Samuel R. Torjman Thomas, Ph.D., performer and ethnomusicologist, is a woodwind specialist, oud player extraordinaire, percussionist, composer and vocalist. He is the founder and bandleader of Asefa, an ensemble devoted to contemporary approaches to  Sephardic, North African and jazz traditions.

Sam performs worldwide, presents programming/workshops on different music topics and teaches hazzanut for the ALEPH Institute. He leads the New York Andalus Ensemble, which performed at Limmud NY 2015. Sam also serves as executive director of JAMs (Jewish Awareness Through Music), and applied ethnomusicology organization. His ethnomusicological research centers on North African musical traditions, Arab music, Jewish music research, popular music studies.