When a musician has a very eclectic career, is that a product of their thirst for different experiences or of the need to be versatile enough to stay working? Obviously that depends on the individual, but for violinist (and composer) Sam Bardfeld the former is certain and the latter has been a consequence. From Bruce Springsteen to Baby Einstein, from Anthony Braxton to Johnny Pacheco he has shown a striking capacity to fit into varied scenarios while maintaining a consistency of rhythmic drive, lyricism, and impeccable tone, along with an abiding creativity that is particularly evident in scenarios where he is given a corresponding level of freedom (juxtaposed against the equally impressive selflessness with which he adapts to more structured musical scenarios). I’m thrilled that he will be joining us for Resonant Motion’s Jazz Up Close series this Saturday 5/24 at the Russell Library in Middletown, CT (2 blocks downhill from his alma mater, Wesleyan University) and wanted to share some of the tunes I’ve been binging on in anticipation of that.  

1 ) “No Me Toque Ese Punto” from Live by Los Jóvenes Del Barrio Featuring Jillian (1998)

This is a burning early example of Sam’s work with NY Latin bands, one that has him taking the spotlight as a featured soloist alongside the flute of Karen Joseph).

2 ) “Hot Mountain Song” from Credo by Michaël Attias (1999)

Musically, Sam and saxophonist/composer Michaël Attias are kindred spirits for their ability to seamlessly meld the experimental and the accessible aspects of jazz, and this track (also featuring trombonist Reut Regev, about whom the same could be said) is a fun example of that.

3 ) “Sintuba” from Barcelona in 48 Hours by Edward Ratliff (2001)

Attias is heard again here on this super-grooving African-inspired track by composer and multi-instrumentalist Edward Ratliff (performing here on cornet), with Sam taking a great solo atop the propulsive drumming of Kevin Norton and percussion of Seido Salifoski.  

4 ) “Almendra” from Back With Sweet Passion by Andrea Brachfeld (2003)

In the ‘90s, when I was in grad school in NJ, I played a bunch of straight-ahead jazz gigs with flautist Andrea Brachfeld, and while they were consistently satisfying, it was a while before I heard how authoritative her command of Latin jazz was. A couple years after that, she put out this lovely album of Charanga music, with this tune featuring some particularly satisfying work by Sam as well as Andrea and pianist Oscar Hernandez.

5 ) “Beal” from Periodic Trespasses (2004)

Though not his first record as a bandleader, this is Sam’s earliest that is still in print. The tunes are great throughout and I am particularly fond of this modern straight-ahead tune that features Sam and trumpeter Ron Horton atop the fluid but deep-pocketed rhythm section of Tom Beckham on vibes, Sean Conly on bass, and Satoshi Takeishi on drums.  

6 ) “O Mary Don’t You Weep” from Live in Dublin by Bruce Springsteen (with the Sessions Band) (2006)

I love all the stuff (studio and live) that Sam did as part of Springsteen’s Pete Seeger project, and while there are other soloists featured here (including Charles Giordano on accordion, Curt Ramm on trumpet, and Clark Gayton on trombone), the spotlight on Sam is particularly bright on the band’s rave-up on this traditional tune.

7 ) “Subway Noah” from Subway Moon by Roy Nathanson (2009)

Though not ostensibly a Jazz Passengers record (and I’ll admit to some ambivalence over not including any of those), this super-fun Roy Nathanson tune features not only Roy and Sam but multiple other Jazz Passengers stalwarts, including Curtis Fowlkes on trombone, Brad Jones on bass, and Bill Ware on vibes.

8 ) “Resignation Rag” from The Great Enthusiasms (2016)

This record was the first time I heard Sam in this distinctive violin/piano/drums trio format, here with drummer Michael Sarin (who played on Sam’s bandleader debut back in 1999) and pianist Kris Davis. We’ll be playing this fun composition of his on Saturday, is a stellar example of that distinctive yet totally organic inside/outside balance.   

9 ) “That Greeny Flower” from Refuge (2022)

We’ll be playing this one Saturday as well. With such focus on Sam’s contributions to high-energy tunes, I wanted to make sure his gentler side was also represented, and this original tune from his most recent trio record (featuring Sarin and pianist Jacob Sacks) has a hypnotically moody vibe and gorgeous band interplay.  

10 ) “My First Winter/Touchic” from Plays the Music of Julius Hemphill by The Hemphill Stringtet (2023)

There are many examples of Sam’s section work in string quartets and other ensembles, and this whole record of Julius Hemphill’s string music is a great example of that, with this tune having the added bonus of featuring Sam as a soloist, a task he takes on with characteristic creativity and edge.