Hi, I’m Nick Adema, a Canadian trombonist and composer based in Ottawa. I love exploring different sonic environments and using the trombone in creative ways to express my musical ideas. Coming from the vibrant city of Ottawa, I enjoy embracing spontaneity and playfulness in my music, which has helped me become one of the more versatile trombonists from Canada.
I have had the privilege of leading bands and collaborating with talented musicians across Canada and Europe, recording albums, and touring in various countries. I also enjoy sharing my knowledge as a guest lecturer at several universities. Music is not just a career for me, but a lifelong passion to explore and innovate.
Experience Level
Language
Work Experience
Education
Qualifications
Industry Experience
The Adema Manoukas Octet is an energetic eight-piece ensemble co-led by Nick Adema and Alex Manoukas. All of the band members attended the University of Toronto together, and it was here where the band’s initial bond was formed. Over several years, that band has been regularly performing at the Rex Hotel in Toronto, performing a wide variety of arrangements to find the band’s sound.
Coming on the heels of his first full-length album demiLAN, (“teeming with originality and confidence” - Yoshi Wall, The WholeNote), trombonist Nick Adema has teamed up with saxophonist Alex Manoukas for a new recording project with their newly formed band the Adema Manoukas Octet. These eight young Toronto all- stars have been performing together in various combinations for years, providing an alternative perspective on the Canadian jazz sound. Together, they offer a glimpse of a new music full of blistering solos, thought-provoking melodies, and world-class ensemble playing.
olo improvised trombone with pedals.
Nick went on a little trip to Indonesia and to his surprise he returned from his journey a day late. Arriving in Amsterdam he drove to Buiksloterkerk Church to record music. He spent two days in isolation recording improvisations with his pedal board and the natural reverb of the room. Following this he moved back to Ottawa five days later.
Technical specifications: Rath R3, Colour Box, Strymon El Capistan, Strymon Blue Sky, Whamy 5, Microcosm, Rat, Coles close mic, Rhode NT5 ambient stereo mics.
Nick Adema explores the turmoil of life and loss
in the modern city on Urban Chaos
When life becomes chaotic, a strange city can be simultaneously the best and the worst place to find oneself. If all you want to do is be alone with your thoughts, a crowded, hectic metropolis can seem overwhelming; at the same time, there’s no easier locale in which to be anonymous, even while surrounded by other people.
Those were some of the impressions racing through the mind of trombonist/composer Nick (Nicholas) Adema as he put together the music for his ambitious new album Urban Chaos.
Adema lost his mother in late 2022, not long after relocating from Ottawa, Canada to Amsterdam. “Urban Chaos captures the feeling of moving back to the city after going through all of this mayhem,” Adema says. The album is a follow-up to its 2021 predecessor, DemiLAN, which was named for his mother (Demetria Langis) and created in parallel with her illness.
“I almost quit music when my mom passed away,” Adema continues. “This album is about the process of moving on and realizing that what’s done is done, while acknowledging all that she’s done to help me continue my music.”
Hire a Trombonist
We have the best trombonist experts on Twine. Hire a trombonist in Ottawa today.