George Adams (musician) facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids George Adams
Adams performing on July 6, 1976, in New York City
Background information
Birth name	George Rufus Adams
Born	(1940-04-29)April 29, 1940 Covington, Georgia, United States
Died	November 14, 1992(1992-11-14) (aged 52) New York City, United States
Genres	Jazz, hard bop, post-bop, avant-garde jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer
Instruments	Tenor saxophone, flute, bass clarinet
Labels	Blue Note, Atlantic, Timeless, Soul Note, Palcoscenico, Horo, ECM
Associated acts	Charles Mingus, Don Pullen, Gil Evans, Roy Haynes, Dannie Richmond, Cameron Brown, John Scofield, McCoy Tyner, James Blood Ulmer, Phalanx

George Rufus Adams (April 29, 1940 – November 14, 1992) was an American jazz musician. He was famous for playing the tenor saxophone, flute, and bass clarinet. He also had a unique singing style.

George Adams worked with many important jazz artists. These included Charles Mingus, Gil Evans, and Roy Haynes. He was also a leader of a popular jazz group. This group was called the George Adams-Don Pullen Quartet.

Biography

Early Life and Career

George Adams was born in Covington, Georgia, on April 29, 1940. He started playing piano when he was eleven years old. In high school, he switched to the tenor saxophone. Later, he studied at Clark College. There, he learned to play the flute from Wayman Carver.

As a teenager, George Adams played music with local R&B bands. In 1961, he went on tour with singer Sam Cooke. At this time, Adams lived in Cleveland. He spent a lot of time studying and playing with organ trios. He worked with pianist and organist, Bill Doggett. They played music that mixed rhythm and blues with jazz.

In 1968, Adams moved to New York City. He wanted to join the city's growing jazz music scene. A year later, he toured with Roy Haynes. He played with Haynes until 1973. After that, he performed with Art Blakey. Soon, he joined Charles Mingus' band. He played with Mingus until 1976.

Working with Charles Mingus

George Adams first played with Mingus on the album Mingus Moves in 1973. Other musicians on this album were Ronald Hampton, Dannie Richmond, and Don Pullen. Adams also played on other Mingus albums. These included Mingus at Carnegie Hall, Changes One, and Changes Two.

In 1975, Adams toured Europe with Mingus. During this tour, he made his first recordings as a band leader. He recorded with Don Pullen, Dannie Richmond, and bassist David Williams. In the same year, Adams also began working with Gil Evans. This partnership lasted until 1978.

Collaborations with Gil Evans and McCoy Tyner

Adams first played with Gil Evans on the album The Gil Evans Orchestra Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix. This album featured jazz versions of songs by rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix. Songs like "Angel" and "Voodoo Child" were on the album. George Adams continued to record with Gil Evans. He played on Evans' album There Comes a Time in 1975.

In 1976, Adams started playing with pianist McCoy Tyner. They played together on and off until the late 1980s. In 1977, George performed with trumpeter Marvin Hannibal Peterson. This was at the Antibes Jazz Festival in France. He also played on Tyner's album The Greeting in 1978.

The George Adams-Don Pullen Quartet

In 1979, Adams and Don Pullen started their own group. It was a quartet with Dannie Richmond and bassist Cameron Brown. In December 1979, George recorded the album Paradise Space Shuttle. This was with his own quintet. It included pianist Ron Burton, drummer Al Foster, bassist Don Pate, and percussionist Azzedin Weston.

Adams' playing on the song "Paradise Space Shuttle" was very special. He used many different sounds and styles. He showed off a lot of saxophone history in just a few minutes.

In 1980, Adams and Dannie Richmond recorded the album Hand to Hand. This album featured trombonist Jimmy Knepper, pianist Hugh Lawson, and bassist Mike Richmond. In August 1980, Adams and Pullen recorded Earth Beams. The group played very well on the album's main song. Adams' strong playing made the song sound rich and full. Dannie Richmond's drumming held the whole group together.

In 1983, Adams also started playing with other musicians more often. He recorded with trombonist Craig Harris on his album Black Bone. The next year, George played with the Mingus Dynasty band. In April 1985, Adams and Pullen recorded Live at Montmartre. This album was released in 2000. Guitarist John Scofield played as a guest on it. The group was especially good on the song "Well, I Guess We'll Never Know."

After a short drum introduction, the group played a lively jazz tune. Adams and Scofield played the main melody together. This made the song sound very powerful. Adams' solo was strong and confident. Scofield's playing gave George a solid base to build his music on.

The next year, Adams and Hannibal Peterson recorded More Sightings. In 1987, George recorded Where Were You? with the group Orange Then Blue. He also joined the band Phalanx that same year. Phalanx included drummer Rashied Ali, bassist Sirone, and guitarist James Blood Ulmer. They released the album Original Phalanx.

Later Years

In 1988, Dannie Richmond passed away. The Adams/Pullen group then briefly played with drummer Lewis Nash. After that, the group broke up. Adams then started a new quartet. It included Cameron Brown, Hugh Lawson, and drummer Gregory Hutchinson.

In the same year, George recorded an album of calm and spiritual songs called Nightingale. He played with Lawson, Sirone, and drummer Victor Lewis. The album had songs like "What a Wonderful World" and "Moon River." Also in 1988, the Phalanx album In Touch was released.

George Adams passed away in New York at age 52. He had been sick for about a year.

His Music Style

George Adams in Half Moon Bay, California, with the George Adams-Don Pullen Quartet, including Cameron Brown and Dannie Richmond, 3/13/88

George Adams and Don Pullen shared a special way of making music. Their quartet played many different styles. They could play everything from R&B (a type of popular music) to avant-garde jazz (a very experimental and new style). Sometimes their group was called the "George Adams–Don Pullen Quartet." Other times, it was called the "Don Pullen–George Adams Quartet."

After Adams died, Don Pullen made a CD called Ode To Life in his memory. A song on the album, "Ah George, We Hardly Knew Ya," was especially for him.

One of Adams' last recordings was America on the Blue Note record label. This album had classic American songs. These included "Tennessee Waltz" and "You Are My Sunshine." It also had some of Adams' own songs. These songs showed his positive feelings about his country. The album also included "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "America the Beautiful."

Adams was also part of the band that played Epitaph by Charles Mingus.

Discography

As a Leader

Jazz a Confronto 22 (Horo, 1975)
Paradise Space Shuttle (Timeless Muse, 1979)
Sound Suggestions (ECM, 1979)
Hand to Hand – with Dannie Richmond (Soul Note, 1980)
Melodic Excursions – with Don Pullen (Timeless, 1982)
Gentlemen's Agreement – with Dannie Richmond (Soul Note, 1983)
More Sightings – with Hannibal Peterson (Enja, 1984)
Nightingale (Blue Note, 1989)
America (Blue Note, 1989)
Old Feeling (Something Else, 1991)

With the George Adams-Don Pullen Quartet

All That Funk (Palcoscenico, 1979)
More Funk (Palcoscenico, 1979)
Don't Lose Control (Soul Note, 1979)
Earth Beams (Timeless, 1981)
Life Line (Timeless, 1981)
City Gates (Timeless, 1983)
Live at the Village Vanguard (Soul Note, 1983)
Live at the Village Vanguard Vol. 2 (Soul Note, 1983)
Decisions (Timeless, 1984)
Live at Montmartre – with John Scofield (Timeless, 1985)
Breakthrough (Blue Note, 1986)
Song Everlasting (Blue Note, 1987)

With Phalanx

1986 Got Something Good for You (Moers Music)
1987 Original Phalanx (DIW)
1988 In Touch (DIW)

As a Sideman

With Gil Evans

There Comes a Time (RCA, 1975)
Priestess (Antilles, 1977)
Gil Evans Live at the Royal Festival Hall London 1978 (RCA, 1979)
1981 Lunar Eclypse (live in Europe 1981)
Live at Sweet Basil (Gramavision, 1984 [1986])
Live at Sweet Basil Vol. 2 (Gramavision, 1984 [1987])
1987 Live at Umbria Jazz: Volume 1 and 2

With Craig Harris

Black Bone (Soul Note, 1983)
4 Play (JMT, 1991)

With Roy Haynes

Hip Ensemble (Mainstream, 1971)
Senyah (Mainstream, 1972)

With Cecil McBee

Mutima (Strata-East, 1974)

With Charles Mingus

Mingus Moves (Atlantic, 1973)
Mingus at Carnegie Hall (Atlantic, 1974)
Changes One (Atlantic, 1974)
Changes Two (Atlantic, 1974)

With New York Unit

Oleo (CBS/Sony, 1989)
Blue Bossa (Paddle Wheel, 1990)
Tribute to George Adams (Paddle Wheel, 1991)

With Don Pullen

Jazz a Confronto 21 (Horo, 1975)
Tomorrow's Promises (Atlantic, 1977)

With James Blood Ulmer

Revealing (In + Out, 1977)

With McCoy Tyner

The Greeting (Milestone, 1978)
Horizon (Milestone, 1979)
Things Ain't What They Used to Be (Blue Note, 1989)

With Ravi Shankar

Jazzmine (Polydor, 1980)