Sam Norris (1998) is a London-based saxophonist and composer with a forward-thinking outlook. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music on a scholarship under Julian Siegel, Stan Sulzmann and Kit Downes, graduating in 2021 with first-class honours. PHEMO Quartet, a band he co-leads, recently placed second at the historic annual Burghausen European Jazz Competition (2026); in addition, he is the recipient of the Craig Ball prize for jazz saxophone, and was a finalist in the Musicians' Company 'Young Jazz Musician of the Year' competition in 2022.
 

Moved from an early age by truly original performers and composers, some of Sam’s most significant inspirations have been John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Lee Konitz, Alexander Scriabin and Arvo Pärt. He explores these influences in his own groups, including his quartet, whose debut album Small Things Evolved Slowly was released to critical acclaim in 2024. He is also constantly developing his solo practice, and will be releasing his first volume of solo saxophone, Wood/Gold, on the Resonant Postcards label in July 2026. 
 

Sam is lucky to work around the UK and Europe with many of Europe’s finest improvisers, composers and cutting-edge ensembles across the varied fields of contemporary jazz, improvised music and New Music. His collaborators have included Ronan Guilfoyle, Ashkan Layegh, the London Sinfonietta, Tom Challenger, MACKWOOD, Stan Brunt and Gloria Yehilevsky. His career has taken him to the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Purcell Room, The Vortex, BERGSON, and the Bray and Burghausen jazz festivals, among many other high-profile venues and festivals.