Since arriving on the New York jazz scene in 2008, Sebastien Ammann has made a name for himself as a versatile pianist and composer with a distinctive musical identity. Jazz Trail magazine hailed him, saying: “[He] is already riding a comet toward the highest galaxies of modern jazz.” While JAZZIZ magazine praised his abilities saying: “Ammann’s writing neatly blurs the lines between improvisation and composition”.
Ammann leads several ensembles including Sebastien Ammann’s Gaia Quartet featuring luminaries like trumpeter Ralph Alessi, bassist John Hébert and drummer Eric McPherson. Their forthcoming album, Change of Course (Ropeadope Records, 2024) is set for release in May 2024. Additionally, Sebastien Ammann fronts Color Wheel, joined by saxophonist Michaël Attias, bassist Noah Garabedian and drummer Nathan Ellman-Bell, and the Sebastien Ammann Quartet featuring fellow Swiss saxophonist Ohad Talmor, bassist David Ambrosio and drummer Eric McPherson.
His 3rd as a leader, Resilience (Skirl Records, 2020) garnered reviews from over a dozen specialized magazines and online publications, with critics dubbing it “a remarkably current album” (Ruedi Ankli, Jazz ‘n’ More, 2020), and praising Ammann’s ability to “Stir up {some} real spark with this work.” (Filipe Freitas, Jazz Trail, 2020)
Sebastien Ammann is also a founding member of the improvisational collective, Henry/Ammann/Pichler/Mok, renowned for creating pieces in the moment without predetermined ideas. Their debut record, Penumbra, along with a video, was released in May 2020 on Bandcamp. This ensemble features accomplished musicians like trumpeter Jake Henry, bassist Matthias Pichler, and drummer Lesley Mok.
Not only is Sebastien Ammann a bandleader, but he’s also a sought-after sideman in numerous projects including guitarist Gene Ess’ Fractal Attraction along side vocalist Thana Alexa, bassist Yasushi Nakamura, and drummer Clarence Penn, and the Jake Leckie’s Quartet with bassist Jake Leckie trumpeter Kenny Warren, and drummer Nathan Ellman-Bell. He’s has shared the stage with a diverse array of musicians, such as Kris Davis’ Massive Thread, Tony Malaby, Sean Conly, Michael Formanek, Billy Drewes, Gene Ess, Michael Bates, Jon Irabagon, Mark Ferber, George Schuller, Dana Leong, John Hébert, Samuel Blaser, Sean Conly and Michael Sarin, performing in venues and festivals accross the USA and Europe.
Ammann’s work has received recognition in acclaimed publications like Downbeat Magazine (USA), Jazz Life (Japan), London Jazz News (UK), Jazziz (USA), Jazz Halo (Belgium), El Intruso (Spain), Ivan Rod (Danemark), Jazz’N’More (Switzerland), and he has been the recipient of grants from the Swiss Foundation of Artists and Performers (SIS), the City of Geneva (Switzerland) and the Roland Hanna Memorial Scholarship (USA). Furthermore, he runs his own private teaching studio while also on faculty at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music.