Jazz Articles about Adam Kolker

Adam Kolker: Reflections

by Raul d'Gama Rose
June 25, 2011

If, by some twist of fate, winds and reeds player Adam Kolker were not to be a musician, he would certainly have made a name for himself as a painter. Here too he would have had a choice of media, for he would have done extremely well as an impressionist whose canvases recalled the brilliance of Monet, or a water colorist who would have done the Japanese tradition proud. As it happens, he seems to have accomplished all of this ...

Adam Kolker: Flag Day

by Elliott Simon
February 18, 2009

Flag Day, from saxophonist Adam Kolker, exquisitely raises the standard of creative improvisation with its refreshingly cerebral musical explorations. Kolker is of the school that favors unhurried journeys through tunes. This allows the musicians to discover interesting musical nooks and crannies, expand on them and in the process create new music. Kolker wields an elegant instrument, whether it is his tenor, soprano, flute or clarinet, on these eight tunes. And he and the rest of this quartet forcefully remind that ...

Adam Kolker

by Peter Madsen
May 30, 2006

The sometimes heard, “those that can't do, teach" is a description not very fitting of the jazz world as hundreds of great musicians have become professors at some of the finest educational institutions around the world as well as teach privately at home. Many elder statesmen such as pianists Kenny Barron and Barry Harris as well as saxophonists Jackie McLean and Yusef Lateef not to mention trumpeters Donald Byrd and Bill Dixon (just to mention a few) have been teaching ...

Adam Kolker: Sultanic Verses

by Dan McClenaghan
May 11, 2003

Reedman Adam Kolker has garnered three Grammy nominations for his work alongside percussionist Ray Barretto. Now, as the leader on Sultanic Verses, he teams up again with Barretto, whose churning rhythms aid and abet pianist Bruce Barth, bassist John Herbert, and drummer Billy Hart.Four tunes are "Verses," shuffled in with the Kolker originals and a couple of time- polished classics: Monk's "Epistrophy" and the American Songbook gem, "All or Nothing at All." The Verses are duets, featuring Kolker's ...

Russ Lossing - Adam Kolker - John Hebert: Change of Time

by Glenn Astarita
July 13, 2002

The respective musicians who comprise this trio inadvertently broaden modern jazz horizons, with this lovely outing inspired by Bela Bartok’s progressive piano pieces. In addition, these gents represent some of the younger and more successful New York based artists who frequently enjoy first call session status. Nonetheless, this production resides within avant/chamber jazz stylizations primarily due to the band’s delicately fabricated and thoroughly melodic treatments. On many of these pieces they abide by a doctrine founded upon intricately devised three-way ...

Adam Kolker: Crazybird

by Glenn Astarita
February 1, 1999

“Crazybird” represents a group of young, talented New York based modern jazz musicians led by saxophonist Adam Kolker. Kolker has sewn roots with the likes of Maria Schneider, Bobby Previte and others.

The set opens with an up-tempo take on Monk’s “Green Chimneys”. A New Orleans style shuffle beat adds a fresh twist while quickly transforming into a bump and grind swing bash. Drummer Jeff Ballard shines here and throughout with polyrhythmic force and ferocious swing. Ballard is also a ...