Sam Minaie

Iranian-American bassist, Sam Minaie, was born in Reno, Nevada and started piano lessons at age 8. At age 14, he switched to electric and upright bass and was granted numerous command performances in classical bass performance while beginning to also work professionally in all styles of music around the Reno/Tahoe area. Sam was granted a full scholarship and received a Bachelor of Arts in Classical and Jazz Performance at the University of Nevada, Reno. He then moved to Los Angeles where, under scholarship, he received a Masters of Fine Arts in Jazz Studies at California Institute of the Arts. At CalArts, Sam studied with Charlie Haden and African Ewe master, Alfred Ladzekpo as well as a broad range of other world music masters. While in Los Angeles, Sam quickly made a name for himself as one of the most sought-after bassists on the scene and moved to New York in May of 2009. He has toured extensively throughout several countries around the world and has been recorded on dozens of albums with artists including Peter Epstein, Ralph Alessi, Ravi Coltrane, Tigran Hamasyan, Peter Apfelbaum, John Ellis, David Ake, Mark Ferber, Gary Versace, Joe LaBarbera, Roy McCurdy, Bob Sheppard, Brian Lynch, John Beasley, Tootie Heath, Sara Gazarek, Larry Koonse, Patti Austin, Butch Morris, Vinny Golia, Adam Benjamin, Ben Wendel, Tim Ries, Tim Hagans, Kenny Werner, Vince Mendoza, Patrick Williams, New Century Players Ensemble, Alfred Ladzekpo’s Ewe Ensemble, Lian Ensemble (Persian Classical Music), Bill Holman Orchestra, and the Clayton/Hamilton Orchestra. As well as being a bassist, Sam has produced and mixed several albums, and is active as a session cellist. He has also played tuba in Charlie Haden’s Liberation Orchestra.

Sam is a co-leader and composer for Axis Trio and is currently busy touring around the world with 2004 Thelonious Monk Piano Competition Winner, Tigran Hamasyan.

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