Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jason Stein / Damon Smith / Adam Shead: Volumes & Surfaces

Jason Stein / Damon Smith / Adam Shead: Volumes & Surfaces

By Mark Corroto
June 13, 2022
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Damon Smith

bass, acoustic
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Damon Smith might be the hardest working man in show business. Free-jazz show business, that is. If there is a performance or recording somewhere in the States or Europe, there is a very good chance his double bass is in attendance. You name an improvising artist and he's recorded with them, from

Roscoe Mitchell

saxophone
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Roscoe Mitchell to

Joe Morris

bass, acoustic
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Morris,

Jaap Blonk

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Jaap Blonk,

Joëlle Léandre

bass
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Jo?lle L��andre,

Peter Kowald

bass, acoustic
1944 - 2002

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Kowald,

Sandy Ewen

guitar, electric

" data-original-title="" title="">Sandy Ewen,

Burton Greene

piano
1937 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Burton Greene,

Joe McPhee

woodwinds
b.1939

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe McPhee, Fred Van Hove and

Henry Kaiser

guitar
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Henry Kaiser. The list is practically endless. The reason being, Smith's energy and imagination likewise inexhaustible. All this is evident from the tour he made with

Jason Stein

clarinet, bass
b.1976

" data-original-title="" title="">Jason Stein and

Adam Shead

drums
b.1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Adam Shead in 2021, documented on the Volumes & Surfaces recording.

The two August dates captured here are both from Chicago, home of the bass clarinetist and drummer. Stein is most likely familiar to you as he has consistently been honored in critic's polls as the top innovator on his instrument and he leads the groups Hearts & Minds, Locksmith Isidore, Nature Work, and the Jason Stein Quartet. Shead is the new name here. He has recently made quite the impact on the Chicago scene, working with Stein,

Angel Bat Dawid

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Angel Bat Dawid,

Matt Piet

piano
b.1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Piet, and

James Falzone

clarinet

" data-original-title="" title="">James Falzone.

The music is undiluted free jazz with energy as its calling card and attention as its driver. Each of the five tracks trades in a mutual exchange. The tender bowed bass notes that open of "Blue Isn't For Sitting" is accompanied by bells and breathy bass clarinet. As the piece progresses, so does the energy. Stein's gentle notes are attended with droning and popping bow work and scraping cymbals. All of which is in service of a group improvisation. This cooperation is heard throughout. Each member of the trio matches pitch on "The Non Dimension Of The Present" cultivating an organic structure that unifies the group and of course the listening experience. Volumes & Surfaces is one exceptional recording.

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Track Listing

Heterodox Symmetry; The Deaf Voice Of The Light; Blue Isn't For Sitting; The Non Dimension Of The Present; Clearly, Blue Is For Sitting.

Personnel

Jason Stein

clarinet, bass

Damon Smith

bass, acoustic

Adam Shead

drums

Additional Instrumentation

Jason Stein - bass clarinet Damon Smith - double bass Adam Shead - drums, percussion

Album information

Title: Volumes & Surfaces | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Balance Point Acoustics

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