nick adema octet
January 26 @ 8:30 PM
Nick Adema - Trombone
Alex Manoukas, David Hodgson & Brennen Parmar - Saxophone
Evan Dalling - Trumpet
Josh Smiley - Piano
Leighton Harrell - Bass
Keith Barstow - Drums
Exploring the plurality of sonic environments is Nick Adema’s forte. Using the modest nature of the slide to express his musical vigour, Nick is one of the most versatile trombonists coming out of Canada. Hailing from the nation's capital Ottawa, Nick quickly came onto the scene as a curious mind who embraced spontaneity and playfulness in his music.
Inspired by his mother, Nicholas used the Covid-19 pandemic as an opportunity to create a full length album demiLAN (released October 22nd 2021), in which he shows off his broad creativity as a writer, and creates a masterful performance alongside several flourishing/up-and-coming musicians. This body of work features a three horn lineup, vocals , and a full rhythm section. The band tackles compositions that are experimental, modern and energetic in nature. As a result, this ensemble captures an energetic, brave and thoughtful performance that is one of a kind.
Nick obtained his undergraduate degree in jazz performance at the University of Toronto. While attending this school, Nick had the honors of receiving the Albert & Wilhelmine Francis Renewable Scholarship (UofT Faculty full scholarship). While at the Toronto school, he filled the lead trombone chair in the University of Toronto Jazz Orchestra, and the Bass trombone chair in the University of Toronto 12tet. While at the school, they recorded a full length album with the UTJO entitled Embargo.
Growing up in Ottawa, Nick started to find his musical voice by playing with youth groups such as the Nepean All-City Jazz Band, the Ottawa Youth Orchestra, the Conn Selmer Big Band, and the Capital Youth Jazz Orchestra. Nick’s several projects in Ottawa stretched from composing and arranging Big Band charts, creating his own performance opportunities, helping to coordinate an entire alumni concert for the Nepean All-City Jazz band and much more. Nick performs regularly with many professional Ottawa bands such as the Prime Rib Big Band, the Bank Street Bon Bons, and the Ottawa Jazz Orchestra. Nick has also taken part in the Ottawa Youth Jazz Summit, which brought together some of Canada’s brightest young jazz musicians in a ten day intensive. This resulted in the group playing the main stage of the Ottawa Jazz Festival. In April 2019, Nick released his debut EP album recording, entitled “Nick Adema: Starting Point”.
Nick has had the opportunity to gain instruction from Micheal Dease, Marshall Gilkes, Nils Wolgram, Mark Ferguson, WIlliam Carn, and has been able to perform on the same stage with Tim Hagans, Renee Rosnes, Kris Davis and Andrew Rathbun in various academic engagements.