Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Adam Nolan: Listen to Me Now

Adam Nolan: Listen to Me Now

By Mike Jurkovic
March 1, 2022
View read count

Listen to Me Now evolves from a blank radar screen. At first glance, there's nothing there. Blank grid. Gray expanse. Then, suddenly, one blip, then another. In-breath-out-breath then another. Uncountable seconds later one's juggling a whole new multiverse. Action is demanded. Questions abound. Run for the exits or find the teachable moment? The learnable instant? "Roll the Dice," the starting pistol of Irish free jazzing saxophonist

Adam Nolan

saxophone
b.1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Adam Nolan's fearless new testimony, answers that question and other such inquiries as well.

Eight duly noted, spell binding, action oriented moments of decision tinder the fire under Listen to Me Now, Nolan's fifth big bang overall. But bassist

Derek Whyte

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Derek Whyte (he of the

Stanley Clarke

bass
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Stanley Clarke method) and drummer Jason McNamara (no stranger to the

Lenny White

drums
b.1949

" data-original-title="" title="">Lenny White school) have a few questions of their own. They want answers too. And that's the great debate that sets the stage for Nolan's impassioned counterpoint.

Street sworn improvisors, IED-like tracks such as "Protests," "Abandon Notions," "Volcanos," "We Can Go Separate Ways" flare into being, etch themselves upon the firmament, then take aim on the next. Blowing off Whyte's spontaneously combusting runs, rolls, and keening freneticism, Nolan flashes and burns, simmers and soothes. His yowls are street level. His pleading is spiritual. Coloring well beyond the margins, McNamara tinkers with time then moves on to other more pressing concerns which lends "Solitude" the air of a quieter, no less cumulative, ambition. Clamorous and rapturous in that rancorous and most victorious

Ornette Coleman

saxophone, alto
1930 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Ornette Coleman tradition, Listen to Me Now is a zealous, well deserved treat for the head.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Roll the Dice; Protests; Abandon Notions; Volcanos; Solitude; We Can Go Our Separate Ways; We can Go United; Soundcheck.

Personnel

Adam Nolan

saxophone

Derek Whyte

bass

Jason MacNamara

drums

Album information

Title: Listen to Me Now | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Self Produced

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Sonhos Da Esquina
< Previous

Family Plan
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.