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“Sir, I believe you dropped this” 😂
Flaco’s Lament is out today! Streaming on a number of exploitative music troughs. Raw Toast Records!

This is my first album as a leader in many years and I’m so happy with how it came out. Thanks to Greg, Ellie and Steven, Amadis at Blue Frog studios and to Jeanette for the photo and design.

We knocked this whole album out in 3 hours because of the professionalism of everyone involved. Most of these were first takes. All of the music composed by yours truly. I’d love to hear what you think!

#newalbum #newrelease #composer #nycmusic #nycmusicians #gregward #altosaxophone #stevencrammer #ellieprunea #piano #diyalbum #rawtoastrecords #doublebass #doublebassist #flaco #flacotheowl

A snippet from our gig at IX the other week.
Potato Man was written this past summer for my friend Marius Van Den Brink who loves potatoes 🥔 💕
Love the way all these guys play.

#livemusic #doublebass #nycbassist #composition #potatoes #brooklynmusic #jazzinbrooklyn #ixrestaurant #saxophone

Straight Up! is bringing modern jazz on the road 🎸

Founded by guitarist Reed Miller and drummer Andrew Kushnir, joined by bassist Sam Trapchak, this Brooklyn-based trio blends swing, bebop, and Southern soul. Catch them live:

📍 April 24 — Zadie’s Market | Marshall, NC
📍 April 25 — Furman University | Greenville, SC
📍April 26 — The ColaJazz Foundation | Columbia, SC

Three chances to hear something special.

@andrewkushnirmusic
@reedmillermusic
@samtrapchak

Tonight @midnightblue_nyc featuring @samtrapchak and @christiancolemanmusic

7-8.30pm

Thanks for all the birthday wishes! Our pipes froze but other than that I had a great weekend playing music with friends and spending time with Penny and Jeanette (and Paloma).
Tonight I’ll be at Dominies Astoria (like most Sundays) so come by. 930-mid. Christian Coleman on drums and Marius Van Den Brink on keys. Thanks Keyed Up for their years of support!

Too cold out there for you? It’s going be cookin’ in The Speakeasy on Wednesday night 🪭🪭🪭

PETER BRAININ • SAXOPHONE
DAVID JANEWAY • PIANO
TIM JAGO • GUITAR
SAM TRAPCHAK • BASS
DENNIS BULHOES • DRUMS

Stoked for this on Wednesday 1/28! Peter Brainin has a great thing going at the Gin Mill on the UWS. If you’ve not been before come check it out. Playing some originals and then it opens to a session. The band is stacked!
#uws #jamsession #nycjazz #livemusic

Another amazing night for the books @brooklynvortex the other day (stay tuned for feb 6)

Here’s a little taste of @darrenjohnstontrumpet blowing on In Your Own Sweet Way

NYC came out in a big way! We’re loving this 2026 momentum 💨🎶💛

Friday January 16, 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:45 PM
Stookey’s Blue Room, 891 Bush St, San Francisco
Visiting from NYC - featuring Darren Johnston (trumpet) and Adam Shulman (piano)

Bassist and composer Sam Trapchak has been an active force in the New York City jazz community for nearly two decades, sharing the stage with artists such as Dave Binney, Stacy Dillard, Seamus Blake, Donny McCaslin, Rich Perry, Ari Hoenig, Benito Gonzalez, and many others. When he’s not performing or studying the work of his peers and predecessors, he’s hard at work composing—having written nearly a hundred pieces. He has released three albums as a leader, most recently Flaco’s Lament in May 2025, and for this performance he’s joined by trumpeter Darren Johnston and pianist Adam Shulman.

Tix $15 door or on our website if you’d like to choose your own seats now!

I’m headed to San Francisco tomorrow to co-lead some gigs with my good friend Darren Johnston. Also very much looking forward to reuniting with Tim Bulkley on drums and meeting Adam Schulman on piano who round out the quartet.
We will at
Stookys this Friday 1/16
Bird and Beckett on Saturday 1/17
Then Monday 1/19 in Grass Valley at The Wild Eye Pub.
Hit me up if you’re there! I’ll have some time to hang!
Photo credit: Lisa Charles