Building on the success of a solo EP released in early 2021, Franco-American jazz pianist Tom Sochas is back with his debut album The Sorcerer, on Khumbu Records. The album introduces Tom’s new trio with greek bassist Thodoris Ziarkas and british drummer Olly Sarkar.
The record is very much an ode to storytelling, to ancient myths and tales, something we tend to return to when in need of guidance. Though rooted in age-old folklore, ‘The Sorcerer’ presents itself as a present-day reimagining of a classic character. In a world of much uncertainty it takes no effort to envisage the various reasons why humanity must be held accountable. As the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that the wall between folkoric sorcery and our palpable predicament is in fact a rather transparent veil.
“Spellbinding piano from Tom Sochas... a very, very beautiful album.”
“ ★★★★ “The Sorcerer” resonates deeper with every play.”
“ ★★★★ “The Sorcerer” is full of surprises, intricate mood swings and unfolds gradually, with all its meditativeness, leaving no opportunity for the listener to get bored.”
“ ★★★ “The Sorcerer” is a promising debut from Sochas’ trio. There are some lovely moments to be discovered”
“An impressive step for the promising bandleader.”
“★★★ They hit all the right buttons!”
Bio
Tom Sochas is a Franco-American pianist born and raised in Paris, France and Nairobi, Kenya. Tom moved to London in 2011 and began to compose for quartet and brainchild : Phoenician Blinds. The contemporary jazz quartet has kept very busy and released three critically acclaimed albums as well as keeping a busy touring schedule in the UK and Europe.
Tom’s love of lyrical and melodic music, hard hitting post-bop and his passion for western classical music has led him to developping a unique sound, itself materialising into his first solo EP, ‘You could hear the bird sing’. Following it’s success Tom Sochas released his debut trio album The Sorcerer on Khumbu Records in April 2022. Tom was awarded the Do It Differently grant from Help Musicians UK to support the release of this record. Tom and the trio have had the pleasure of touring this record and performing to sold-out audiences in some of Europe’s greatest jazz clubs including Ronnie Scott’s in London, Birdland in Hamburg, Sunset Sunside in Paris, Philly Joe’s in Tallinn, Sala Clamores in Madrid, The Jazz Bar in Edinburgh and Milano Jazz Club in Barcelona amongst others. Tom was very recently awarded a another grant by Help Musicians UK and is currently working on a new trio record with Filippo Galli on drums and Thodoris Ziarkas on bass for release in 2024.
While he mainly focuses in equal parts on his practice, playing with his own trio and Phoenician Blinds, Tom also composes for film and theatre. Some of his most recent collaborations feature physical-theatre dramaturge and actor Maite Jauregui. Tom was commissioned to write five pieces of instrumental music to accompany a one-woman piece entitled ‘Una’. Most recently he was also commisioned to write music for a play entitled Eating Myself, written by Pepa Duarte.
Orchestral work, film and theatre
During the Covid19 pandemic Tom was inspired to write an orchestral piece and brought together some of his closest and dearest musicians to perform it remotely. You can stream ‘While We Wait’ below.
In January 2018, Tom was commissioned by Pau Arran and Maite Jauregui to write five pieces for their one-woman theatre piece UNA. The format took shape as a small chamber orchestra consisting of Piano, a string quartet, Double Bass, Flute and Synthesizers. You can find links to those pieces below as well as the show’s trailer.
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CONTACT
Me : tomsochaspiano@gmail.com
Bookings UK & EU : bookings@khumburecords.com
Press & Radio - Francesco Soragna, Jus Like Music : francesco@juslikemusic.media
