Tangled is an expansion on the chapbook started by Patrick Shiroishi, aiming to explore Asian American musicians in the experimental and avant-garde scene.

On this month’s episode, Patrick is joined by guest Sadamu Samuel Hirsh.

Sadamu Samuel Hirsh was born in Kyoto, Japan. He and his family moved to Portland, Oregon, when he was four years old. Sam started playing piano shortly after, and eventually acquired classical training. He began playing jazz his freshman year of high school influenced by his father, a jazz saxophonist. One year later he was working professionally, leading his own piano trio and working with various local artists including his father’s quintet.

In 2009, Hirsh was awarded a scholarship to Los Angeles’ University of Southern California Thornton School of Music where he was mentored by Russ Ferrante, Otmaro Ruiz and Alan Pasqua. He graduated in 2012 and has been performing all over Southern California since. He can be seen playing as the leader of the Sam Hirsh Trio/ Quartet and as a sideman with Wille Jones III, Terrace Martin, Gilbert Castellanos and the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra among others.

Hirsh’s debut album Quite Frankly, featuring saxophone icon Ralph Moore, New York heavyweight John Webber on bass, was released on all platforms in February 2020 and made JazzWeek Radio Chart’s top 20. His second album Quarantine Dreams, was released on all platforms in July 2022, featuring the immense talent of various Los Angeles based artists.