Jason Adasiewicz: Sun Rooms (2010)

Mark Corroto

Senior Contributor since 1999

Mark misses his large dog Louie, but endeavors daily to find and listen to new and interesting sounds.

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Published: September 28, 2010

Jason Adasiewicz is making the vibraphone a necessary ingredient for music making in this century. His mallets have been featured in recordings by Josh Berman Josh Berman
, Jason Ajemian Jason Ajemian
, Harris Eisenstadt Harris Eisenstadt

drums , the Lucky 7's Lucky 7's
s, and Rob Mazurek Rob Mazurek
b.1965
cornet 's Exploding Star Orchestra.

As a leader, his two recordings with Rolldown, the self-titled 2008 disc on 482 Music and Varmint (Cuneiform, 2009) feature Josh Berman Josh Berman
, Aram Shelton Aram Shelton
b.1976
saxophone , Jason Roebke Jason Roebke
, and Frank Rosaly Frank Rosaly
b.1974
drums playing his original compositions. Here, he pares things down to a simple trio with bassist Nate McBride Nate McBride
(Joe Morris Joe Morris
b.1955
guitar , Ken Vandermark Ken Vandermark
b.1964
saxophone ) and Mike Reed Mike Reed

drums , with whom Adasiewicz collaborates in the drummer's People, Places & Things.

With Sun Rooms, he delivers his version of a piano trio, with five original pieces and three "sort of" standards. Perhaps it is easiest to begin with those pieces, as a gauge of the trio's playing. They play Duke Ellington Duke Ellington
1899 - 1974
piano 's "Warm Valley" straight, with McBride leading the melody before playing an overtly simple statement, like humming a favorite tune. Sun Ra Sun Ra
1914 - 1993
keyboard 's "Overtones Of China," is performed with amped-up forcefulness, McBride and Reed supplying the compulsion, as Adasiewicz applies ringing, simple notes. Like Thelonious Monk Thelonious Monk
1917 - 1982
piano or Miles Davis Miles Davis
1926 - 1991
trumpet , Reed can say more with economy of sound then a noisy solo. "Off My Back" by Hasdaan Ibn Ali—a favorite of Max Roach Max Roach
1925 - 2007
drums in the 1960s—comes closest to Adasiewicz's style. The piece, which opens with the trio producing what might be mistaken for a bit of electronics hum, features a sly mercurial swing that is simultaneously unadorned and knotty.

The remaining five tracks, all originals, are invigorated by the players. "Life" almost prances on the melody before the momentum is slowed with McBride's solo. The vibraphone, like the bass clarinet, can be pushed to extremes, yet never sounds bellicose or threatening. This trio can swing hard, yet the music remains a warming wash of tones and resonances. Adasiewicz' "Stake" is played fast and hard, with Reed's snare drum and ride cymbal chasing the fleet mallets. Next comes the balladic "Rose Garden," with its cascading notes—something that might have been written with the great Bobby Hutcherson Bobby Hutcherson
b.1941
vibraphone in mind.