We Make: Stories for A New Day is MSU Jazz alum Zach Adleman’s debut recording. Of the 11 tracks, it features nine of Adleman’s original compositions.
Jazz drummer and Michigan State University College of Music Jazz Studies alum Zach Adleman has released his debut album, WE MAKE: Stories for a New Day.
Featuring eleven tracks, nine of which are Adleman’s original compositions, the album is a deeply personal project reflecting his journey as a musician and his hopeful outlook for the future. The record, now available for purchase and streaming, is both a culmination of Adleman’s experiences and a testament to the connections he forged during his time at MSU.
“All of the tunes on this album deal with the stories from my past and my hopeful vision for a more positive future,” said Adleman.
His compositions are rooted in personal history like his deep connection to MSU, which is evident in the choice of one track, “It Always Rains in Michigan.” It is Adleman’s first composition, written during his second year in what he describes as a dark, wooden practice room in the original Music Building (which have a different feel than the new practice rooms in the Billman Music Pavilion).
“When I visited Michigan State during high school, I immediately felt a sense of home. It felt like a place that I was going to be able to learn, like a place that I could really grow as a person and as a musician,” Adleman explained.
Adleman’s years at MSU were formative, filled with opportunities to play alongside the jazz faculty and visiting artists. He praised the hands-on mentorship that MSU professors offered.
Zach Adleman valued his opportunities as a student to play with his faculty mentors, like during this occasion when performing in Detroit with MSU Jazz Studies Director and University Distinguished Professor of Jazz Bass Rodney Whitaker (center). Adleman won the J.C. Heard National drum competition, and his prize included a spot at the Detroit Jazz Festival where he played his first composition, “It Always Rains in Michigan,” which is now on his debut album! The album’s producer, Isaiah Thompson, is on piano.
Zach Adleman recording his debut album, “We Make: Stories for a New Day,” in the Samurai Hotel Recording Studio in Astoria, Queens, New York in fall 2023.
“It was really meaningful and unique to get to work with my professors frequently,” he said. “They have a genuine belief in mentorship. My record is a representation of multiple generations, as exemplified by the MSU professors. The professors actually practice what they preach.”
One of his first major breaks came when Michael Dease, MSU’s professor of jazz trombone and DownBeat Magazine’s Critics Poll winner of Trombonist of the Year for three years running, invited Adleman to record in New York City when he was just 20 years old.
“Zach’s sharp drum set playing and positive spirit have translated well from the College of Music classrooms to the jazz clubs and recording studios of New York City,” Dease said. “He joined my band as a 19-year-old sophomore at MSU, and I’m glad to see him releasing his own music.”
The sense of community that MSU fostered carried over into the recording of WE MAKE: Stories for a New Day. The album’s rhythm section is comprised entirely of MSU alumni: Luther Allison on piano, Jared Beckstead-Craan on bass, and Adleman on drums.
“I feel like his compositions are a very honest and pure reflection of his heart and his mind and who he is as a human being,” said Allison, who has played with Adleman for the past eight years. “Any time you play his pieces, it speaks to his joy that he carries on a daily basis, the love and compassion that he shows to everyone else that he encounters.”
Zach Adleman’s parents, Beth and Bob Adleman, catered the all-day recording session, ensuring healthy food options to help maintain the musicians focus and energy. The Adleman’s have known some of their son’s friends and colleagues for years, making the recording session a comfortable, family-style experience for all.
Zach Adleman asked long-time friend and collaborator Isaiah Thompson to produce his debut album, and Thompson immediately dove in and gave it his all.
Creating the album was a family affair—Adleman’s parents catered the recording session, a one-day, 11-hour marathon. With a focus on high-quality food that would sustain the musicians without making them feel sluggish, the atmosphere was one of camaraderie and support, echoing the familial bonds Adleman feels with his MSU mentors. One in particular is Instructor of Jazz Drums Randy Gelispie, who everyone at the College of Music affectionately calls Uncle G.
“When I was a student there, Uncle G. talked a lot about the ride cymbal, which I loved. That’s one of the most foundational pieces of the jazz band,” Adleman recalled. “In my experience, other drummers would talk about the ride for just a few minutes, but Uncle G. and I could spend months talking about it. We studied it. We played it. I listened to him play. I played along while I listened to records. And we still talk. I call him when I can. He’s family.”
Adleman has taken that family feeling to heart, and he still draws from the lessons learned at MSU. One living example is how his new album underscores the power of persistence and optimism, something he has thought of frequently since the COVID-19 pandemic when, as bad as it was, people did amazing things to try to stay positive. His compositions carry with them both the weight of past struggles and the promise of a brighter horizon.
“I want people to continue that fervor of trying to connect, communicate, collaborate and listen to each other,” Adleman said.
The album is a reminder that, even in challenging times, music has the power to bring people together and tell stories that resonate with everyone.
“I hope people feel that they were taken on a journey and were given an experience bigger than music itself,” Adleman said. “I also hope that this serves as a ticket for me to continue doing this, because I love writing.”
Zach Adleman has received praise for his original compositions, witnessing positive audience reactions over the years. Now, his debut album has documented this period of life, and he plans to continue writing.
Teaching is a passion, too. He worked at the Stanford jazz workshop, and is currently a jazz instructor at Calhoun, a private music school in New York, as well as Jazz House Kids and the 92nd Street Y. Along with a hectic schedule of performing, teaching, writing, and recording, Adleman is eager to continue sharing his experiences and helping those entering the jazz scene.
“Believe in yourself,” is his main message. “Instead of getting caught up in questions like ‘can I do this,’ I would recommend responding like: ‘I’m going to do this.’ Then it’s just a matter of finding the how,” he said. “And the value of persistence is unbelievable. Don’t quit because someone says no.”
Most importantly, however, Adleman encourages students to remain open to unexpected opportunities, especially in the ever-changing landscape of jazz.
“Be open, because the guy that you see playing at this rinky-dink club on a Tuesday? Three weeks later, he might be doing a world tour starting at Madison Square Garden. That’s New York, and that’s real. I’ve seen that stuff happen,” he said. “So just be open to whatever gigs you get, whoever you meet. Enjoy the ride, because it can be challenging, but it’s so rewarding and so beautiful.”
Zach Adleman’s new album, WE MAKE: Stories for a New Day is available via Bandcamp for purchase and download. Videos and behind-the-scenes views can be found on Adleman’s web site.
