Press Coverage
'A loving connection to music can transport you to a higher place,' says jazzman Nick Adema’
The Amsterdam-based, Ottawa-raised jazz trombonist is touring Canada with his band in January 2024.
Peter Hum - Ottawa Citizen (Jan 6 2024)
It takes an especially hardy jazz musician to tour Canada in the depths of January, criss-crossing the 4,500 kilometres between Vancouver and Montreal to bring original, improvisation-rich music to the people. But trombonist Nick Adema says he’s feeling energized and inspired in advance of pulling off his most ambitious project to date.
The Ottawa-raised trombonist, 24, is based in Amsterdam, where he pursued his graduate degree in jazz. But he’ll be bringing several classmates to Canada starting Jan. 11, and supplementing his group with the brilliant New York saxophonist Noah Preminger.
Below, Adema, who will play two hometown shows near the end of his tour which moves from west to east, discusses his musical origin story and his artistic development and priorities.
'Nick Adema is a phenomenal talent…. one of the new generation of jazz players to keep an eye on.’
Bob Pomeroy, Ink 19 October 4th 2024
Urban Chaos is Nick Adema’s reaction to relocating from his home in Ottawa, Canada, to his new home in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It was a tumultuous period for Nick, as he was dealing with the loss of his mother as well as adjusting to the hectic pace of a new city. Luckily, the chaos of Amsterdam proved to be a great place to catch his thoughts and find his place in Amsterdam’s vibrant jazz scene.
Adema put together a quartet featuring pianist Joy Shechter, bassist Azubike Onwuka, and drummer Chen Har-Even. The core group is supplemented by Noah Preminger on tenor, a string quartet, vocalist Liva Dumpe, guitarist Ante Medic, and alto saxophonist Micheal Murray. Adema’s music reflects the contrasts of a bustling city. “The Fool” finds Nick frenetic, soloing over the lush, languid tones of the string quartet. Nick’s trombone trades solos with Noah Preminger over a funky groove on the propulsive “111.” “The Friendly Ghost” is dedicated to the Danish guitarist Casper Hejlesen and provides a showcase for Ante Medic to shine. “Oak” is a brief vocal interlude before returning to the funky sounds of “The End of a Love Affair.”
"This album showcases Nick Adema as one of the most versatile trombonists on the modern jazz landscape.”
Dee Dee McNeil, Making a Scene October 3rd
Nick Adema is Canadian born, but currently is based in Amsterdam. On this project, he explores the turmoil of life and loss that he has titled, “Urban Chaos.” The loss of a loved one can stimulate emotions and often inspire compositions. In 2022, when Adema lost his mother, he considered stepping away from the music business entirely. After dealing with the grief that comes from losing a loved one, he once again returned to music.
“This album is about the process of moving on and realizing that what’s done is done, while acknowledging all that she’s done to help me continue my music,” Nick Adema explained.
I enjoy the way Adema weaves in a string quartet on Track #2 called, “The Fool” to soften the production with their sweetness. His trombone cries above the chord changes in a very emotional way. When drummer, Chen Har Even, adds his groove to the mix, along with Azubike Onwuka on electric bass, the tune takes a turn. Soon, Joy Shechter is featured during a stunning piano solo. Adema’s trombone soars and circles above the musical track. It captures the feeling of chaos, in its own unique way.
Jeremy Smith, Last Row Music July 13 2024
When life becomes chaotic, a strange city can be simultaneously the best and the worst place to find oneself. If all you want to do is be alone with your thoughts, a crowded, hectic metropolis can seem overwhelming; at the same time, there’s no easier locale in which to be anonymous, even while surrounded by other people.
Those were some of the impressions racing through the mind of trombonist/composer Nick Adema as he put together the music for his ambitious new album Urban Chaos. Adema lost his mother in late 2022, not long after relocating from Ottawa, Canada to Amsterdam. “Urban Chaos captures the feeling of moving back to the city after going through all of this mayhem,” Adema says. The album is a follow-up to its 2021 predecessor, DemiLAN, which was named for his mother (Demetria Langis) and created in parallel with her illness.
Mathijs van den Berg, Jazzenzo 8th September 2024
Adema en Preminger voelen elkaar geweldig aan. Ze gaan improviserend de dialoog met elkaar aan met flinke climaxen. Spectaculair zijn de vele ritmische wendingen in ‘Y-Axis’ en ‘Doglio’. ‘Still Moving’ opent atmosferisch met de vervormde altsaxofoon van Michael Murray waarna de chaos uitbreekt met freejazz-elementen en dissonante pianonoten. De donkere ritmes maken het geheel extra spannend. Adema’s pedal board verleent ‘Fracture’ een jarenzeventiggeluid. Elk nummer heeft een eigen flow.
Pianist Joy Shechter speelt pregnante partijen. Azubike Onwuka laat zijn bas flink pulseren, de ritmes van Chen Har Even zijn loeistrak. Gitarist Ante Medic laat mooi ruimtelijk spel horen. Het vocale ‘Oak’ is een vreemde eend in de bijt met wat dunne zang van de Letse zangeres Liva Lumpe. Het afsluitende ‘Demetra’ met alleen trombone en gitaar is van een grote schoonheid. Adema gaat binnenkort uitgebreid met dit album op tournee. In Nederland samen met saxofonist Jasper Blom.
demiLAN - The Whole Note
Yoshi Wall - October 28th 2021
Toronto-based composer/trombonist Nick Adema’s latest offering is teeming with originality and confidence from front to back. Everything from the writing to the execution feels like the product of an artist who is conscious of their identity.
One aspect that immediately jumps out is Adema’s astounding attention to detail. Each of his compositions contains a myriad of ideas, gradually revealing themselves over time and yet all coming together to form a satisfying whole. His melodies are intuitive enough to feel eerily familiar and yet elaborate enough to make anybody’s head spin. Much like the greats, Adema’s writing possesses immense beauty while also managing to zig where others would normally zag. Another trait of his that resembles top all-time composer/bandleaders is the rare ability to make full usage of his whole group. The effects of this tendency particularly shine through the kinetic rhythm section during the final climactic minutes of Rise, and the three-man-weave in the horn section of demiLAN.
Due to the nature of Adema’s bandleading, along with the sheer talent he assembled, the most memorable moments on the album consist of celestial synergy between musicians. One definitive instance was the combination of lyricist/vocalist Alyssa Giammaria’s deeply poignant prose and the reassuring warmth of bassist Evan Gratham’s tone on the intro of the stunning Lament for the Future to Come. Ultimately, it is due to Adema’s knack for working with these parts that the whole far exceeds the sum.
Adema/Manoukas Octet “New Roots” - Jazz Halo
Georges Tonla Briquet - May 2022
After the extremely successful demiLAN, trombonist Nick Adema and baritone saxophonist Alex Manoukas perform a new octet. Dynamics and connection with tradition are maintained. A strong introduction with crooner big band swing based on Dizzy Gillespie’s Tour De Force and ditto solos by double bass, baritone and altosaxophone. It is even more energetic in Runnin and In The Weeds. Pure big band bop. And again very strong solos. In the title track, band leaders Adema and Manoukas enrich the spicy fuel. Eastern Avenue can be used for scenes in a film noir. In the lead role this time double bass and trombone. They even venture into Round Midnight. With success thanks to the arrangement by Adema and the contribution of alto saxophonist Brenon Parmar. They transform another Monk composition (Reflections) into a melodic mid-tempo swing while they show themselves from a more experimental side in Three Step Deal. It is especially evident that Canadian trombonist, composer and arranger Nick Adema deserves worldwide recognition.deserves worldwide recognition.
Adema/Manoukas Octet “New Roots” - Midwest Record
Chris Spector - April 18th 2022
A brassy album by a new band of cats that have been playing together for years in one form or another, they merge old and new sounds in a little big band style. Respectful but not bound by tradition, this is a fun, modern-ish romp where the solos linger long after they’ve gone and the ensemble really cooks. Solid jazzbo fun times that works throughout.
Adema/Manoukas Octet “New Roots” - Shepard Express
Jamie Lee Rake - May 19th 2022
Anyone looking to get an earful of a slew of up-and-comers in Toronto's seemingly bustling jazz scene need only direct their attention to trombonist Nick Adema's and saxophonist Alex Manoukas. The A&M Octet (also rendered as the Adema Manoukas Octet) bring the brass of the bandleaders’ chosen instruments to bear in original compositions and arrangements of classics. They find a sweetly captivating spot, bringing the unified heft of a big band to bop-informed melodic explorations.
Evan Dalling's trumpet, Brenon Parmar's alto and David Hodgson’s use of tenor and soprano saxes to buttress and alternate between Manoukas’ soprano horn receive roughly equal play within New Roots’ eight expansive selections (all eight players’ talent can't be confined to a workout under six minutes long). The oases of interplay between upright bassist Leighton Harrell, pianist Josh Smiley and drummer Keith Barstow provide percussive contrast, sometimes at unpredictable intervals. The set’s introductory track reprising a Dizzy Gillespie oldie makes for a forceful statement of purpose; and the two Thelonious Monk arrangements later in the album speak to the adaptability of his melodies as well as Adema’s and Manoukas’ knowing what works can showcase their ensemble. New Roots bodes well for further swinging blossoms to come.