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| "Movable Objects" * A new project from saxophonist Adam Larson On the heels of a three-CD trio trilogy, spanning 2022-2023 and three major cities worth of sounds and musicians, bandleader and saxophonist Adam Larson formed "Hybrid"; a sax, bass drums trio featuring a musician from each of the albums of the trilogy. The result is a rhythm section consisting of KC-based drummer John Kizilarmut and Chicago-based bassist, Clark Sommers. With multiple tours under their belt as an ensemble, the band has played at venues such as Smalls, University of New Hampshire, West Chester University, Ohio State University, Basd 249, Rudy's Jazz Room and several others across the continental United States. Their debut album is set for release in September 2024 and will coincide with a string of dates that include stops at venues and campuses in St. Louis, Wichita, Prairie Village, Tahlequah, Memphis, Nashville and Sioux Falls, among others. About Adam Larson Adam Larson (b. 1990) is an American saxophonist, composer and author. An endorsed artist for P. Mauriat saxophones, The Boston Sax Shop and Key Leaves, Adam began playing saxophone at the age of 11. Described by critic Howard Reich of The Chicago-Tribune as "a player for whom the word 'prodigious' was coined", by Peter Hum of the Ottawa Citizen as "a saxophonist who brings Donny McCaslin and Mark Turner to mind", and by Nate Chinen of The New York Times as "the sort of jazz musician who gets flagged early on as a promising talent and then hustles to meet every requirement for success", Larson has garnered numerous awards that distinguish him as one of the most promising artists of his generation. Upon graduating from high school in 2008, Adam moved to New York City to pursue his BM and MM in Jazz Performance on full-scholarship from The Manhattan School of Music, finishing his studies in 2014. Larson has released eight albums; three for Outside In, one for Ropeadope Records, two under the Inner Circle Music label and two produced independently. Larson's record "With Love, From Chicago", received a rare 4.5 Star rating from Downbeat Magazine and was featured in JazzTimes Magazine, among other national media outlets. The second installment in his recent "trio trilogy" project- "With Love, From Kansas City", was featured in ThePitch (KC), and the final installment of the trilogy, "With Love, From New York" featuring bassist Matt Clohesy and drummer Obed Calvaire, received a 4 Star rating from Downbeat. Larson keeps an active schedule with his own groups and as a sideman, having performed at several venues across the U.S. including The Green Mill, The Jazz Standard, Birdland, The 55 Bar, The Jazz Gallery, The Blue Note, The Village Vanguard, Smalls, Jazz at The Bistro, The Jazz Estate, The Jazz Showcase, Dazzle, Noce, The Jewell and several others. Music has allowed Adam to see more of the world than he once thought possible, having toured Poland, India, Taiwan, Holland, Germany, and South Africa, as well much of the United States. Larson's Trio received a South Arts "Jazz Road Touring Grant" in 2022 and In 2015 Larson's quartet was selected as one of ten ensembles to tour on behalf of the U.S. State Department's "American Music Abroad" program and toured Africa for 35 days visiting The Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Benin and Ghana. Beyond maintaining an active touring and recording schedule, Larson continues to be a sought after clinician and masterclass presenter and has been a guest at more than 100 Universities across the world. Appearances include visits to University of Cape Town, HKU Conservatory-Utrecht, Temple University, Yale, Manhattan School of Music, and University of North Texas among many others. Larson is currently on faculty at KCAI where he teaches classes in Entrepreneurship. Larson has previously taught jazz saxophone, music business and pedagogy at UMKC Conservatory and jazz saxophone and jazz ensembles at KU. Larson has a diverse private lesson studio of online students from the U.S. and abroad. Adam has authored 12 jazz etude books that have been sold in over 45 countries and States. In 2018, in partnership with BestSaxophoneWebsiteEver, he created and released a successful online masterclass dedicated exclusively to developing great technique, called "Lightning-Fast and Crystal- Clean". In 2023, Larson partnered with "BetterSax" to release a one-of-a-kind course dedicated to rhythmic diversity, called "The Rhythmic Pyramid". He maintains an impressive portfolio of commissioned ensemble writing for school jazz ensembles, having written more than thirty original works to date, as well as over 200 original compositions for his own groups/projects. Adam was commissioned by the Illinois Music Educators Association to compose the All-State composition for the 2020 convention, where he directed the Honors Jazz Band. Larson has also directed the South Dakota All-State Jazz Combo. With a vested interest in giving back, Larson has worked in various capacities with organizations that showcase exceptional young talent in the United States. Adam has served as a mentor for the Grammy Foundation, and as an adjudicator for the Monterey Jazz Festival Next Generation Jazz Orchestra and YoungArts organization. Serving in the role of creative director of the YoungArts New York regional show, Larson has presented multiple genre-bending, interdisciplinary performances held at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City. Larson currently resides in Kansas City. About Clark Sommers Bassist, Composer and Educator, Clark has toured and performed extensively throughout the world. He has had the privilege of performing with Cedar Walton, Darrell Grant, Brian Blade, Ernie Watts, Bennie Maupin, Von Freeman, Ira Sullivan, Frank Wess, Charles McPherson, Peter Bernstein, Lin Haliday, Dana Hall, Jodie Christian, Bobby Broom, Jeff Parker, Ron Perrillo, Geof Bradfield, Michael Weiss, George Fludas, Kevin Mahogany, Eden Atwood, Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls, The Chicago Jazz Orchestra among others. Clark completed his undergraduate degree in Jazz Studies and World Music at California Institute of the Arts in 2002, where he studied with bass masters Charlie Haden and Darek Oles. While living in Los Angeles, Clark performed with Leo Smith, Vinny Golia, The Charlie Haden Liberation Orchestra, Joe La Barbara and Larry Koonse. Additionally, Clark completed a masters degree in Jazz Composition in 2021 from DePaul University. Clark is proud to be at home in the bass chair with vocalist Kurt Elling, with whom he tours the globe, bringing jazz to everyone from Istanbul to the Canary Islands. Thus far, he has been privileged to play on multiple recordings with the Elling. One of which won the GRAMMY for best jazz vocal album in 2009 "Dedicated to You" Kurt Elling sings the music of Coltrane and Hartman and the second in 2020 for "Secrets Are The Best Stories" featuring Danilo Perez When not on the road with Kurt Elling, Clark enjoys leading two of his own groups in and outside of Chicago. Ba(SH) which includes long-time collaborators Dana Hall on drums and Geof Bradfield on reeds released their debut album in 2013 which was acknowledged on the "notable and not to be missed" list by All About Jazz in 2013. The groups' subsequent album "Peninsula" was released in 2020. The Lens Project "By A Thread" was released in 2014 and includes Jeff Parker, Kendrick Scott, Gary Versace, Geof Bradfield and Joel Adams. The latest Lens album was released in the Fall of 2022 and features Dana Hall, Chris Madsen, Matt Gold and Geof Bradfield. Clark can also be heard performing with Portland’s Darrell Grant in his “Territory” and “Step By Step” ensembles which include Brian Blade, Joe Locke and Steve Wilson. Other groups that Clark performs regularly with include Dana Hall’s “Spring” and “Black Fire, ” Geof Bradfield’s “African Flowers Ensemble” and “Melba, Our Roots”, The Chicago Yestet and many other musicians. About John Kizilarmut John Kizilarmut has performed with a wide range of artists and groups including Aretha Franklin, Doc Severinsen, Benny Golson, Jerry Bergonzi, Matt Wilson, Jimmy Heath, Branford Marsalis, Adam Larson, Logan Richardson, Clark Terry, New York Voices, Ana Gasteyer, Conspirare, Shirley Jones, DJ Starscream, and the Des Moines Symphony. He is a frequent guest performer and clinician at percussion and jazz festivals throughout the midwest, including Texas, Iowa, and Nebraska Days of Percussion; Tallcorn, Kansas City, Cherokee, Hannover, and Iowa City Jazz Festivals. In 2013, John was a featured artist along with with TOCA artist Jamal Mohamed and Marimba One artist Matthew Coley at the PASIC convention. He is also an active composer and arranger, and his works have been featured by many award-winning music programs including the 2013 State Jazz champion Waukee High School Jazz Ensemble, Lake Central High School Band, several DCI Drum Corps, and the University of Texas percussion ensemble. As an educator, John directed the 2017 Iowa All-State Jazz Ensemble, and has served on the faculties of Drake University, Grinnell College, and Northwest Missouri State University. John and his son Evan currently reside in Kansas City MO, where he is a member of the jazz studies faculty at UMKC. Hynbrid - Fall Tour 2024 9/18- The Dark Room, STL, MO, 6pm 9/19- Shawnee Mission East High School, Shawnee, KS, 1:30pm 9/19- The Ship, KC, MO, 9pm 9/20- Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, OK, 7pm 9/21- Rudy’s Jazz Room, Nashville, TN 9/25- St. James United Methodist Church, Danville, IL, 7pm write your comments about the article :: © 2024 Jazz News :: home page |