Samuel Chan

Samuel Chan is a renowned jazz drummer born and raised in Hong Kong. His musical journey began at the age of six with the piano, before he transitioned to drumming at fourteen. A graduate of the Hong Kong Institute of Education’s music program, he was the first jazz major student in the program under the guidance of local jazz guru Ted Lo and was awarded a certificate for outstanding performance. Chan furthered his education on a scholarship to The Collective School of Music in New York, where he trained under world-class drumming masters including Peter Retzlaff, Chris Coleman, Kendrick Scott, and Ian Froman. During his time in New York, he collaborated and recorded with jazz luminaries such as Theo Hill and Sean Conly. Upon returning to Hong Kong, Samuel quickly established himself as one of the region's most active and sought-after drummers. He has performed alongside local legends like Eugene Pao, Ted Lo, and Alan Tsang, as well as international stars including Barry Finnerty, Eric Marienthal, Dayna Stephens, John Ellis, and Laura Fygi. As the leader of The Cymbalman Band, he has been a regular fixture at major events like the Freespace Jazz Fest. Internationally, his performing experiences have taken him to New York, San Diego, Osaka, Kyoto, Kagoshima, Arcidosso (Italy), Shanghai, Shenzhen, Macao, and Hong Kong. Notable highlights include performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival China and collaborating with Grammy Award winner Ricardo Vogt at Blue Note Shanghai. In addition to his performance career, Chan is a dedicated educator, serving as a guest lecturer at the Education University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where he has nurtured many active young musicians. His recent creative projects include a collaboration with pianist Bowen Li, exploring improvisational works inspired by Mark Guiliana and Brad Mehldau, blending original compositions with electronic synth elements. He also curates educational performances, such as his tribute to the history of modern jazz drumming, tracing the evolution of the instrument from Baby Dodds and Jo Jones to Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, and Paul Motian.