Composer, Organist, and Steel Pannist
Sam Parnin is a composer, organist, and steel pannist who draws inspiration from many musical traditions including classical, electronic, jazz, sacred, and afro-caribbean. Cultivating an energetic and harmonically rich sound, he regularly writes music that invites curiosity and inclusion.
In 2020, Sam formed the Sam Parnin Big Band, self-producing two EPs of original compositions: Canasta (2020) and Thinking Out Loud (2022). Balisong from
Canasta was notably featured by drummer Zack Graybeal (bandleader of Everything Yes), which he described as, "it gets my hair standing up."
In 2023, Parnin formed The New Distraction, a jazz fusion quartet featuring Dylan Shane, Jake Brokaw, and John Sevy. The band released its eponymous debut EP in 2026, featuring original compositions from Parnin.
