Once Upon a Now Samson Philipps

• 1 Phoenix Sixty-Eight 03:48
• 2 Yoongleh 03:27
• 3 LVB7S 04:16
• 4 Early Bird 03:19
• 5 Milky Way 04:42
• 6 7478 03:47
• 7 Hyperdrive 04:10
• 8 July 03:30
• 9 Dance of the Vultures 03:47
• 10 Yeah 00:58
• Total Runtime 35:44

Info for Once Upon a Now

Zurich-based duo Samson Philipps present their impressive debut album Once Upon a Now, positioning themselves within a new wave of young jazz artists who see dancefloor culture and tradition as a mutually inspiring symbiosis. An album that stands out through its balance of imaginative playing, rhythmic complexity, and melodic precision.

Samson Philipps are Philipp Bucholtz (keys, synths) and Samuel Schmassmann (drums) – allies and friends with a shared vision. In their reduced setup of keys and drums, both contribute to a sound that reaches far beyond the sum of its parts. The duo blends contemporary jazz with influences from drum’n’bass, jungle, trip-hop, and ambient electronics, creating a spacious, cinematic soundscape: analog warmth, deep sub-bass, jazzy Rhodes lines, and rhythmically intricate, electronically embellished drum patterns are key features of this striking debut album. The elements interlock and merge into a delicate, playful yet driving musical unity.

Once Upon a Now was recorded in summer 2025 through an unconventional remote-production setup. Instead of retreating into a traditional studio environment, the duo deliberately chose creative autonomy, recording in their own rehearsal space in Zurich in sessions often lasting up to 16 hours, deep into the night. The result is an album that feels both raw and precise, immersive and detailed, driving and expansive.

Across ten tracks, Samson Philipps explore shifting time signatures, breakbeat structures, and atmospheric interludes. From groove-driven pieces to introspective ballads, the album unfolds like a continuous live set, taking the listener on a journey to the edge of the universe and back – reflecting the duo’s performance philosophy, where tracks seamlessly flow into one another to create a continuous musical experience.

Following their acclaimed debut EP Square, which was awarded the audience prize at the ZKB Jazz Festival, Samson Philipps firmly establish themselves with Once Upon a Now – released on Berlin’s XJAZZ! Music – as one of the most promising new voices in the emerging generation of contemporary jazz.

Samson Philipps:
Samuel Schmassmann, drums, electronics
Philipp Bucholtz, keyboards, synthesizer, effects

Samson Philipps:
Samson Philipps consists of Philipp Bucholtz and Samuel Schmassmann—two friends with a shared vision: working with a stripped-down setup of keys and drums, they both contribute to a sound that transcends the mere sum of its parts, interlocking and fusing into a cohesive whole. The duo blends contemporary jazz with influences drawn from drum & bass, jungle, trip-hop, and ambient electronica to create an expansive, cinematic soundscape characterized by analog warmth, deep sub-bass frequencies, jazzy Rhodes lines, and electronically embellished drum patterns.

They proved just how well this blend resonates with audiences at the 2025 ZKB Jazzpreis Festival, where they took home the Audience Award. Now, they are set to celebrate the release of their latest album, *Once Upon a Now*—released on the Berlin-based label XJAZZ! Music—at Moods. Their goal: to firmly re-anchor jazz within the nightlife scene. For this reason, this Sunday concert is scheduled to take place slightly later than usual.

This album contains no booklet.