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‘Pace of Change is a consistently absorbing album with some strong melodic themes and a high standard of musicianship throughout. Coombes’s playing is excellent, his tone warm, unforced and natural with an agreeable bluesiness.’ The Jazz Mann (4 Star Review)

‘The band [on Pace of Change] is a well-oiled yet playfully contemporary groove machine featuring Coombes’ effortlessly bluesy cool jazz on saxophone’ Jazzwise 

‘one assumes these guys had been thoroughly woodshedded otherwise the results couldn’t have been so perfect […] The fluidity of Coombes’ playing incorporates everything asked of a jazz musician, ie.to swing in a contemporary manner, to be explorative, to display command of his instrument and, most of all, connect with the listener.’ Bebop Spoken Here

‘knottily involving post-bop with a certain edge to it’ Marlbank

‘There’s an urgency and fearlessness in Coombes’ playing [on Outlines]. The writing is distinguished too’ Jazzwise

‘Vital, bristling with joie de vivre but not without its slightly darker side (‘Giudecca Song’, ‘Outlines’), this is a compelling, refreshing high-octane performance’ London Jazz

‘Outlines is the work of an increasingly mature and highly fluent improviser’ The Jazz Mann

‘On the evidence of his new CD Outlines Coombes is a supple, engaging player’ Geoffrey Smith, Jazz Record Requests

‘Static Shock is a real little gem. It’s the sort of recording that you aren’t expecting and which really bowls you over. Firstly and above all because we discover and out of the ordinary saxophonist equipped with incredible technical abilities (and he plays all three saxes and flute at the same level). When a saxophonist displays such powerful playing, such precision in his attack, such clarity in his phrasing and such assurance in his playing, we know we are dealing with a (future?) great.’ Dernières Nouvelles du jazz (4 Star Review)

‘Something of a rarity today, Coombes plays alto and tenor saxophones, demonstrating equal ability on each. It is undoubtedly his performance which stands out against a backdrop of seamless quartet playing. He often demonstrates a certain daringness in his solos, especially on the alto where sparks really fly.’ Jazzman

‘Coombes is an alto player (his best sax) whose virulence makes on think of Vincent Herring. He is capable of densely-packed soaring phrases and has a real talent for melodic lines which are both dense and intricate.’  Jazz Hot 

‘The richness of the background musical knowledge of these young musicians with irreproachable technique is evident.’ Jazz Magazine

‘If the technical mastery of this music surprises on first listen, it is also the originality of the compositions which makes this a quality album.’ Musiqualité (4 Star Review of Static Shock)

Online French interview of 2005 (Citizen jazz):  www.citizenjazz.com/Sam-Coombes-Rob-Chapman.html