At a time when more musicians are trying to be heard than ever before, rare gems such as the Samuel Blaser Trio seem to rise above it all. Since his 2007 debut as a leader, Blaser has grown at an almost incomprehensible rate. From a straight-ahead hard bopper in his mid-twenties to an innovative free player and ever-searching composer and bandleader in his early thirties - one whose improvisational strength has received high praise from media the world over. Born and raised in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, Blaser lived in New York City for many years before relocating to Berlin, where he currently resides.