Adam’s Air – dedicated to Adam Nussbaum

Adam Nussbaum was born on November 29, 1955. He grew up in Norwalk (CT) and started studying piano at age seven. At twelve, he bgan playing the drums and soon became interested in saxophone and bass. In 1975 Adam moved to New York City to attend The Davis Center for Performing Arts at City College. While at City College, he worked with pianist Albert Dailey, saxophonist/vocalist Monty Waters, singer Joe Lee Wilson, and vocalist Sheila Jordan. Adam performed in Milwaukee (WI) with Sonny Rollins in 1977 and in 1978 he joined Dave Liebman’s quintet which included John Scofield on guitar. Nussbaum continued to work with Scofield throughout the 1980’s. I used to watch him perform in “The Village” with guitarist Leni Stern at a little club called “55 Bar” which is located on Christopher St. and 7th Avenue. I also enjoyed listening to Adam play in the celebrated orchestra of Gill Evans at another club called “Sweet Basil” on 7th Avenue.

Towards the end of the 1980’s, Adam joined the Ellane Elias/Randy Brecker Quintet and he also performed with Gary Burton and Toots Thielemans. Michael Brecker’s quintet recorded a Grammy winning record called “Don’t Try This At Home” in 1988 with none other than Adam Nussbaum on drums.

In the early 1990’s Adam performed with the Carla Bley Big Band and a new trio which included John Abercrombie and organist Dan Wall. In the mid to late 90’s Adam toured, recorded, and performed with Abercrombie, Tom Harrell, the Kenny Wheeler Quartet, and the Jerry Bergonzi Quartet. Nussbaum has taught as an adjunct professor at New York University, the New School, and the State University of New York at Pruchase. His clinics and master classes have been given around the world.

Here are a few words about the intro to “Adam’s Air”. The first 8 bars were conceived from listening to Elvin Jones “comping” style on various records and CD’s over the years. Comping is sometimes a lost art of drumming that has to be studied diligently by serious jazz drummers. We as jazz drummers spend the majority of our careers supporting other soloists. We usually are, although the “model” has been changing, the last musician’s to solo in a given group, whether it is a big band or a combo. This fact alone gives rise to the need for us to be experts in the art of “comping” for others.

The solo “Adam’s Air” was conceived from transcribing what Nussbaum played on the Jerry Bergonzi tune “Red’s Blues,” which is from the trio CD with Jerry, Adam, and Dan Wall entitled “Just Within’”. The drum solo was originally played on a five-piece kit. I adapted the solo as best as possible for a four-piece drum set.

*If you are interested in contacting Rich Thompson, please feel free to e-mail him at his Eastman School of Music address. rthompson@esm.rochester.edu.

*Rich leads an entire day devoted to drum set performance this July 5th, 2008. The day is aptly titled “Drum Set Day” at Eastman. You may get more information about this and/or sign up for this all day clinic at http://esm.rochester.edu/summer/youthadult.php

Suggested Listening:

Tom Harrell “Sail Away”
Jerry Bergonzi “Just Within”
Dave Liebman “Monk Mood”
Steve Swallon “Always Pack Your Uniform On Top”
John Abercrombie “Tactics”