After a string of sold out gigs (including Ronnie Scott’s) and an album exploring the fascinating Berlin-to-Broadway songs of Kurt Weill, Sam celebrates the music of French film composer Michel Legrand. Expect to hear classic songs and hidden gems from the Legrand and Weill catalogues, as well as music by adjacent American Broadway composers like Rodgers & Hammerstein and Gershwin.

Sam Braysher is a London-based alto saxophonist. A regular performer at jazz clubs across Europe, he has received international critical acclaim for his warm, delicate sound and deep knowledge of the standard repertoire and American Songbook.

Accompanying is an all-star rhythm section, comprising Hungarian pianist Matyas Gayer (Eddie Henderson, Jim Rotondi), MOBO award-winning bassist Tom Farmer (EMPIRICAL, Joe Stilgoe) and ultra swinging drummer Steve Brown (Barry Harris, Scott Hamilton).

Sam’s latest album explores the work of Kurt Weill, a fascinating composer who lies at the intersection of European classical music, jazz, opera and American musical theatre. Featuring British Jazz Award-winning vocalist Sara Dowling, That’s Him: The Music of Kurt Weill, was released in 2024 and met with glowing reviews from the UK, Europe, Japan and USA, and received radio play on BBC Radio 3 and Jazz FM. Awarding it a top rating of ‘indispensable’, French outlet Paris Move described the album as a “unique, moving, interconnected, creative, and exceptional entity, all coming together making it far greater than the sum of each individual part. This is the genius of Sam and his friends, knowing how to revisit Weill’s works with all the inspiration of a vast musical culture. Each track, like a treasure hunt, allows us to celebrate the essence of the original works… close to perfection.”

Braysher received widespread acclaim for the two albums released previously under his own name, both of which feature renowned international collaborators. Golden Earrings, with New York pianist Michael Kanan, was described as “delightful and surprising” by Dave Gelly in the Observer, while his recent trio album with Jorge Rossy (Brad Mehldau Trio) and Tom Farmer, was praised in Jazzwise as “a triumph of intelligence and sentiment”.

Doors 6:30 pm – 7:30 Start
Tickets via ShowsHappening.co.uk