| Jazz |
After a series of albums featuring pianists and saxophonists, this time it’s a drummer and composer who invites us with his album *We Make: Stories for a New Day*. If you’re asked what makes a good jazz album by an instrumentalist, the answer is simple: just like with this one, the instrumentalist in their compositions knows how to find the perfect balance between themselves and the other musicians. Only in this case, can one truly savor the entire work. Here, it feels as though themes from the 1950s and ’60s have been modernized, with a sense of joy and humor in Zach Adleman’s compositions, reminiscent of the psychological traits of compositions from that era. The album title is multifaceted and perfectly reflects Adleman’s vision of his music. Starting with “WE,” Adleman immediately signals that this album is about the collective, and its call and purpose include every listener. “The title is a call to action,” says Adleman. “I encourage everyone to connect and create together, especially in light of our differences. Listen to each other and appreciate the fact that we can be in the same room together—don’t take that for granted after the pandemic.”
If the album itself is the call, then each track is an individual story that touches the heart of humanity. Like fables and parables of the past, these stories aim to awaken and inspire listeners to take action. Listening to Adleman’s music is not only a pleasurable experience but also an enriching one. Adleman summarizes this succinctly but emotionally: “The songs are the ‘stories’ for the ‘new day’ that can be created by ‘making’ things together.”
Born out of the pandemic, reflections on nature, and the experience of a bustling city like New York being hit hard by COVID, *Ballad for the Night* is a musical tribute to the importance of night. “This song highlights one of the most personal, important, and unique aspects of my life: my walks in Riverside Park where I think, contemplate, bring loved ones or friends, make calls, keep a journal, and have picnics,” explains Adleman. “It may seem ordinary to some, but for me, it’s very special.” The melody, led by alto saxophonist Sarah Hanahan, is both conversational and vulnerable, offering listeners a glimpse into one of Adleman’s most intimate rituals. The piece also acknowledges the significance of night for the musician community. For them, the night is their livelihood, the time when they come alive. Later, after settling down, it becomes a moment to gather with friends and family. “I loved writing this song, and every note was carefully thought out,” Adleman recalls.
*We Make: Stories for a New Day* is one of those compositions created in a moment of hope and brighter tomorrows. The consequences aren’t the same across the globe; while Europe sinks into a deep economic crisis, with an unspoken war at its gates, here in the USA, one can sense an intellectual renaissance, whether in music or the arts. And in this album, we find some of the musicians who contribute to the success of Bayou Blue Radio (The Voice of Jazz), starting with saxophonist Sarah Hanahan, Steve Wilson on flute, Austin Ford on trumpet, Steve Davis on trombone, Luther Allison on piano, Jared Bechstead-Craan on bass, and of course, Zac Adleman on drums. It’s a group with strong cohesion that, while relatively traditional in appearance, is explosive and very contemporary. Even after six or seven listens, I still couldn’t fully appreciate all the arrangements, as the development of each track is truly a marvel. This album, without a doubt, joyfully joins the stack of our “Essential” albums.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, October 11th 2024
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