Michael Sarian Acoustic Quartet

• Michael Sarian is a trumpeter, composer, and bandleader known for his unique voice in contemporary jazz. Praised for his “endlessly renewable strain of lyric improvisation” (Peter Margasak, DownBeat), his playing “literally speaks” (Karl Ackermann, All About Jazz), engaging listeners with a deeply emotional and expressive sound. Born in Toronto and raised in Buenos Aires, Sarian moved to New York City in 2012, where he quickly established himself in the city’s vibrant jazz scene. His diverse background and global influences inform a versatile career that spans genres and continents.
  Sarian has performed at prestigious venues such as the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Kennedy Center, Teatro Colón, and Lollapalooza. He has toured the world with the Jonas Brothers and shared the stage with Michael Bublé, Jon Bellion, and Kirk Franklin. He has also performed at iconic New York venues, including the Blue Note, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Barclays Center, Yankee Stadium, and Central Park SummerStage, and has appeared on WNYC’s Soundcheck and NPR’s World Cafe. His work has earned him multiple recognitions, including a 2024 Art Omi: Music Residency and three-time semi-finalist placements in the DCJazzPrix.
• As a recording artist, Sarian’s output is as diverse as his career. He has released three albums with the Michael Sarian Quartet, praised for their “telepathic” interplay and intricate balance of melody and improvisation. The quartet—featuring pianist Santiago Leibson, bassist Marty Kenney, and drummer Nathan Ellman-Bell—has drawn comparisons to late ’70s/early ’80s jazz greats like V.S.O.P. and Milestone-era McCoy Tyner. Their studio albums have garnered praise and significant airplay, including on BBC Radio. Their album Live at Cliff Bell’s (Shifting Paradigm Records, 2024), which captures the group’s dynamic energy in performance and showcases the subtle beauty and intricate spontaneity that define their sound, was named one of the year’s best live albums by The New York City Jazz Record.

Personnel: 

Michael Sarian: trumpet
Santiago Leibson: piano
Marty Kenney: bass
Nathan Ellman-Bell: drums

Check out: “Primo”          “The Pilgrim”           “Subtitles preview”