The original group (started in 1985) had members Sammy D and Manny G. Samann is a combination of the original band member names.

Spontaneous jams with latin musician friends when we meet each other in places where either of us are performing.

Puts the control of the music in the hands of the artists and their fans.

Yes.

An Internet music reviewer has referred to Samann as “World Dance”, because, as he put it, he couldn’t think of anything better. Samann gets its name from its two main musicologists, Manny Gonzalez and Sam Lugo. One quarter musical inspiration, one quarter musical talent, one quarter technology, and one quarter pure-blind luck, Samann produces music that’s as interesting and engaging while being an unidentifiable mix of jazz, hip hop, new age, and pop. It’s music that has been featured on numerous web sites where the same cut has been identified as R&B, Jazz, Chill, New Age, Pop, Rock, country-techno, etc. The Samann sound is indeed, World Dance.

Manny G:

Manny G's grandfather, Manolo, father, Manolin, and uncles, Jorge, Emilio, and Radames, were all musicians. Manolin played and toured with Machito, Tito Puente, Ismael Rivera, Johnny Ventura and other well-known Latin musicians of the time. From the late 1970's to the mid 1990's, Manny G prospered as a mobile DJ and part-time-fill-in musician with various local Latin groups, playing keyboards, sax and flute.

Sammy D:

During the same time that Manny G was expressing his turntablism and musical prowess, Sammy D was a dynamic force as a local DJ, dance promoter and copywriter for an up-and-coming advertising agency. His copywriting work was so cutting-edge that he was featured on a TV talk show, "Midday With Bill Boggs". Via a mutual DJ friend, Sammy D was introduced to Manny G.

The Birth of Samann:

In the early 1980’s, Manny G and Sammy D collaborated on a song loosely titled, "Children In The Street". A musical and brotherly friendship developed which gave birth to various musical gems that ended up in the hands of producer Vito Bruno.

One of the gems, "Perfect Love", was reserved for free-style dance artist, Noel. The collaborative work on "Children In The Street" and “Perfect Love”, led Sammy D and Manny G to create the studio band, “Samann”, in 1985.

B-Side Gourmet:

Manny G's musical ear began to search for more diverse sounds in the late 1990's. Many obscure gems were found in various CD store "junk bins". After sharing these gems with Sammy D, an idea was hatched to mix these tunes on compilations for restaurants and swank clubs. This gave birth to the concept "B-Side Gourmet". B-Side Gourmet is now the independent label which markets the groups Samann, Nojom, Orquesta Tambora, Naturally Artificial and World Dance Orchestra.

Samann returns:

In 2003, some friends who heard some of the 1980’s Samann music had recommended that Samann consider re-releasing some of the catalog material from that era. Manny G decided to create some new songs with hints of Samann's diverse style. A six-cut demo called "Connect" was released under the B-Side Gourmet label. The response was extremely positive and in 2005 a full nine-cut Samann CD titled "Mofongo" was released. Sammy D returned and Samann was now in full throttle mode.

Samann is now melding various styles (funk, dance, electronica, pop, Latin, country, R&B, techno, chill out). An explosive recording schedule turned out several releases in 2005 and 2006 (Mangu, Sofrito, Sancocho, Moro, Ensalada, Cafesito, Postre, Bebida, Sasonado). Many of these releases are available on iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon.com, and other online and brick-and-mortar music outlets.

Musical influences: Giorgio Moroder, Boozoo Bajou, El Gran Combo, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Cold Play, Jeff Lorber, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Billy Preston, Praful, Beatles, Patrick Cowley, C&C Music Factory, Gino Soccio, Thievery Corporation, Nightmares On Wax

New York

Hardware: Korg D888, Crate CSX16, FastTrack Pro
Instruments: Sax, Flute, Yamaha PSR-640, Yamaha S3, Guitar, Bass
Software: XGWorks, Acid Studio, Acid Pro, SoundForge Audio Studio

Mofongo - (CD released in 2005)
Mangu - (EP released in 2006)
Sofrito - (CD released in 2006)
Sancocho - (EP released in 2006)
Moro - (CD released in 2006)
Ensalada (DJ Mix CD released in 2006)
Postre - (EP released in 2006)
Bebida - (CD released in 2006)
Cafesito - (CD released in 2006)
Mabi (EP) - (CD released in 2007)