“That is some damn good neat reggae. If you are a musician, that should have raised your eyebrow, and if you are just somebody who is cool, I bet it made you feel cooler.”
“Many of the cuts here showcase Blaser’s robust tone and wide-swinging improvisations framed by the burnt sparkle of Lossing’s keyboard and the organic tumult of Kamaguchi and Hemingway’s interlocking rhythms”
“An intrepid, Swiss-born trombonist living in Berlin, whose new album, “Spring Rain”, is a thoughtful and energetic tribute... Mr. Blaser has a precise, expressive style on trombone and he’s an ace with multiphonic techniques, which enable him to growl chords on the instrument...”
“Right now, there appears to be no one – and I mean absolutely no one – more eminently qualified to make a tribute to Jimmy Giuffre than Samuel Blaser. The trombonist worships at the altar of creativity, as Mr. Giuffre did throughout his life...”
“Solid quartet session from trombonist Blaser, drummer Gerald Cleaver, pianist Russ Lossing and bassist Drew Gress. Whether it´s modern post-bop, avant-garde free improv or chamber music, Blaser always brings an unconventional voice to the affair. This is the kind of thing that leads to revealing, inspired moments… like on his newest recording.”
“This time out the repertoire is built around French medieval composers Guillaume de Machaut and Guillaume Dufay with even better results. The group has settled masterfully into this interpretive context, taking more chances.”
“Over the last few years Swiss trombonist Samuel Blaser has established himself as a significant presence in the international jazz scene... His bold arrangements juxtapose avant-garde concepts with ancient traditions, revealing a sophisticated approach that is both visionary and timeless...”
“...Blaser’s multifaceted dynamics and insightful compositional acumen sparks a massive body of knowledge, seasoned with the instrumentalists’ impressive technical faculties and sympathetic treatments under the canopy...”