Sam Glaser Quintet: Fear and Hope

‘Fear and Hope’ is a deeply personal project for Sam. Having taken a step away from music during the pandemic to pursue a career working in mental health, he has recently returned to creative music making with renewed vigour, and a fresh perspective on the importance of music and creativity for emotional wellbeing and community.

The project is a eulogy to the human condition, and of suffering and resilience. The music explores different aspects of the experiences people face in relation to psychological wellbeing, and the attitudes and discourse surrounding mental health.

Sam has a distinctive writing style, inspired by many of the great contemporary jazz composers, including Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ben Wendel, Walter Smith III, and Kendrick Scott. Each piece is designed to evoke a specific mood and tell its own story, but a considered harmonic palette, idiosyncratic use of rhythm and groove, and a melodic narrative weave a continuous thread throughout the music.