Music
Press
"... 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." - Antares - Antares
"This is one guy who can finger-pick, hold massive grape fruit-sized chords and make his guitar gently weep with the best." - Adlin Rosli
"If you are one of those who think that conventional guitar-playing is limited and tired, then Mr. Samad will show you the way forward. By playing with various alternative tunings and applying unusual techniques, Az squeezes out a whole new sonic universe for the acoustic guitar. His compositions can be moving, funny or sad, but they are always well constructed and brilliantly played." - Pete Teo
"..Az Samad produces works that are richly textured, poetic and atmospheric."
- Faridul Anwar Farinordin
"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." - Jeremy Lua
"He not only plays most beautifully his own compositions but also sways like a willow tree in a storm almost like he's dancing to his own music (although remaining seated)." - Hassan Peter Brown
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. - Faces Magazine, Malaysia
"A rising acoustic guitarist" - TIMEOUT Singapore
Be mesmerised by this acoustic finger-style guitarist as he lets his fingers do the entertaining. - www.gua.com.my
Discography
2011 - Az Samad - love letters EP
2011 - The Adam Everett Quartet - Round One
2011 - Planet Loop - Cubed
2010 - Az Samad - Emo Attack Turtle
2010 - Tara Linda - Tortilla Western Serenade (w/ Grammy Winners Flaco Jimanez 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:
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
Photos
Bio
"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 Samad produces works that are richly textured, poetic and atmospheric." - The New Straits Times
Guitarist-composer Az Samad has performed in the United States, Austria, United Kingdom, Singapore, and Malaysia. A versatile musician who has appeared on thirteen CDs (five of which are his solo releases), Az has worked with Grammy winners Flaco Jimenez and Max Baca, singer-songwriters Tara Linda and Reza Salleh, guitarists John Stowell, Stuart Ryan, and Teja Gerken; world music ensemble Bogofusion; electronic jazz-funk group Planet Loop; Cumbia-Dub band Candelaria; and string jazz ensemble JazzMine.
As an educator, Az has been on the faculty of Berklee College of Music's Summer Guitar Sessions and has taught workshops at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut; Culturefest in Pipestem, West Virginia; and The Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, California. His latest release is love letters EP, an improvised solo acoustic guitar concept album in the same spirit as his 2010 album Emo Attack Turtle.
www.azsamad.com
Contact Az at: talktoazsamad at yahoo dot com
Current Projects and Gigs:
Az Samad : solo acoustic fingerstyle guitar originals
Az Samad Duo: jazz/world duo w/ Carrie Jahde and Eli Harrison (rotating lineup)
Duo Brasileira: brazilian/jazz guitar-vocal duo w/ Kiyoe Wakabayashi
Tara Linda: Tortilla Western originals
Jazz Mine: gypsy jazz string ensemble
For more info, log on to: www.sonicbids.com/azsamad
Watch Videos at : www.youtube.com/azsamad
Follow Az on Twitter/Facebook: azsamad
Awards:
2010 - Stella Berboth Scholarship Recipient
2009 - Lois King Thore Music Scholarship Recipient
2009 - Tower Foundation Scholarship Recipient
2008 - San Jose State University Graduate Program Scholarship Recipient
2008 - Pongid Radio Featured Artist (August 2008)
2007 - Sonicbids Spotlight Artist (December 2007)
2007 - "Berjalan Bersamamu" received an honorable mention in the 11th Unisong International Songwriting Contest for the "Instrumental (any style)" category.
2005 - Berklee College Of Music World Scholarship Tour Recipient
2003 - Nominated for Best Solo Performance(Music) in the first Cameronian Arts Award, a prestigious event for the arts community in Malaysia.
Az has performed at:
Malaysia :
Venues:
Dewan Filharmonik Petronas
No Black Tie
Istana Budaya
Avanti's
Alexis Bar and Bistro
La Bodega
Le Bernardin
Bangkok Jazz
Paul's Place
Backyard Pub
Laundry Bar
KL JamAsia
Fasta Pasta
Schokolart, Soho KL
Starbucks KLue Acoustic Series
Borders Books
MPH Bookstores, Midvalley Megamall
The Palace Of The Golden Horses
Mandarin Oriental
Equatorial Hotel
Hotel Istana
Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC)
The Actor's Studio Dataran Merdeka
The Actor's Studio Box
Auditorium DBKL
Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka
MATIC
Universiti Malaya
Universiti Institut Teknologi Mara
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
International College Of Music
UCSI Recital Hall, Sedaya College
Monash University
PRIME College
Commonwealth Club Malaysia
Central Market
Taman Budaya Ipoh
Plaza Putra, Dataran Merdeka
Kelab Darul Ehsan
Dataran Shah Alam
Karnival Sure Heboh TV3, Stadium Bukit Jalil
Times Square Shopping Mall
Sunway Pyramid
Bangsar Shopping Centre
Festivals :
As part of Shelley Leong and Jazz Odyssey:
Penang Island Jazz Festival 2004
Sunrise Jazz and Rhythm Festival 2005 & 2006
Heineken Octoberfest
KL Sing Song 2006 Festival
As Dalcha Duo (acoustic guitar duo project with Hardesh Singh)
Fete De La Musique Festival 2003
As a solo act:
Singapore Writers Festival 2007
Yogyakarta Quake Aid 2006
Fete De La Musique Festival 2004
17th National Malaysian Poetry Day 2007
Jairus Anthony Music Festival 2004
Unplugged at Paulies 2003
Singapore:
The Singapore Art Museum
Esplanade Outdoor Theatre Stage
The Arts House @ Old Parliament
Home Bar
Austria:
Mei Zeit Chalet, Turracher Hohe
UK:
Newton Ferrers Yacht Club
US:
New York City:
Stain Bar NY
Caffe Vivaldi
Boston:
Swiss Human Rights Exhibition @ Logan Airport
Marriot Copley
Berklee Performance Center
Lawrence Berk Recital Hall
MIT
Harvard University
La Luna Caffe, Cambridge
The Paulist Center
Club Passim (open mic)
All Asia Bar (open mic)
Fire and Ice Boston (open mic)
Connecticut:
World Music Hall, Wesleyan University, Middletown
San Francisco Bay Area:
Koret Auditorium, San Francisco Public Library
Caffe Trieste (San Francisco and Berkeley,CA)
Coffee Adventures
Palace Hotel
The Cannery
Beckett's, Berkeley
Boulevard Restaurant
Mama Buzz Cafe, Oakland
Nomad Cafe
Bazaar Cafe
Beale Street Bar and Grill
Blondie's Bar and No Grill
King Tsin Restaurant
Anna's Jazz Island
Octavia Lounge
Brainwash
Rooz Cafe
Sea Mi Restaurant
Re
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