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“Sam Leak and Dan Tepfer are two of the best pianists of their generation, and their convergence on this recording is astonishing” – Marcus O’ Dair, Music Critic: Jazzwise / Uncut / Wire
November 2018 marks the release of Adrift, the highly anticipated composition for two pianos by leading jazz artist Sam Leak, in collaboration with Paris born, New York City based musician Dan Tepfer. Originally written for 2014's Steinway festival held at London's Pizza Express Jazz Club, Leak’s extended suite was first performed there to widespread acclaim, its success prompting the two pianists to reconvene and record together, in order to capture the magic that they had created in a live setting.
Adrift is a strikingly accomplished piece, in which Leak has mastered the daunting challenge of developing a coherent, dramatic and beautiful composition for two pianos. It is a pioneering and vibrant exploration into the possibilities that only a pianist and composer of the highest calibre could ever produce.
Leak’s composition was recorded with Tepfer at the Yamaha Piano showroom in Midtown New York in January 2016. These inspiring surroundings (both in terms of space and climate) made their mark on the recording, conjuring up images of what the duo describe as “a snow-brushed New York in winter.”
The piece features periods of great complexity combined with sparse minimalism. As a duo, Leak and Tepfer strike the perfect balance between the two, showcasing their unique talents, while also expressing the utmost, with the very least.
While Adrift’s two protagonists seemingly have much in common in terms of sheer skill, their musical development and inimitable styles are noticeably different. This serves to enhance their work considerably and highlights each players’ unique musical experiences, influences and inspirations.
Widely known for his band Aquarium, Sam Leak has released two albums, their eponymous debut listed in MOJO Magazine as one of the 'Top Ten International Releases of the Year, and their follow up album 'Places' described in The Guardian newspaper as “surefooted creativity... way beyond respectful expertise”.
Dan Tepfer has been described by The Washington Post as “a remarkable musician....who refuses to set himself limits”, with his album Goldberg Variations being described in The New York Times as “an impressive feat that keeps coming back to a hearty and abiding respect”.
Now UK audiences will have a chance to listen to and appreciate the combination of such talented artists on an album and tour that represents their very best work to date.
The title 'Adrift' comes from the Tom Waits song 'Alice':
"And so a secret kiss, Brings madness with the bliss And I will think of this,When I'm dead in my grave Set me adrift and I'm lost over there
And I must be insane, To go skating on your name And by tracing it twice, I fell through the ice" Tom Waits - "Alice"
"...surefooted creativity... the agile, early-Jarrett-inflected Scribbles and Scrawls, the darkly moving February with its Godfather theme echoes, the free-jazzy Clutter and the postboppish Catherine Grove – with Leak in full Keith Jarrett ecstatic-muttering mode on a superb solo – go way beyond respectful expertise" – John Fordham, The Guardian
"Sam Leak and Dan Tepfer positively avoid the knotty collisions of notes and ego that can sometimes make a piano duo hard to engage with...the pair's new extended suite is entirely gripping from beginning to end, achieving an imaginatively coherent overlap between lyrical jazz and classical traditions." - Selwyn Harris, Jazzwise
"Multi-faceted and smart as a pin, this is poetic chamber jazz of a very high order" – Chris Ingham, MOJO Magazine
“Sam Leak is one of the finest young pianists on the UK jazz scene...not only for his unique improvisational skills, but also for his compositions, which have great breadth and originality, while always being wonderfully accessible and positive." - Helen Mayhew, Jazz FM |
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