Biography
Guitarist-composer Az Samad's music has taken him to festivals and venues in the United States, Austria, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. Az has performed/recorded with Grammy winners Flaco Jimenez and Max Baca, singer-songwriter Tara Linda, Rick Vandivier, Hristo Vitchev, world music ensemble Bogofusion, electronic jazz-funk group Planet Loop, and string jazz ensemble JazzMine. "A prodigy with the steel-string and nylon-string guitars" (Faces Magazine), Az is constantly in demand with his diverse musical skills in Jazz, contemporary acoustic fingerstyle guitar and classical guitar leading to performances from intimate solo guitar shows to outdoor festival stages and classical orchestra concerts.
As an educator, Az has been on faculty for Berklee College of Music's Summer Guitar Sessions. Az was also the co-teacher for the Guitar Fundamentals class, and teaching assistant for Jazz Improvisation class at San Jose State University (SJSU), San Jose, CA. In addition to his musical outreach work at SF Bay Area schools with Sonart Group, Az has taught workshops at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT; Culturefest in Pipestem, WV; Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, CA; International College of Music, and Malaysian Institute of Art in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Az is an endorsed artist of William Jeffrey Jones Guitars, Yamamoto Guitar, MONO Instrument Cases, and Rock Solid Guitar Stands.
Az Samad received his MA in Music (Jazz Studies) from San Jose State University, BM in Jazz Composition and Performance (Summa Cum Laude) from Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA, and BMus in Arranging from University of Westminster, United Kingdom. Az has studied guitar with Eric Roche (UK), Thomas Leeb (Austria/LA), Don Ross (Canada), Alex de Grassi, Mick Goodrick (Gary Burton Group), David Tronzo, John Stowell, Jimmy Wyble, Ben Monder (Maria Schneider Orchestra) and Bryan Baker (Steps Ahead). In addition to classical guitar master classes with Mark Teicholz and Muriel Anderson, Az has taken private lessons with Steven Lin, Patrick Francis, Grisha Goryachev, Scott Tennant, Willliam Kanengiser, Gyan Riley and Ron Burczon.
Current Projects and Gigs:
Az Samad : solo acoustic fingerstyle guitar originals
Az Samad Duo: jazz/world duo w/ drummer Carrie Jahde and percussionist Eli Harrison (rotating lineup)
Tara Linda: Tortilla Western originals
The Lychees: Guitar-vocal duo w/ vocalist Teresa Tam
The Adam Everett Quartet: Jazz Ensemble led by drummer Adam Everett
Acoustic Gestures: guitar duo w/ virtuoso classical guitarist Steve Lin
Duo Brasileira: Brazilian/Jazz guitar-vocal duo w/ Kiyoe Wakabayashi
Aseana Voices: Guitar and Voices (w/ vocalists Teresa Tam and May Savonte Gorospe-Favis)
Jazz Mine: Gypsy Jazz string ensemble
Electronic Press Kit (EPK): www.sonicbids.com/azsamad
Videos: www.youtube.com/azsamad
Follow Az on Twitter: www.twitter.com/azsamad
Official MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/azsamad
Instrumentation
Solo shows-
Az Samad - solo acoustic guitar
Duo shows-
Az Samad- acoustic guitars (steel string and nylon string guitar)
Rotating duos with either:
Eli Harrison - percussions
Carrie Jahde - drumset and percussions
Discography
Acoustic Gestures & Emo Attack Turtle are available for purchase on:
www.cdbaby.com/azsamad
iTunes
EMusic
Real Rhapsody
Napster
and all major online retailers.
2011 The Adam Everett Quartet - Round One
2011 Az Samad - love letters EP
2011 Planet Loop - Cubed
2010 Az Samad - Emo Attack Turtle (second solo guitar album)
2010 Tara Linda - Tortilla Western Serenade (w/ Grammy Winners Flaco Jimenez and Max Baca)
2008 New Age and New Sounds Compilation CD (Italian music magazine)
2007 Snow and Ice EP (exclusive online-only release)
2007 Ciplak - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
2006 Panic In The Peninsula (compilation album)
2004 Acoustic Gestures (debut solo guitar album)
2003 ICOM :Feel The Buzz (compilation album)
2003 Echoes Of Bangsar (limited printing self-produced EP)
2002 B'Yu (Universal Music/Synchrosound Music) (as lyricist)
Songs licensed for use in:
2011 Teaser Trailer for "Relationship Status", a Kharil M. Bahar flick [Official Website]
2007 Teaser Trailer for "London Calling", a indie movie by Anugerah Skrin Award Winner Kharil M. Bahar
2007 The Bedroom Musicians Series Promotional Video
2005 Video CD of Malaysian National Laurete A Samad Said - "A Samad Said - Kehidupan Seorang Seniman Malaysia"
Original Music for children's musical:
2003 Di Mana Singa (Where is the Lion) directed by Ladin Nuawi
Original Theme Songs for:
2008 The 6th Young Singers Choral Festival - 'Not Alone Anymore' (co-written with Shelley Leong)
2004 Monolog Memori Di Hadapan Pulau directed by SN Datuk Dr. A Samad Said
Press Reviews:
;)
"A rising acoustic guitarist"
TIMEOUT Singapore
;)
"This is one guy who can finger-pick, hold massive grape fruit-sized chords and
make his guitar gently weep with the best." KLue Magazine
"Az squeezes out a whole new sonic universe for the acoustic guitar." Pete Teo
"Az Samad produces works that are richly textured, poetic and atmospheric." The New Straits Times
"... Az... qualifies as a guitar prodigy of sorts. His flair and passion are almost Latin and are revealed in his penchant for Latino jazz rhythms." Kakiseni.com
"Gentle and shy he may look, but the chops he possesses were simply massive. His solid performance simply bewildered the crowd, who were not used to seeing such virtuosity being displayed on the acoustic guitar." www.audioreload.com
"Az Samad's solo numbers were definitely impressive. Alternate tunings (DADGAD) make the Celtic "The C Factor" a really eye-opening occasion with its interesting harmonics and varied chordal textures giving rise to new dimensions of playing." alldatjazz.com
"A prodigy with the steel-string and nylon-string guitars, his new age guitar music is sure to follow you all the way." Excerpt from 17 of Malaysia's Most Outstanding Individuls Feature Article Faces Magazine, Malaysia
"Be mesmerised by this acoustic finger-style guitarist as he lets his fingers do the entertaining." www.gua.com.my
"His guitar playing abilities are top notch and one that will have you captivated from the very first beat." www.juniorscave.com