Hailing from a musical family, Sam Crockatt first picked up a clarinet as a child growing up in Norwich to accompany his pianist father. After later switching to the saxophone, the young Sam relocated to London in 2000 where he embarked on a programme of study that included a foundation course in music at Brunel University under teacher Tim Whitehead. Sam followed this with a degree at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music where his developing musical career was encouraged by tutors such as Martin Speake, Julian Argüelles, Julian Siegel and Tim Garland.

While in London, Sam began to play regularly and his association with musicians Gwilym Simcock, Oli Hayhurst and Ben Reynolds led to debut recording Howeird winning a Parliamentary Jazz Award later that year. Flood Tide followed commended by The Guardian for it’s “Haunting lyricism”.

Citing John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, Sonny Rollins and Lee Konitz among his musical influences (he had a lesson with Lee Konitz which he found inspirational), Sam’s ability to marry his understanding of past masters with contemporary styles keeps him constantly in demand and has taken him to stages at the EFG London Jazz Festival, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Kragujevac Jazz Festival (Serbia) and WDR Festival (Cologne). He has also been asked to appear on albums by vocalist Kaz Simmons and pianist Sam Leak.

In 2011 Sam and his young family moved to Mells in Somerset, the peal of the bells in his new home village inspiring the title track of Mells Bells.

Critical acclaim for his third release (and first on Whirlwind Recordings) Mells Bells has further enhanced his reputation as a composer and leader and the album has drawn praise from such eminent publications as The Guardian, Jazzwise Magazine, The Telegraph and The Financial Times.

Sam divides his time between spending time with his family (to relax, he likes to bake bread with his two young children), teaching and maintaining his busy performing schedule.