Nick Kadajski's 5 Point Perspective
New York City, New York, United States
Music
Press
If one were to take a step back and really glance at the current state of jazz music, one would see that the art form is very much alive and well. Numerous new artists and out of the ordinary approaches to composition have shown me that not only is the scene as vibrant as ever, but there isn’t enough time to digest all that is out there. That being said I recently had the opportunity to preview a fantastic recording from saxophonist Nick Kadajski. His group “5 Point Perspective” has a new release out titled Remembering Things to Come – and wow is it a winner!
Remembering Things to Come features some of the top Brooklyn based jazz players and fly’s right out of the gate from note one… The opening track titled “Phantom Energy” really shows the prowess and creativity that Kadajski plays with. A fascinating approach to arrangements and top-notch musicianship take the listener on a musical journey, and Kadajski is your captain. The remainder of the recording continues on the high road with highlights being “Musings on Beethoven”- “2 is 1”- and “The Ness of Kate.” Throughout the recording one cannot help but notice the mind-blowing guitar work of Ben Cassorla and Sean Moran. Both musicians inter-weave through a majority of the recording giving the selections a very distinctive sound. The rhythm section of Brad Maestas and Brian Adler hold it all together and feature their own talents several times on the recording.
Nick Kadajski’s 5 Point Perspective and their new recording Remembering Things to Come is just another indication of the healthy state of jazz music. Fantastic compositions, remarkable arrangements and incredible musicianship. Take a moment and go check out some Nick Kadajski! One word –WOW! - Jazz Times
REMEMBERING THINGS TO COME: Nick Kadajski’s 5 Point Perspective
“Phantom Energy” opens saxophonist/composer Nick Kadajski’s latest CD. This instrumental song features a blazing sax, wailing and full of sonic passion, a fine groove with Kadajski’s alto sax being backed by fellow Perspectives Ben Cassorla, guitar; Sean Moran, guitar; Brad Maestas, bass; Brian Adler, drums. Though Kadajski’s album, he allows each of his fellow musicians plenty of room and time to shine. Later songs take a more traditional jazz stance: solId but not as captivating as the arresting “Phantom Energy.” This instrumental album takes some long swings into epic songs, with six tunes coming in at more than six-and-a-half minutes each. “2 is 1” weighs in at 10 minutes, 2 seconds. Still, an impressive jazz perspective. - The Valdosta Daily TImes
By Doug Collette
January 08, 2010
Nick Kadajski's and 5 Point Perspective/Remembering Things To Come (Circauisian Prod)
The ultra clean stereo separation of this recording impresses almost immediately but not before the visceral forward motion of the music itself, reminiscent of jazz-rock at its best. These musicians' roots extend outside the fusion realm, however, largely due to the prominence of the leader's alto sax. Still, the presence of dual guitars hearkens to Miles' Davis later electric forays, without ever sounding truly derivative because those instruments are utilized as much for texture as straight melodic and rhythmic exploration.
http://www.glidemagazine.com/articles/55487/christian-mcbride-inside-straight-mike-mainieri-marnix-bussier-quartet.html - Glide Magazine
By: Dan MacIntosh
If you like your jazz challenging, Nick Kadajski is just the man for you. These three tracks are like tricky aural puzzles, rather than soothing sounds.
Challenging is a good thing, by the way. "Phantom Energy", with its harsh electric guitar work and wild saxophone, will certainly energize your mind. "On The Corner" slows the energy down significantly, while "Gently" gears it down even more, to a crawl. Nick Kadajski has multiple speeds in his repertoire, and uses them all extremely well here, while appealing to both the heart and the brain.
Check out the new review online:
http://www.indie-music.com/bands/comment.php?mode=view_comments&type=band&band_id=8454&template=script_comment.tpl - Indie-Music Review
Feb 7, 2010 at 7:12 PM
By: Ross Edwards
Rating: 8/11
Despite my initial reaction to a cheesy album title, Nick Kadajski’s 5 Point Perspective’s Remembering Things To Come reveals a unique jazz with a sharp edge, and an interesting melee of guitars, alto, bass, and drums. They are skilled technicians, no doubt, and with enough maturity to mix their sounds wonderfully. The personality interplay of guitarists Ben Cassoria and Sean Moran illustrate a delicate relationship. Brad Maestas’s elegant bass playing communes directly with drummer Brian Adler and subtly with Kadajski’s alto. Basically they sound like a band, like they’re improvising from a familiar, comfortable, truthful space.
The compositions are idiosyncratic, but they have a tendency to depart so far from the opening melody that it’s hard to tell (or remember) what the hell song is actually about. Kadajski took the album name to heart and wrote melodies that are appealing while they last, but are quickly left behind for the next, completely different section. This is the case on “Musings On Beethoven,” which starts off as a dirge-like 2nd movement, but is suddenly abandoned a minute in for a percussion onslaught, and then a jam-band re-ignition out of nowhere. What happened to Beethoven? He is revived suddenly and angrily at the end.
The album does display some beautiful variance, as on the almost drum-less, melodic poem “Gently,” the weirdly straightforward samba of “Lessons Learned,” the demonstration of different tones on guitar trading in “Sameitude.” The ballad “The Ness of Kate” (‘Ness’ as in lake? I’m not sure…) has a Hendrix and Metheny quality, although subdued and gradual.
And perhaps the title’s not so cheesy after all, as Nick Kadajski’s brother claims in the laudatory liner notes, citing from Ralph Ellison: “… the end is in the beginning and lies far ahead.”That sounds pretty deep, but it also sounds like a strong emphasis on the future and moving from isolated section to section. All in all, Nick Kadajski’s first album sounds great, although occasionally artificial.
http://www.knocksfromtheunderground.com/ny-album-reviews/2010/2/7/remembering-things-to-come-by-nick-kadajskis-5-point-perspec.html - Knocks from the Underground
Discography
Remembering Things to Come
Photos
Bio
Nick Kadajski currently leads and writes the music for the group 5 Point Perspective. Kadajski's music is imbued with the colors of many other genres of music. This comes from the multitude of groups that he has been in as a sideman. Improvisation is a focal point of the music that the group creates.
Nick's first musical experience after moving to New York was playing with the afrobeat group The Budos. This large ensemble mixed African rhythms with interesting forms to produce an energetic sound. Many of the rhythmic ideas that appear in Kadajski's music come from his time with this group.
During this same period he began studying composition and improvisation with Ralph Alessi, whom Nick met while he was a student at the Eastman School of Music. This relationship culminated a year and a half later at Alessi's School for Improvised Music. While he was at SIM Kadajski studied privately with Tim Berne and Matana Roberts.
Shortly thereafter he was asked to play with the funk/jazz group the Unskilled Labor Funk Ensemble, which had a two month residency at the club Niagara in NYC, and shows at Detour. Nick began forming the basis for 5 Point from these sessions.
Nick is also a member of The Alper Yilmaz Project. Alper is a bass player whose music is infused with Turkish rhythms and harmonies. The time spent with this band has had a major impact on the way Kadajski approaches his compositions harmonically and rhythmically. The band toured Turkey in February 2008 to promote the album "Clashes", which has won praise from several jazz publications including "All About Jazz" and from writer Bill Milkowski in "Jazz Times".
Nick Kadajski's current album with 5 Point Perspective is entitled Remembering Things to Come. Bobby Vega in “Jazz Times” has said, “Nick Kadajski's 5 Point Perspective and their new recording Remembering Things to Come is just another indication of the healthy state of jazz music. Fantastic compositions, remarkable arrangements and incredible musicianship. Take a moment and go check out some Nick Kadajski! One word – WOW!”
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