Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Brian Adler: The Helium Project Phase 5

Brian Adler: The Helium Project Phase 5

By Dave Wayne
May 15, 2012
View read count

Track review of "Up For Air"

The latest chapter in the musical life of intrepid percussionist and composer Brian Adler springs to life in a most auspicious manner on "Up For Air," part of Adler's ongoing Helium Music Project—comprised solely of downloadable tracks, each featuring a different set of collaborators, recorded in different places, yet with the same musical goals in mind. Ostensibly a collaboration between Adler and trumpeter Matt Holman, "Up For Air" features a nimble, interactive quintet with Holman in an appealing front line along with vibraphonist Bryan Carrott and guitarist Jesse Lewis.

Imbued with a tumbling forward momentum by Adler and bassist Ruben Samama, this piece wends its way through a variety of harmonic and rhythmic micro-environments, each featuring probing, memorable improvisations by Holman, Carrott, and Lewis. The dark, mysterious nature of the improv passages is somewhat quirkily offset by the tune's basically sunny, friendly theme.

The soulfulness and depth of the musical interaction here is evident right from the start. A most enjoyable slice of thoughtful and edgy-yet- accessible modern jazz from an intriguing new group.

Track Listing

Up For Air.

Personnel

Brian Adler

drums

Matt Holman: trumpet; Bryan Carrott: vibes; Jesse Lewis: guitar; Ruben Samama: upright bass; Brian Adler: drums.

Album information

Title: The Helium Project Phase 5 | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Circavision Productions

PREVIOUS / NEXT

XXI Century
< Previous

Tva For Tommy
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.