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| Sam Pilnick's "The Project" Chicago-based saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Sam Pilnick announces his anticipated second release with his ensemble, The Nonet Project, simply titled The Project. Following the acclaimed success of their previous album, The Adler Suite, this new recording is a compelling snapshot of Pilnick's artistic journey, fusing classic jazz traditions, modern improvisation, and rock influences into a cohesive and vibrant musical narrative. "The Project is exactly that—a purposeful reflection of the diverse musical landscape that informs my creativity, " explains Pilnick. Born from a period of reflection following the global upheaval of 2020-21, the album captures a creative artist reassessing his voice and vision. Each track showcases a different facet of Pilnick's influences, from the hard-swinging big band stylings of Thad Jones to the introspective small-group improvisations reminiscent of Miles Davis' famed Second Quintet, with an unapologetic nod toward the rock bands of Pilnick's youth. Sam Pilnick is a Chicago-based saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and music educator. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Jazz Studies from the Crane School of Music and a Master's Degree in Jazz Performance from Western Michigan University. His teachers have included Christopher Creviston, Robert Young, Bret Zvacek, Marsha Baxter, Andrew Rathbun, Jeremy Siskind, Scott Cowan, Keith Hall, and Edward Simon. Throughout his studies, Sam performed with a wide range of ensembles, including the Crane Jazz Ensemble, Crane Latin Ensemble, Crane Concert Band, and Crane New Music Ensemble. At Western Michigan University, he focused his graduate studies on jazz improvisation, composition, and history. He was a member of the Western Jazz Orchestra and the Advanced Jazz Ensemble, contributing original compositions and arrangements for the group's 2016 Environment Project and their 2015 concert with Randy Brecker. While at WMU, Sam also performed alongside artists such as Edward Simon, Miguel Zenón, Lucas Pino, Terell Stafford, Deborah Brown, Mas Que Nada, and Gold Company. As an educator, Sam is certified to teach K–12 music in both New York and Illinois. He has worked in a variety of academic settings across the Chicagoland area and currently serves as the band director at Thornridge High School, where he has revitalized the program and led students to earn recognition and success. write your comments about the article :: © 2025 Jazz News :: home page |