Sunday Sessions: Sam Braysher - Kurt Weill & the American Songbook
Schedule
Sun, 18 Jan, 2026 at 11:30 am
UTC+00:00Location
The Stables MK | Milton Keynes, EN
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in Mancini ForumSam Braysher is a London-based alto saxophonist. A regular performer at jazz clubs across Europe, he has received international critical acclaim for his warm, delicate sound and deep knowledge of the standard repertoire and American Songbook.
He is joined by a rising star of London’s thriving jazz scene: Annie Majin, fresh from her West End musical theatre debut, whose charming, powerful voice is inspired by Barbara Streisand, Blossom Dearie and the sounds of classic Broadway shows.
Accompanying is a top London rhythm section, comprising rising star Hungarian pianist Matyas Gayer (Eddie Henderson, Jim Rotondi) and in-demand young bassist (and Milton Keynes native) Asaph Tal.
Sam’s latest album explores the work of Kurt Weill, a fascinating composer who lies at the intersection of European classical music, jazz, opera and American musical theatre. That’s Him: The Music of Kurt Weill, was released in 2024 and met with glowing reviews from the UK, Europe, Japan and USA, and received radio play on BBC Radio 3 and Jazz FM. Awarding it a top rating of ‘indispensable’, French outlet Paris Move described the album as a “unique, moving, interconnected, creative, and exceptional entity, all coming together making it far greater than the sum of each individual part. This is the genius of Sam and his friends, knowing how to revisit Weill’s works with all the inspiration of a vast musical culture. Each track, like a treasure hunt, allows us to celebrate the essence of the original works… close to perfection."
Braysher received widespread acclaim for the two albums released previously under his own name, both of which feature renowned international collaborators. Golden Earrings, with New York pianist Michael Kanan, was described as “delightful and surprising” by Dave Gelly in the Observer, while his recent trio album with Jorge Rossy (Brad Mehldau Trio) and Tom Farmer, was praised in Jazzwise as “a triumph of intelligence and sentiment”.
Expect to hear classic songs such as My Ship and September Song in addition to hidden gems from the Weill catalogue and music by adjacent American Broadway composers like Rodgers & Hammerstein, Gershwin and Harold Arlen.
Line-up
Sam Braysher - alto saxophone
Annie Majin - vocals
Matyas Gayer - piano
Asaph Tal - double bass
"I can’t think of another alto saxophonist with a sound quite like Sam Braysher’s.” **** Dave Gelly, The Observer
“Braysher's cool, modernist twist on old songs is just superb.” Simon Adams, Jazz Journal
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Where is it happening?
The Stables MK, Stockwell Lane, Wavendon,Milton Keynes, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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