Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jordan VanHemert: I Am Not A Virus

Jordan VanHemert: I Am Not A Virus

By Robin B James
April 15, 2021
View read count

The craft is tight, the feeling is refreshing, the sound is quick and precise, and the gestalt brings the individual voices of the musicians into group form, taking turns soloing and working together, interpreting the now into the fabric of the groove. The album covers a full range of expressive energy. "The Path Ahead" (9:28) starts us off with pep and energy, a perfect tempo for forward motion, the next tracks move into crisp contemporary seasons and issues, including that damn virus, and the urgently overdue need for getting around and beyond history to create our future: "Justice for the Unarmed (Black Lives Matter)" (7:38).

The album also spends some time being gently reflective with "Sea of Tranquility" (8:26), and brings us home with a smoothly woven modern interpretative meditation on a traditional (over 600 years old) Korean melody, "Arirang" (7:49), an important intangible cultural asset of Korean heritage, which some say translates approximately to "beautiful groom," and is also said to be based on a historically tragic story.

Dr.

Jordan VanHemert

saxophone
b.1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Jordan VanHemert is a Michigan-based saxophonist and composer well known for his skill as a modern jazz improviser as well as serving on the faculty at Hope College as Assistant Professor of Music Instruction in saxophone and jazz studies. He is also the Music Director of the Holland Concert Jazz Orchestra. VanHemert is motivated by his political consciousness, using his life force and musical groove to illuminate issues of race and social justice, as well as making beautiful music in the jazz tradition.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

The Path Ahead; Autumn Song; I Am Not A Virus; Justice for the Unarmed (Black Lives Matter); The Moment; Sea of Tranquility; Arirang Interlude; Arirang.

Personnel

Jordan VanHemert

saxophone

Robbie Smith

trumpet

Lisa Sung

piano

Kazuki Takemura

bass

Andy Wheelock

drums

Album information

Title: I Am Not A Virus | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Big Round Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Flying Blind
< Previous

New Sounds from Canada and More
Next >

Jordan VanHemert Concerts

Oct 12 Sun

Jordan Vanhemert

Dazzle Jazz Club
Denver, CO

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.