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Wednesday night Tanaka will be at Heaven Gallery to take part in a record-release celebration for The Art of Dying (Delmark), a surprisingly swinging session led by bassist Jason Ajemian early in July 2007, as Tanaka’s departure loomed (and Ajemian prepared for his own move from Chicago to New York). Billed as Smokeless Heat for this show (after the album’s lengthy closing track), the group is basically the trio of Tanaka, Ajemian, and superb tenor saxophonist Tim Haldeman, with support from guitarist Matt Schneider, trumpeter Jaimie Branch, and vibist Jason Adasiewicz (playing marimba).
Ajemian wrote many of the album’s catchy and often pretty themes, but lots of the credit for the record’s success should go to the three guests, who add wonderful harmonic detail and extra melodic lift. The performances are a little rough around the edges here and there–likely due to lack of rehearsal, a persistent problem with folks who don’t make enough scratch with their music and have to spread themselves a little thin with various projects–but that’s easy to overlook given the lyrical, tender playing and sharp tunes.
