Sam Pilnick Music

“The name of the outfit’s Sam Pilnick’s Nonet Project, so there’s no doubt who’s in charge. While his playing’s certainly prominently featured, the tenor saxophonist’s smart enough to realize that the impact of his music is never greater than when the talents of his partners are fully utilized. As a result, a genuine ensemble identity crystallizes over the course of the album, even when the material takes the music in a number of different stylistic directions.”

Thanks to Bob Osborne at Different Noises for featuring the album on his latest playlist!

“Sam Pilnick’s Nonet Project
The Project is Sam’s second album, showcasing eight years of compositional development and ensemble interplay. Following 2021’s Adler Suite, this release revisits and reshapes material written over nearly a decade, arranged for a group of emerging Chicago players. Pilnick’s writing blends big band jazz, modern jazz, and rock elements, drawing comparisons to a contemporary Birth of the Cool session. The album opens with “60657,” featuring layered horn voicings and rhythmic drive, and includes tracks like the featured “Southbound Trail” with Latin-inflected textures, “Neon” with guitar-led energy, and a sleek arrangement of Thelonious Monk’s “Pannonica.” The project highlights Pilnick’s relaxed tenor tone and his ability to guide ensemble dynamics through rich harmonic charts.”