Adam Rogers - Apparitions (8 tracks) +Album Reviews

Why do brilliant jazz artists like Adam Rogers record with C

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 09/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Criss Cross, a Dutch label, I believe, is known for keeping alive the bop, hard bop, and post bop flame. It produces many creditable, if unexceptional, recordings mainly by young-lion types, that is, up-and-coming jazzers who've principally honed their chops in these traditionalist settings. The problem with this approach is that unless the concept and playing are exceptional, it can sound hackneyed: only the truly gifted rise above its rather restrictive conventions.

Adam Rogers, a youngish guitarist with prodigious chops and better-than-average skills as composer and bandleader, in one sense fits nicely into this somewhat hidebound label. In another sense, one wishes he would broaden his musical vision into world-jazz/jazz-beat venues, as, for example, David Binney has so successfully done. Alas, it doesn't appear that that's going to happen soon. In the meantime, we're left with Adam Rogers, Criss Cross artist.

I'm OK with that. Primarily because he's a player with such taste, melodic and harmonic brilliance, and easy-worn leadership abilities that any recording he makes is entirely worth listening to. This latest one is no exception. Featuring some of the top young jazzers around--Chris Potter on tenor sax; Edward Simon on piano; Scott Colley on bass; and Clarence Penn on drums--Apparitions provides many moments of ecstatic listening pleasures. For one thing, Rogers, who wrote all the songs, effortlessly masters a wide variety of jazz idioms, including post bop ("Labyrinth," "Continuance"), modal ("Tyranny of Fixed Numbers," "Amphora"), ballad ("Persephone," "A Moment in Time"), modernistic Latin ("The Maya," my favorite cut), and postmodern dirge ("Apparitions").

This entirely listenable disc, while delivering many pleasures in convention jazz idioms, leaves the discerning listener yearning for a more challenging setting for Mr. Rogers to fully unleash his prodigal musicality. I look forward to the day that happens, and, in the meantime, relish the fine music set forth in this very satisfying jazz outing."

Adam Rogers is burning!

Hyperjuhani | Malmi | 09/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is Adam Rogers' third CD for Gerry Teeken's Criss Cross label. The rhytm section has remained the same for all 3 outings: Edward Simon (piano), Scott Colley (double bass) and Clarence Penn (drums). Also featured on this one is Chris Potter on tenor sax. Although I agree with the previous reviewer in his statement about Criss Cross releasing mostly straight forward, mainstream jazz, I think Adam Rogers has done quite a bit in expanding the harmonic and technical possibilities of his instrument. Also his compositions are very accomplished and modern, somewhat in the same vein as his contemporaries like Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ben Monder and Mark Turner etc.

Guitar players seldom manage to maintain the listeners' interest if they release a record comprising solely of their own compositions. That is because their compositions are often too "guitaristic". Adam Rogers certainly hasn't got this problem. For this date, he has again provided 8 originals of great interest.

The first thing that really strikes the listener at first is Adam's amazing picking technique. A very few guitarists are able to maintain such a clarity when fast lines. One is reminded of Pat Martino in his prime.

Without analyzing the compositions in detail, I could finish by saying that this CD isn't recommended only to guitarists, but also to everyone who's interesting in some of the best playing AND composing in jazz today. Adam and his band really seem to have something going on, certainly some of the hippest sounds around."

Great cd

Ricardo Erdos Cappon | Mexico city | 01/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"very adventurous composition here . this is a great CD . a must for audiophiles ."

Adam Rogers a great guitar voice & a great album

Anthony R. Guarriello | Rutherfordton NC | 09/13/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Man Adam Rogers what a fantastic new voice on the jazz scene compositionally & instrumentally. I say new even though adam has been on the scene for quite along time recording wih the cream of the crop names in jazz like John Pattituci and Chris Potter to name only a couple bigger names. The band here is a fine quartet of some of the top guys in the field of jazz. Chris Potter in my opinion is one of the top men on saxophone here he keeps it straight ahead postbop, nothing wrong with that. Potter is in fine form throughout this album responding to the complex twists & turns of Rogers compositions. On bass & drums is the much underrated Scott Colley & Clarence Penn. This fine groove team lays down a fat tasteful groove for Adam & company to blow over, team work is the word for these two fine rhythm mates. Scott & Clarence have been the rhythm section along with the young panama pianist Edward Simon on the majority of Adam Rogers Criss Cross label albums & just listen and you'll hear the reason why. They're great in a word. The compositions are all written by Rogers and are a imaginative blend of bop and modern jazz writing like Dave Holland or Steve Coleman but with more emphasis on swing from the rhythm section in the traditional sense. Rogers goes for a jim hall like sound with his hollow body guitars nothing like the sound he gets out of his fender telecaster in the Chris Potter Underground band. If your looking for that side of Rogers you probably won't find it here, these Criss Cross dates are about expanding on a much more traditional jazz guitar concept started by the past masters like Jim Hall, Kenny Burrell and Joe Pass. You also won't find any electric piano or bass or guitar effects for that matter, the whole set is all 100% acoustic jazz. So if thats your thing and you have had a taste of Adam Rogers talent for composing & playing the guitar then I think you'll get much enjoyment out of this. I'll say if you came to discover rogers through Chris Potters Underground albums like Follow The Red Line then this may not be what your into, this is beautiful hard core acoustic jazz with a capital J. Buy It! Support a great artist."

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CD Details

CD Reviews

	Adam Rogers Apparitions Genres: Jazz, Pop Track Listings (8) - Disc #1 Labyrinth Tyranny of Fixed Numbers Persephone Continuance The Maya Apparitions Amphora Moment in Time
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