Samuel Strouk presently plays worldwide and alongside the greatest jazz personalities. His sensitivity, creativity and exceptional virtuosity have brought him great acclaim and the highest international recognition.
Samuel Strouk devotes his life to composition and concert tours, he has invested his work in many projects which call upon his talent as a composer, arranger, guitarist, interpret, music and artistic director.
Graduate of the « Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris C.N.R » in classical guitar and chamber music at the CNR in Montpellier, he left this environment to invest his time in improvised and traditional music.
He recorded and/or shared concerts with numerous musicians like Frank Rubio (Grammy award Latin Jazz, Live at village vanguard – Chucho Valdes quartet), Tomas Ramon Ortis (Grammy award Latin Jazz, Cubanismo), Vincent Peirani (Victoires du Jazz) François Salque (Victoire de la musique Classique), Emile Parisien (Victoire du Jazz), Rolando Luna (lauréat du Montreux Jazz festival 2007 – piano solo), Nathalie Manfrino (Lyric revelation at the Classical Music Awards) , Juan-Jose Mossalini, Alexander and Yaroldi Abreu and many others.
As Samuel Strouk was devoted from an early stage to a musical « crossover », he was chosen to participate in the innovative « Carhabana » project which blended Cuban and “gypsy” Jazz music where he is one of the composers, arrangers and interpreters. The album « Carhabana » (Egrem) was nominated at the Cuban music awards « Cubadisco 2007 » and was played in a concert at the Gran Theatro Amadeo Jordan in Havana.
For the last 10 years he has been playing in a trio with the classical cellist François Salque (Ysaye Quarte) and the accordionist Vincent Peirani. He writes compositions dedicated to them, one being a duet called «Yiddish» which was recorded on the album « EST » (Zig-Zag -Outhere). As a side man, he has multiplied the collaborations in various different styles, going from contemporary music « Le Balcon » with the National Orchestra of Lille, to the Balkan music with Eric Slabiak (les yeux noirs- the black eyes).
He collaborated in the production of numerous albums, one very recent being with the accordionist Daniel Mille (Awarded the “Victoire du Jazz” in 2007) which required arranging directing and producing the album « Cierra tus ojos » (Sony Music) in homage to the music of Astor Piazzolla. His arrangements were commended by the critics. « The young and brilliant Samuel Strouk has « vintaged » Piazzolla, if one can say that. Operating a radical analysis of dramatically mastered counter times, returning expectations, breaking through the references … » Emmanuelle Honorin.
He is very much in demand as a composer and has composed works for Big Band, string ensembles and small chamber music groups, working with institutions such as (Sony Music – Columbia College Chicago – Conservatoires -Festivals). His varied and rich composition work is identifiable straight away. He is currently working on 2 CD projects for Sony Music (Master Works and Also) and on a symphonic work requested by the Poitou Charente Orchestra which will be created in May 2016.
Samuel Strouk is also involved in education and performs guitar and composition master-classes in prestigious schools of music like the Instituo Superio del Arte (la Havane), Columbia College Chicago (2011 and 2013), Conservatoire de Montpellier CRR (France), Nepal Music Center (Nepal), he is also the Artistic Director of the Maisons-Laffitte Jazz festival since 2013.
Luthier Music Corporation based in New York have sponsored him since 2008.
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