Sam's sets off for Basel

"Undoubtedly a name to watch… The “New York – London Suite” represents a hugely impressive début from Sam Barnett who convinces in terms of both his compositional maturity and instrumental ability…One suspects that in Barnett and his colleagues we are most definitely listening to some of the jazz stars of tomorrow. "  Ian Mann, The Jazz Mann, Feb 2017

Sam Barnett is a 16 year-old musician/composer playing alto & tenor sax and piano. He has been playing professionally for 2 years in London and Europe and released his debut album, 'New York – London Suite', launched at Pizza Express Dean Street in February 2017 with the Sam Barnett Quintet, reviewed and played on BBC Radio 3's 'Jazz Now' and JazzFM's 'The Blueprint'. 

Sam currently attends the Royal Academy of Music Junior Jazz, bursary holder with teacher Gareth Lockrane. His awards include 2 EMI Sound & Music Foundation awards and is sponsored as an ‘Emerging Artist’ for Trevor James Saxophones playing their customised RAW Tenor sax and alto.  He has been played live a number of times on radio with JazzFM – keen supporters.  His quintet has been invited to play at UK’s largest jazz festival this summer, 'Love Supreme', is opening JazzFM’s Cockpit Theatre sessions with Jez Nelson in October and playing in London’s Jazz Festival 2017 in November.

He has trained from 8 years old with Tomorrow’s Warriors, Purcell School, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and Global Music Foundation. He’s worked with teachers and artists such as Jean Toussaint and Julian Arguelles and has performed at numerous venues including the Southbank Centre, Birmingham NEC Arena for the 'World Skills Show' and Ronnie Scott’s.

At age 12 he finished his jazz and classical ABRSM grades with distinctions and was ready for more, so he went on to win the Mayor of London’s Big Busk Youth competition, playing at Olympic venues and Trafalgar Square, and more recently at the Bird’s Eye Jazz Club in Basel, Switzerland. His debut album 'New York-London Suite' was launched with his quintet as his first solo album. The album was mixed by Derek Nash of Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, recorded at his studio.

Why Sam needs help:

Now, at 16, his hard work has brought him international interest with offers to study jazz as an undergraduate scholar at Berklee College of Music in Boston and the Basel Jazzcampus in Switzerland.

In October 2016, Sam was invited to audition for the prodigious Basel Hochschule’s Jazzcampus in Switzerland.  In April 2017 he was offered a BA Jazz degree place on the spot with only 18 offered per year. Here he will be taught by among other masters, including New York saxophonist Mark Turner. Students attend here from all over the world.

Sam is in love with making and performing the best music he can and for those who know him or hear him it's a thrilling journey to watch. That’s why Trevor James Saxophones sponsor him as an emerging artist and introduce him to their other artists like Andy Snitzer and Andy Sheppard, while providing unique instruments for Sam.

Sam is thrilled and has his heart set on Basel. He wants to develop his learning in the heart of Europe, where he can start building European and international networks for his future performing career.  For this to happen, the family must find the finances.  Sam lives with his mother in London and to make things a little tougher, in 2014 Judy had an ischaemic stroke at the age of 46 and although recovering well, has subsequently been unable to return to work.

Can you help Sam and be part of his journey? He needs financial help to get flights, accommodation and living expenses while studying which will be as much as £20.000 per year for 3 years.  

Let’s give him the support he needs and fulfill the potential he has shown since the age of 7. This is considered to be the start of a huge career in jazz music.

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