June 18th, 2018
Doors At 7. Music At 7:30pm
NYC based saxophonist Sam Decker performs solo on the Option stage, followed by a set with Sfyria trio which includes Decker as well as Charlie Kirchen on bass and Matt Carroll on drums. Photo by Tori Telfer.
Sfyria Trio is a free improvising ensemble comprised of Sam Decker on tenor saxophone, Charlie Kirchen on bass, and Matt Carroll on drums. Drawing on influences from jazz, twentieth century classical music, and various folk traditions, the group sculpts delicately textured improvisations that seamlessly navigate a variety of sonic worlds.
SAM DECKER moved to Brooklyn, New York, in early 2012. He is proud to make music with some of New York’s most talented musicians. Sam is at home in the genres of straight-ahead jazz, contemporary jazz/improvised music, free improvisation, as well as rock and folk music. Drawing from sources such as Stravinsky, Mark Turner, Deerhoof, and Elliot Smith, his music is both familiar and unfamiliar.
Originally from the Chicago area, Sam attended New England Conservatory in Boston on merit scholarship, where he studied with George Garzone, Jerry Bergonzi, Bob Moses, Ken Radnofsky, John McNeil, Frank Carlberg, and Cecil McBee. He also studied contemporary classical composition and improvisation with Katarina Miljkovic. During this time Sam was selected to perform with John Hollenbeck, Dave Holland, Jason Moran, Lee Konitz, and under Christian Wolff during residencies, and was featured on New England Conservatory’s Jazz 40th Anniversary CD.
During his time in Boston, Sam performed at many of the city’s premier venues including The Lilypad, The Beehive, The Savant Project, Les Zygomates, and the Squealing Pig. Since moving to New York, Sam has played at venues such as e, Shapeshifter Lab, The Jazz Gallery, Douglass St. Music Collectiv, Sycamore, I-Beam, The Knitting Factory, Manhattan Inn, and the Brooklyn Lyceum.
Sam is a member of Green and Glass(greenandglass.bandcamp.com), and co leads the Decker/LoRe quartet(DeckerLoReQuartet.bandcamp.com) with Alex LoRe, which released its first EP in 2012. In addition, Sam is part of the Logan Strohsal Group, who’s first record “Up Go We” is frothcoming on Sunyside records.
Sam currently teaches at the Woodside Music Studio in Park Ridge NJ, and is a Teaching Artist with Arts Connection.