WE MAKE: Stories for a New Day Zach Adleman

• 1 In Between Places 03:41
• 2 All Around Us 05:49
• 3 We Make 07:00
• 4 It Always Rains in Michigan 06:03
• 5 Song For Wedgewood 06:25
• 6 A New Day 04:16
• 7 Night and Day 06:42
• 8 Ballad for the Night 05:10
• 9 (At the Canadian) Border Patrol 03:44
• 10 Lookin’ Up 05:10
• 11 Evidence 04:00
• Total Runtime 58:00

Info for WE MAKE: Stories for a New Day

I first heard drummer and composer Zach Adleman as a high schooler at the Jazz House Kids summer jazz camp in his home state of New Jersey. Working with Zach frequently at Michigan State University during his undergraduate degree affirmed that he was a curious, passionate, and gifted young musician. His attention to detail and nonstop search for information led him to his first record date as the drummer on my 2017 CD, Reaching Out, as well as a faculty position at the Jazz Institute at Brevard Music Center where I serve as Director. Since then, he has performed with an All-Star list of luminaries across the globe like Wynton Marsalis, Houston Person, Joshua Redman, Randy Brecker, Mike LeDonne, and the Mingus Band, while continuing to enhance his reputation as a sought-after collaborator, bandleader and educator.

Zach’s writing on this recording captures the narrative of his life choices and experiences. In Between Places reflects the blues of living, working, and commuting between New Jersey, New York, and Virginia. Dig the playful interaction with the horns and rhythm section and shades of hipness on the blues. It was written on the painted pianos in Virginia’s urban bus stops, far removed from the joyful waterfalls and hiking trails that influence the next song All Around Us. We Make was written during the pandemic and is heavily influenced by the music of Billy Childs. The different sections of the song are meant to represent the terror and unease the pandemic introduced, while also highlighting the beauty that humanity can create when under pressure. It Always Rains in Michigan is the first song that Zach ever composed, using the minor blues form to interpret the gloom of a 6-day Michigan rainstorm. The listener gets to hear about special moments along Zach’s life path, such as his late night walks through NYC’s Riverside Park (Ballad for the Night) and his coming-of-age years residing in East Lansing, Michigan’s Wedgewood Apartments (Song For Wedgewood). The soundtrack of early adulthood is expressed through the wistful innocence of Steve Wilson’s enchanting flute tone. Lookin’ Up owes its title to a gig Zach played in the Flatiron District in Manhattan shortly after the lockdown was lifted. After playing several hours of an outdoor gig, he looked up and was astonished by the calm beauty of the buildings that contrasted the ever-quirky, hustling vibe on the NYC streets.

Zach shows his gratitude to veteran Jazz masters through his Kenny Garrett-inspired rendition of Cole Porter’s Night and Day and his Lewis Nash/Steve Wilson-inspired arrangement of Thelonious Monk’s Evidence. You can hear plenty of emotion being wrung out of the melodies and arrangements, such as weariness, frustration and dark humor in (At the Canadian) Border Patrol. As Zach explains, “While on my way to visit my cousin in Canada I was hit by a nighttime snow storm. At the Canadian border, I was curiously asked “Why do you have so many shirts?” I had six shirts. While on my way back home at the border crossing, buried in wait time, I composed this song.”

I am excited for you to hear the wise choices and soulful musical conversations that take place during each of these compositions. This record date is produced by his longtime friend and frequent musical partner Isaiah Thompson, himself a rare piano talent and leader in his generation. When iconic horn voices like Steve Wilson and Steve Davis meet kindred spirits Luther Allison, Sarah Hanahan and the rest of the band, well … magic happens. With that, I invite you to enjoy this masterful drummer and earnest composer’s debut offering. His vibrant compositions and playing are in service to a greater concept that inspire this album’s title, We Make. Zach wants us to listen to, and learn from each other, transcend our differences, and appreciate the beauty in our everyday lives rather than only observe and react to the difficulties. It’s a noble ideal from a young man dedicated to using his music to make a beneficial impact upon the world around him. This recording is proof positive that Zach Adleman can do exactly that. With Zach’s track record of excellence, he can achieve just about anything he sets his mind to. Until he climbs that next mountaintop, enjoy this beautifully swinging, creative, blues-soaked Jazz album many, many times.

Sarah Hanahan, alto saxophone (tracks 1-4 & 6-8)
Steve Wilson, alto saxophone (track 5, 9, 10, 11, flute (track 5)
Austin Ford, trumpet
Steve Davis, trombone
Luther Allison, piano
Jared Beckstead-Craan, bass
Zach Adleman, drums

Zach Adleman
NYC based drummer, Zach Adleman, has been playing drums since he was 6 years. While growing up in Montclair, New Jersey, he discovered his inspiration for music from his musical parents and neighbors. When he was 10 years old, he joined the Drums of Thunder percussion group, which travelled to perform at major sporting arenas on the East Coast (U.S Open, Madison Square Garden).

Zach Adleman has performed at venues and events, such as Carnegie Hall, the 57th Annual Grammy Awards After Parties, and the Newport Jazz Festival alongside jazz luminaries such as Wynton Marsalis, Rodney Whitaker, Mike LeDonne, Elio Villafranca, and Randy Brecker. Additionally, he holds a GRAMMY for his percussion performance on Ted Nash’s album, the “Presidential Suite”, on the song “Water in Cupped Hands.”

In high school, Zach found his passion for jazz through Jazz House Kids and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Orchestra. Zach chose to pursue his love for jazz at Michigan State University, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree for Jazz Performance in 2019. While studying at MSU, Zach was asked to join eminent trombonist Michael Dease's band, which was documented on Dease’s 2018 album, "Reaching Out" for Posi-Tone Records. One year later, Zach recorded “One-Track Mind,” as part of his co-led “Becoming Quintet”, which garnered reviews from JazzTimes and DownBeat magazine.

Throughout his career, Zach has received numerous honors including first prize at the 2017 J.C. Heard National Drum Competition. He was also invited by Igor Butman to play in the “Future of Jazz” concert, in Moscow, Russia. In addition, Zach has performed at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Smalls, Mezzrow, Smoke Jazz Club, Birdland, and toured in the United States, Switzerland, Italy, and Russia. Zach is an alumni of the JAS Aspen Academy led by Christian McBride, the Ravinia Workshop led by Rufus Reid and Billy Childs, and the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program led by Jason Moran.

In pursuit of Zach’s passion to mix audio and visual works, Zach collaborated with the London Film School to score Oliver Coeffard’s film, “Lydia.” Zach also pioneered his own collaboration, “We Make,” which combined two Juilliard dancers (Lindsay Phillips and Briana Del Mundo), a videographer, and a jazz quintet to speak on the pandemic.

In 2019, Zach went on to study at the Juilliard School graduating with his Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance in 2021.

Zach considers teaching one of his foremost passions in life. In 2022, Zach joined the Calhoun Jazz and Percussion departments, teaching ensemble classes to high schoolers on the Upper West Side. In addition, he teaches weekly group drum lessons through the Jazz House Kids at Trinity Church program. For the 2022/2023 summers, Zach was asked to be on Stanford Jazz Faculty through their Jazz Mentor Fellowship Program. He has served as faculty at the Jazz Institute at Brevard in North Carolina (Michael Dease dir.) in addition to working at the Jazz House Kids Summer Workshop in Montclair, New Jersey for five years.

As a bandleader, he has premiered his original works at the Detroit Jazz Festival with Rodney Whitaker, Maureen’s Jazz Cellar, the East Lansing Summer Solstice Jazz Festival, and Jazz at Lincoln Center’s curated “Fall for Arts Festival” on Roosevelt Island.

Zach’s mission is to use music to better people’s lives through joy and inspiration.

This album contains no booklet.