Urban Chaos
Zennes, 2024
8/10
The Canada native and Amsterdam resident Nick Adema is joined by some excellent company for these unclassifiable 12 tunes that revolve around jazz ideas.
The aptly titled “Beginnings” starts with a quick bout of scrappy drumming and flowing keys that welcomes rich winds, and “The Fool” follows with a calmer pace, where Noah Preminger’s soulful tenor sax suits the intimate piano.
Deeper into the listen, “The Friendly Ghost” balances bright sax with Ante Medic’s meticulous guitar playing, while “Oak” showcases Liva Dumpe’s smooth and expressive singing via a gentle beat and warm dreaminess.
Close to the end, the funk flavor of “Fracture” benefits from Azubike Onwuka’s playful bass and Adema’s finger acrobatics for the album’s best that’s busy and melodic, and “Demetra” exits with Michael Murray’s rich alto sax in a hazy and cinematic finish.
A very diverse outing that also recruits a string quartet, Adema’s vision embraces the noise of an urban environment with a modern jazz appeal that’s stylish and universally enjoyable.
Travels well with: Phil Haynes- Transition(s); Satoko Fujii-Tokyo Trio- Dream A Dream