Leah Rich w/ Sami Stevens

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Leah Rich is a child of refugee Soviet musicians. A first generation American, Leah was taught from birth that freedom of expression is worth living and dying for. After a lifetime spent playing unsanctioned jazz under the oppressive Soviet regime, Leah’s family risked everything to start over in New York City. And there, a new creative powerhouse came to be. Leah’s authentic, urban style bridges the gap between her Soviet Azeri roots, and her metropolitan upbringing. 

Leah's anticipated sophomore album, Caspian, seeks to celebrate this cultural fusion and courage. In collaboration with renowned producer Cale Hawkins, Leah has managed to do just that. Caspian is set to release in early 2022. 

NYC artist Sami Stevens harnesses Jazz, Singer-Songwriter, and classic RnB influences to create truly intimate original music. Singing and accompanying herself on keyboard, she crafts a musical world based in silence, delivering dynamic, personal performances. Though performing solo is where she takes complete control of the stage, Sami is also an avid collaborator. Her latest releases include the Make Your Mind EP with producer KG,B, And I'm Right by Sami Stevens and the Man I Love, and Amore Per Tutti with Tredici Bacci. Upcoming releases include a solo album entitled Morning (2022), and an album with Jazz saxophonist Kazemde George entitled I Insist (Oct 2021).

A graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, Sami has performed with Genius Grant recipient Jason Moran and 6-time Grammy nominee Fred Hersch, recorded with "King of Treme" Shannon Powell, and underground legend Gary Wilson, toured opening for SoCal favorites Pinback, opened for Grammy nominated folk singer Greg Brown and Black Star MC Talib Kweli, sang for the premiere of Ty Segall’s “Emotional Mugger,” and appeared on various soundtracks, including Archer (FX; J.G. Thirlwell), It’s Personal with Amy Hoggart (TruTV), and Fils de Plouc (Sundance 2021; Tredici Bacci). Her projects have been lauded by Rolling Stone, Pitchfork and the New York Times, and featured on relevant Spotify playlists.

Sami has toured North America, Europe, and Australia with various projects, appearing at NYC venues the Cutting Room, Brooklyn Bowl, Smalls, Roulette, and National Sawdust, and at music festivals Sydney Fest, SXSW, O+ Festival, Phoenicia Intl. Festival of the Voice, and Meltasia. Stevens has led the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra, and sang the national anthem at Fenway Park at age 16. She produced and hosted Space is the Place, a music and science radio program on Silent Barn’s Bel-Air, and served as a fellow for Teach to Learn, a global arts education network.

Sami studied privately with Dominique Eade and John McNeil at the New England Conservatory of Music, where she graduated with a BM in Vocal Jazz Performance in the fall of 2014. The same year she received a BA in Psychology from Tufts University. Sami grew up in East Winthrop, Maine, and is currently living in Brooklyn, NY.