Sam Newsome

Sam Newsome (b. April 28, 1965) is an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Newsome was born in Salisbury, Massachusetts and began playing saxophone at age nine. He studied at the Berklee College of Music from 1983 to 1987 under Bill Pierce, George Garzone, and Andy McGhee. He toured Europe with Donald Byrd in 1987 and then settled in New York City. His debut as a leader, Sam I Am, appeared in 1990, and following this he toured the world with Terence Blanchard's ensemble from 1991 to 1993.After 1995 Newsome concentrated exclusively on soprano saxophone. He formed a trio, Motivik Development, a jazz/world music fusion outfit. Newsome's more recent work has featured much interest in unusual time signatures and non-Western scales. He plays frequently with drummer Leon Parker and vocalist Elisabeth Kontomanou.