He is most widely known for his band 'Aquarium,' for which he is both pianist and composer. Also featured are James Allsopp on Reeds, Joshua Blackmore on Drums, and Calum Gourlay on Double Bass. They have released two albums: their eponymous debut on the Babel Label in 2011 and their follow up album 'Places' on 'Jellymould Jazz' in 2013. Both have received widespread critical acclaim and regular radio play nationally. John Fordham described ‘Places’ in the Guardian as 'surefooted creativity... way beyond respectful expertise' and Daniel Spicer described it in BBC Music Magazine as ‘assured and sophisticated acoustic jazz with deep roots in the tradition, that knows exactly what it's trying to do - and succeeds.’ Jamie Cullum introduced Aquarium as ‘the heavyweights of the British Jazz scene’ and described himself as a ‘fan’ of the band in his regular BBC broadcast.

Sam has led bands at most of the best-known venues in the UK including Ronnie Scotts, Pizza Express Dean Street and Kings Place. As a sideman he has performed with musicians including Ray Warleigh and Anita Wardell and has appeared on many albums, including the critically well received album 'Road Ahead' by Duncan Eagles/Mark Perry. He has been the pianist of choice for US touring musicians including Arun Luthra (tour in 2012), Leah Gough-Cooper ('LOCUS' tours in 2013/2014 tour) and Cameron Outlaw (The Outlaw Collective - tour in 2011).

Sam has composed a number of extended suites for various ensembles including: his big band, a quintet, and a piano duet with US pianist Dan Tepfer. He also co-leads a heavy-touring quartet with saxophonist Alex Merritt, and another piano duet with Richard Fairhurst.

Outside of his profession as a musician he is undertaking a part-time PhD in Music Cognition at Cambridge University where he is investigating the cognitive processes that underpin the aural learning activities of Jazz musicians.

'Multi-faceted and smart as a pin, this is poetic chamber Jazz of a very high order' - MOJO Magazine

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„Einer der leuchtendsten Sterne in der Jazz Piano Galaxie, ein brillianter Improvisator mit einer vielversprechenden Zukunft“ - so wurde der Londoner Jazzpianist "Sam Leak“ von Helen Mayhew (Jazz FM) beschrieben. ["Sam Leak is one of the brightest young stars in the Jazz piano galaxy. a heavenly improviser and a brilliant prospect for the future" - Helen Mayhew, Jazz FM]

Tief verwurzelt in der britischen Jazzszene, ist er vor allem bekannt als Pianist und Komponist für seine Band „Aquarium“. (James Allsopp - reeds, Joshua Blackmore - drums, Calum Gourlay - doublebass).
Aquarium veröffentlichte bis jetzt 2 Alben : das gefeierte Debut 2011 (Babel Label) und das Album „Places“ 2013 (Jellymould Jazz).
Beide Alben wurden mit begeisterten Kritiken bedacht und bekamen nationales Airplay.

John Fordham beschrieb Aquarium in seinem 'The Guardian' als „unfassbar kreativ, fernab von konventionellen Wegen“ ['surefooted creativity... way beyond respectful expertise' - John Fordham, The Guardian]. Daniel Spicer beschrieb Aquarium in seinem BBC Magazin als „..feiner und spannender Jazz, tief verwurzelt in der Tradition. Die Musik scheint ihren Weg genau zu erkennen und findet ihren Platz" [‘assured and sophisticated acoustic jazz with deep roots in the tradition, that knows exactly what it's trying to do - and succeeds’ - Daniel Spicer, BBC Music Magazine]. Jamie Cullum stellte Aquarium in seinem BBC Broadcast als eine der Schwergewichte in der britischen Jazzszene vor und outete sich selbst als großen Fan der Musik.

Als Bandleader spielte Sam Leak in allen bekannten britischen Jazzclubs. (Ronnie Scotts, Pizza Express, Dean Street, Kings Place)
Ebenso ist er ein gefragter Sideman, spielte mit Ray Warleigh, Anita Wardell und ist auf zahlreichen Alben zu hören. (u.a. „Road Ahead“ von Duncan Eagles und Mark Perry).
Ebenso spielte er zahlreiche Tourneen in der USA. (u.a. 2012 mit Arun Luthra, 2013 mit Leah Gough-Cooper und 2011 mit Cameron Outlaw).

Als Komponist schrieb er zahlreiche Werke für verschiedene Ensembles wie z.B. seine Big Band, sein Quintett, ebenso eine Komposition für 2 Pianos - aufgeführt mit Dan Tepfer (US).
Zusammen mit dem Saxophonisten Alex Merritt leitet er ein Quartett, welches ständig tourt.

Neben seiner Arbeit als Musiker untersucht er an der Cambridge University den kognitiven Prozess des Lernens von Jazz Musikern.

„Entspannt und mit zahlreichen Facetten - poetischer kammermusikalischer Jazz von höchstem Niveau„ (Mojo Magazin)

["Multi-faceted and smart as a pin, this is poetic chamber jazz of a very high order" - Mojo Magazine]

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sono un pianista inglese che e' stato descritto da Helen Mayhew, conduttrice della stazione radio Jazz FM, come "uno dei pu' brillianti pianisti nella galassia del pianoforte, un improvvisatore divino con un brillante futuro davanti a se''. Jamie Cullum ha dichiarato di essere una grande fan della mia band, che ha descritto come un 'corposo musicista della scena musicale britannica.'
Nel 2012 il mio album di debutto e' stato in lista come uno dei top 10 album di quell'anno dalla rivista MOJO.
Ho suonato con molti artisti nazionali e internazionali tra cui un duetto con pianista Dan Tepfer (Lee Konitz, Pharoah Sanders) allo Steinway Festival 2014 suonando prima di John Taylor.

Ho ricevuto dell'ottima pubblicita' negli scorsi anni. Qui sotto sono alcuni esempi:

'SL va molto oltre il rispettabile pianista' - John Fordham, The Guardian

'questo e' jazz acustivo sicuro e sofisticato con le radici nella tradizione che sa esattamente cosa sta cercando di fare- riuscendoci con successo.' - Daniel Spicer, BBC Music Magazine

'Multi-sfaccettato e intelligente come una volpe, questo e' jazz da camera poetico e di alto ordine' - MOJO Magazine