"Kaleidoscopic, brilliant madness of the jazz drummer and composer Guy Salamon, who lives in Amsterdam. His compositions from swing, punk to polka spin around in a merry-go-round full of musical joy."
NRC
Guy Salamon is an award winning jazz drummer, composer, arranger, recording artist and band leader. Known for his work with his own octet, the 'Guy Salamon Group', as well as an established collaborator in the European jazz scene.
​
“Guy Salamon is one of the most outstanding talents of the current Amsterdam scene. His music is vital, powerful, exudes a jazz feeling and is averse to false pretensions.” Jazzenzo
​
His debut album 'Unfollow The Leader' was released in 2019, consisting of all own compositions and marks the first album with his ‘Guy Salamon Group’, featuring Alistair Payne (trumpet), Ian Cleaver (trumpet), José Soares (alto saxophone), Lucas Martínez (tenor saxophone), Teis Semey (guitar), Youngwoo Lee (piano) and special guests Fuensanta, Sarah Zeleznik and Veronika Kumar on vocals.
​
Following this success, his following record 'Creatures! Creatures!' was released in 2022, again showcasing the 'Guy Salamon Group' and was chosen by national newspaper NRC in the Top 25 Best Dutch Albums of 2022.
​
FREE HUGS, Guy's the third album, was released in May 2024 to critical acclaim and features the Guy Salamon Group together with the band's new pianist Xavi Torres, and includes appearances of special guests Jesse Schilderink on baritone saxophone, Teresa Costa on flute and Youngwoo Lee returns on synth and Moog.
Born in April 1989 into a musical family, his mother is an orchestral conductor and former opera singer from England and his father a salsa-rock singer-songwriter from Peru. He started playing piano at age 5, transitioning to drums just before his 13th birthday, as he began his jazz studies at the local high-school for the arts.
​
Commencing his academic jazz studies at The Center for Jazz Studies & New School collaborative program, Guy obtained his diploma in 2013. Subsequently, he moved to Amsterdam, graduating from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in 2018.
​
Since settling in the Netherlands, Guy Salamon has become a prominent figure in both local and international jazz scenes, showcasing his talents as a drummer, composer, band leader, and sideman. His performances span across Europe, including notable festivals such as the North Sea Jazz Festival and JazzAhead. Recent international tours include performances in Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, England, Scotland, Germany, Belgium, France, Poland, Czech Republic, Croatia and Sweden.
​
"Kaleidoscopic, brilliant madness of the jazz drummer and composer Guy Salamon, who lives in Amsterdam. His compositions from swing, punk to polka spin around in a merry-go-round full of musical joy." NRC
The Guy Salamon Group is one of the notable bands in the Dutch jazz scene, making a strong impression on audiences and critics all over Europe with recent concerts at the North Sea Jazz Festival, the Royal Concertgebouw and JazzAhead.
​
Spring 2024 marks the return of this award-winning band with their third album, "FREE HUGS." Recorded in Girona, Spain, at the end of a successful tour, "FREE HUGS'' unfolds in a post-absurdist dimension, narrating the adventures of the Shmoskers, a small group of Egg-X people, finding their way home after being lost in an alternate universe for a long time.
The album features 10 brand-new compositions filled with wild improvisation and meticulously crafted melodies, showcasing the uniquely chaotic yet coherent sound of the Guy Salamon Group. Ignoring all boundaries of genres and styles, their music hints at contemporary jazz with influences ranging from Tom Waits to Scandinavian children's songs, Charles Mingus to Irish jigs, Nino Rota to punk-rock, Balkan music to free improvisation.
​
​​​
​
Alistair Payne - trumpet
Ian Cleaver - trumpet
José Soares - alto saxophone
Lucas Martinez - tenor saxophone
Teis Semey - guitar
Xavi Torres - piano
Brodie Jarvie - bass
Guy Salamon - drums