Personnel:
Linus Eppinger (g), Sam Braysher (as), Darryl Hall (b), Eric Ineke (d)
Reference: FSRCD 5147
Bar code: 8427328651479
The quartet heard here came about as a result of a mixture of old and new connections and relationships. Linus and T have never lived in the same countr but became friends whilst playing in a band called “Rebop”. Keen to continue playing together as that band became inactive, we put together a few short tours in the UK (where I live in London) and around Amsterdam (where Linus is based), which saw us building up a repertoire of tunes we enjoyed, whilst being accompanied by various local rhythm sections.
When it felt like the time had come to document the musical thing we had going, i felt obvious to ask Eric Ineke to play drums on the record date. Having played with him in Den Haag, we loved his glorious cymbal beat and hearing his stories about the many jazz legends that he has shared the bandstand with since the 1960s.
Neither Eric nor I had met Darryl until shortly before this recording, although he was certainly aware of his reputation as one of Europe's top bassists, but Linus thought that he would make for a great combination in the engine room with our drummer. He was, of course, correct, and Darryl and Eric seemed to hit it off immediately, both on and off the bandstand, the bassist's huge quarter notes and casy-going personality making everyone and everything feel good.
Following consecutive gigs in Den Haag and Amsterdam, we hit the studio near Utrecht on our third day together as a quartet. The repertoire was a mixture of tunes that Linus and I had played together in the past, plus a few new ones that we thought would work well for the group. The music couldn't be too complicated, given the lack of rehearsal time, and, anyway, we were keen to capture the relaxed, in-the-moment atmosphere that we'd felt when playing together on stage.
A short, relatively smooth session ensued, with mini rehearsals and on-the-spot arrangements transpiring between takes. It goes without saying that it was an honour and a privilege for Linus and me to record with musicians of Eric and Darryl's stature, and we are grateful for their generosity, enthusiasm and wisdom. We really hope that you will enjoy this collaboration between an English saxophonist, an Amsterdam-besed German guitarist, an American bassist living in France and a Dutch drummer.
—Sam Braysher
"A truly international, multi-generational band, the Sam Braysher-Linus Eppinger Quartet launches its debut album on the iconic Spanish label Fresh Sound New Talent. With a sound rooted in the classic swinging jazz of the '50s and '60s, the band's varied repertoire includes music associated with Horace Silver, Dusty Springfield, Benny Goodman, George Cables and Frank Sinatra. Critically acclaimed London saxophonist Sam Braysher co-leads this formation with Linus Eppinger, a charismatic Amsterdam-based guitarist. These two friends and rising stars of European jazz join forces with two of the continent’s great veteran rhythm section players (Eric Ineke and Darryl Hall) on a programme that is by turns groovy, fun and heartfelt. Sam Braysher, “whose warm tone and consonant and inquisitive approach to harmony is attracting growing attention on the British jazz scene”, (All About Jazz) is a London-based alto saxophonist, who has received widespread critical acclaim for his three albums to date. He is joined by special guest Linus Eppinger, a young guitarist who takes inspiration from the bluesy swagger of Wes Montgomery and George Benson and is now one of Amsterdam's busiest musicians. 2026 sees Sam and Linus releasing an album on the iconic Spanish label Fresh Sound New Talent. With a sound rooted in the classic swinging jazz of the '50s and '60s, their varied repertoire on A Sinner Kissed an Angel includes music associated with Horace Silver, Dusty Springfield, Benny Goodman, George Cables and Frank Sinatra. The pair are joined by a truly world class rhythm section: Eric Ineke, a legend of Dutch jazz, whose hard swinging beat has accompanied Dexter Gordon, George Coleman, Al Cohn, Johnny Griffin, Barry Harris and so many others; and Darryl Hall, the powerful American double bassist who won the Thelonious Monk jazz prize before working with Cedar Walton, Ravi Coltrane and Carmen Lundy. ""I can’t think of another alto saxophonist with a sound quite like Sam Braysher’s”"
—Dave Gelly (April, 2026)
The Observer
