Samson Philipps
Zurich-based duo Samson Philipps present their impressive debut album Once Upon a Now, positioning themselves within a new wave of young jazz artists who see dancefloor culture and tradition as a mutually inspiring symbiosis. An album that stands out through its balance of imaginative playing, rhythmic complexity, and melodic precision.
Samson Philipps are Philipp Bucholtz (keys, synths) and Samuel Schmassmann (drums) – allies and friends with a shared vision. In their reduced setup of keys and drums, both contribute to a sound that reaches far beyond the sum of its parts. The duo blends contemporary jazz with influences from drum’n’bass, jungle, trip-hop, and ambient electronics, creating a spacious, cinematic soundscape: analog warmth, deep sub-bass, jazzy Rhodes lines, and rhythmically intricate, electronically embellished drum patterns are key features of this striking debut album. The elements interlock and merge into a delicate, playful yet driving musical unity.