Adam Rose & Mountain Jazz Quartet | Holler Serenade | June 27, 2026
Guitarist Adam Rose brings together Asheville’s jam band energy and straight-ahead jazz on his forthcoming album, recorded live in a single day with a newly assembled quartet. Built on groove, spontaneity and interaction, the record captures the sound of musicians meeting in the moment – balancing dance-driven rhythms with open-ended improvisation.
Holler Serenade is set for release on June 27th, 2026.
Now based in Asheville, North Carolina, Rose draws on the city’s mix of bluegrass, jam and jazz traditions. The music reflects that blend, combining melodic writing with looser structures shaped in performance. “I wanted to make an album that combined those flavours… with straight ahead NYC jazz,” he explains, bringing together elements of funk, groove-led writing and swing within a cohesive band setting.
Recorded with minimal takes and little pre-arranged material, the session leans into immediacy over refinement. “We hadn’t worked out the intros and endings before the session,” Rose says. “Hopefully the recording captures that freshness.” The result is a document of real-time interaction, where arrangements emerge naturally and the band’s character develops across the takes.
The quartet features bassist Steve LaSpina, drummer Jeff Sipe, and keyboardist Taylor Pierson, each bringing a distinct musical perspective. LaSpina’s background includes work with Stan Getz, Chet Baker and Jim Hall, while Sipe’s experience in the experimental and jam band circuit alongside the likes of John McLaughlin and Trey Anastasio adds a more open, unpredictable edge. Pierson, a regular presence across Asheville’s live scene, anchors the group with a flexible harmonic approach.
Tracks such as “Haywood Commons” reflect the local scene directly, drawing on the energy of West Asheville’s live music culture. Elsewhere, the material shifts between defined themes and more exploratory passages, with groove and interaction at the centre of the record’s sound.
Originally from Philadelphia, Rose developed his approach through jazz studies at the Philadelphia Clef Club and later at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. His work spans performance, composition, and production across jazz, film, and independent music.
With this release, Rose brings those experiences into a project that feels direct and unfiltered – rooted in collaboration, shaped by place, and driven by the possibilities of the moment.
Line up
Adam Rose | Guitar
Steve LaSpina | Bass
Taylor Pierson | Piano, Keyboards
Jeff Sipe | Drums
Track Listing
Sailing On the Potomac
Bye Bye Blackbird
Fog Valley Sunrise
Haywood Commons
Double Entendre
Little Ms. Understanding
Theresa’s Journey
The Turnaround
PR Quotes
Jazz Journal (UK)
“Stylishness and quality are timeless, and this album has both in plentiful supply.”
Making a Scene (USA)
“The quartet swings hard! It’s a great way to remind Adam Rose’s listening audience that he brings the best of both worlds to this project, blending funk, groove and Straight-ahead jazz in a smooth, cohesive way.”
Jazz-fun (DE)
“It combines the openness of the American jam tradition with the language of jazz and impresses with its warmth, naturalness, and infectious musical lightness.”
Musik an sich (DE)
“evokes the kind of music sometimes played by Pat Metheny: that light and airy flow with that very soft, almost buttery-smooth attack on the strings, a delicately percussive touch.”
Jazzism (NL)
“The music is like the setting: rolling, lyrical, with a spontaneous naturalness”
Jazz in Family (IT)
“Adam Rose creates a work that focuses on dialogue, groove, and the pleasure of mutual discovery.”
Take Effect (USA)
“A diverse outing that incorporates bluegrass and no lack of grooves, Rose and company flesh out a spontaneous, collaborative and really memorable brand of fusion.”
Paris Move (FR)
“Adam Rose’s live album blends jazz, bluegrass and funk with remarkable guitar virtuosity, offering an engaging showcase of improvisation, ensemble chemistry and melodic craftsmanship.”
La Habitacion del Jazz (ES)
“an album rich in ideas and musical virtuosity where Rose achieves what he set out to do: bring Asheville and New York together in the same space and allow them to meet.”
Az Samad Jazz (ID)
“this record is a fine exciting release that gives us a chance to discover both Adam Rose’s writing and playing.”
Jazz Views (UK)
“Holler Serenade does what Rose set out to do — it brings Asheville and New York into the same room and lets them find each other. That it all happened in a single day is impressive.”
Cuttings
