The Sorcerer Tom Sochas featuring Thodoris Ziarkas and Olly Sarkar

• 1Prologue04:02
• 2The Spell04:19
• 3I Don't Care04:20
• 4The Fire03:55
• 5Lament05:11
• 6Texaco Lily04:23
• 7Hope04:44
• 8All Apologies05:09
• Total Runtime36:03

Info for The Sorcerer

Building on the success of a solo EP released in early 2021, Franco-American jazz pianist Tom Sochas, previously known for his work with London staple Phoenician Blinds, is back with his debut album The Sorcerer, on Khumbu Records. The album, set to be released on April 12th 2022 introduces Tom’s new trio with greek bassist Thodoris Ziarkas and british drummer Olly Sarkar.

The record is very much an ode to story-telling, to ancient myths and tales, something we tend to return to when in need of guidance.Though rooted in age-old folklore, The Sorcerer presents itself as a present-day reimagining of a classic character. In a world of much uncertainty it takes no effort to envisage the various reasons why humanity must be held accountable. As the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that the wall between folkoric sorcery and our palpable predicament is in fact a rather transparent veil.

The album follows a linear story-line through which Tom Sochas blends his love of hard hitting post-bop and his passion for western classical repertoire to create an atmosphere rich in risk and solace. His playing is confident and understated, ranging from Monk-ish lyricism such as in ‘I Don’t Care’, to delicate melodies and counterpoint imbibed with classical vocabulary, as heard in ‘Prologue’. From the outset the trio sound is enhanced by the use of subtle analog electronics, colouring the palette with shadowy textures. Olly Sarkar’s artful use of space, accompanied by Thodoris Ziarkas’s avant-garde bass escapisms, make for a winning combination and add to the trio’s originality. The album also features punctual interventions by long-time collaborators Julian Knapp on saxophone and Laurie Carpenter on trumpet.

‘At the core of the project was a will to honestly represent my current thoughts, hopes and anxieties about our planet’s future’ Sochas explains. ‘Following a storyline forced me to find balance and hope in my compositions, to express the light as well as the dark. The trio format lent itself incredibly well to this, as it allowed the space for each of us to interpret the story in our own way.’

"The Sorcerer” is full of surprises, intricate mood swings and unfolds gradually, with all its meditativeness, leaving no opportunity for the listener to get bored.” (Ilya Rasskazov, Jazzist Magazine)

“The Sorcerer” is a promising debut from Sochas’ trio. There are some lovely moments to be discovered!” (Mike Gates, UK VIBE)

Tom Sochas, piano, synthesizer, electronics
Thodoris Ziarkas, double bass
Olly Sarkar, drums
Additional musicians:
Julian Knapp, saxophones (track 4)
Laurie Carpenter, trumpet (track 7)

Tom Sochas
is a Franco-American pianist born and raised in Paris, France and Nairobi, Kenya. Tom moved to London in 2011 and began to compose for quartet and brainchild: Phoenician Blinds. The contemporary jazz quartet has kept very busy and released three critically acclaimed albums as well as keeping a busy touring schedule in the UK and Europe.

Tom’s love of lyrical and melodic music, hard hitting post-bop and his passion for western classical music has led him to developing a unique sound, itself materializing into his first solo EP, ‘You could hear the bird sing’. Beyond his own band and trio Tom has also created a label, Khumbu Records, to house and nourish some of the projects he is currently involved in. Tom Sochas’s debut album The Sorcerer was recently released on Khumbu Records in April 2022. Tom was awarded the Do It Differently grant from Help Musicians UK to support the release of this record.

Today he focuses in equal parts on his practice, playing with his own trio, Phoenician Blinds, but also composes for film and theatre. Some of his most recent collaborations feature physical-theatre dramaturge and actor Maite Jauregui. Tom was commissioned to write five pieces of instrumental music to accompany the one-woman piece. Most recently he was also commissioned to write music for a play entitled Eating Myself, written by Pepa Duarte.

This album contains no booklet.