Jason Ajemian Smokeless Heat: The Art of Dying

Tag : Dying Product

 Jason Ajemian has often deployed his superlative bass playing in support of great ensembles like Rob Mazurek’s ChicagoUnderground Trio and Exploding Star Orchestra, among others. On The Art of Dying , however, he’s the leader guiding an ensemble of ableimprovisers through what proves to be a pleasant slice of the bestcontemporary jazz that the always exciting Chicago scene has tooffer. The Art of Dying is also an introduction to its many supporting players, like tenorsaxophonist Tim Haldeman, guitarist Matt Schneider, and drummerNoritaka Tanaka, each of whom turn out excellent, invigoratingperformances.

“Sackett’s Harbor” is a gorgeous, sullen balladanchored by Jaime Branch’s trumpet, which penetrates the lazyflow of the piece with a deep resonance like a foghorn seepingthrough the mist. Matt Schneider on guitar and Jason Adasiewicz onmarimba give the track an ever-flowing character as they glideacross their notes in a dripping cascade. Schneider also has astarring role on “Miss O”, where his tenderly teasedphrasing forms a nice intertwining duet with Haldeman’s sax,which emerges in the second half to engage the guitarist.

Engagement, interplay, these are the aspects of SmokelessHeat’s performance that are the most exciting, and it’snever more apparent than on the final track, a live performance ofthe group recorded for Milwaukee’s WMSE. This unnamed23-minute long piece never outstays its welcome, always shiftingand forging ahead to new ground, all the while showing off therapport and camaraderie among the players. The Art of Dying is another fine product from a scene whose creative output seemsinexhaustible.