SAMUEL LERCHER TRIO

Born in Paris in 1980, Samuel Lercher began playing the piano at the age of eight. From an early age, he was interested in both classical and jazz repertoire, improvisation and composition. In 2014, he founded the Samuel Lercher Trio with musicians André Rosinha and Marcelo Araújo, and recorded the original album Épilogue (Sintoma, 2015), which was very well received by critics.

The compositions of the Portuguese-French pianist reveal his passion for classical music, with the influence of composers Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, in terms of harmonic colors, and Frederic Chopin in the melodic construction.  The language of jazz is also present in the trio’s music, both in terms of writing and performance, particularly in moments of improvisation where the complicity between the three musicians is notable.  In this field, the influence of pianists Brad Mehldau, Shai Maestro and Tigran Hamasyan is also visible.

The trio has performed at numerous jazz clubs and festivals in Portugal, France and Spain: Guarda in Jazz, Ciclo de Jazz do Fundão, Círculo de Jazz de Setúbal, Palmela Wine Jazz, Hot Clube de Portugal, Mazagón Jazz, Estarrejazz, Espacio Turina, Clarence Jazz Club, OutJazz, Sunside Jazz Club (Paris), Jazz ao Centro Clube, Concerto Antena 2 and Dias da Música at the Centro Cultural de Belém.

The second album, “Ballade”, was released in April 2022 and in May 2024, the third album by Samuel Lercher Trio, “Fractal”, was released by Sintoma Records, which maintains the excellent profile in the rhythm section with André Rosinha on double bass and Bruno Pedroso on drums. This is an autobiographical album, in which Samuel Lercher musically portrays important elements of his life, transmitting, over eight tracks, his essence as a man and musician.

With it, the trio intends to continue with a regular schedule of concerts that extol cultural exchange, showing that culture has no borders. “On the third album, the Portuguese-French pianist once again demonstrates his consistent virtuosity and that particular knack for establishing creative links between classical and jazz. (…) Samuel Lercher’s pianism remains impeccable, perhaps more refined and subtle; however, it is as a composer that he takes a vigorous leap forward here.” – António Branco about Fractal, in Jazz.pt (2024).

Sources: Text sent by the musician