliq, vocalist Khalil Wilson, bassist Michael Feinberg, composer Gene Pritsker, and now saxophonist and storyteller Samir Zarif, are just beginning to fan the rapidly growing new brushfire of 21st century music. Zarif's talent is significant enough to merit Starting Point, his first album as leader, coming after paying his dues in Texas (where he grew up) and in New Orleans, the cradle ...

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Album Review

Samir Zarif: Starting Point

Read "Starting Point" reviewed by Mark F. Turner

by Mark F. Turner
February 23, 2011

Among the many new voices with something unique to say, Texas-born saxophonist Samir Zarif's Starting Point is as fresh a debut as they come. A member of the internationally acclaimed group The Story--whose names include rising stars, pianist John Escreet and saxophonist Lars Dietrich--Zarif also contributed to singer Maria Neckam's memorable Deeper (Sunnyside, 2010). In both cases, his horn has been impressive, but leading and composing his own release is a real opportunity for the saxophonist to shine.

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Album Review

Samir Zarif: Starting Point

Read "Starting Point" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
February 15, 2011

Saxophonist Samir Zarif has experienced a wide cross section of the cultural landscape of the United States. Zarif grew up in Texas, spent his college years learning and performing in New Orleans, and then traveled north to New York for his studies at the Manhattan School of Music. While all of this isn't necessarily remarkable for a budding musician to take in, these experiences contrast sharply with the aural images that Zarif presents on Starting Point. Starting ...

Album Review

The Paislies: The Paislies

Read "The Paislies" reviewed by AAJ Italy Staff

by AAJ Italy Staff
March 28, 2008

Predilezione per i mezzi tempi, una configurazione strumentale atipica, musicisti di varia estrazione geografica, The Paislies sono una band che potremmo definire crossover, termine molto generico ma in grado di inquadrare in modo adeguato quel jazz, distante dalla tradizione ed infarcito di echi rock, che il gruppo propone. I brani sono ben articolati, a tratti forse eccessivamente compiaciuti nella ricerca del ben suono o della bella risoluzione armonica, ma tanto più interessanti quanto più si allontanano dai linguaggi e dai ...