Artist

George Adams

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A passionate tenor and flute player who was not shy to break up chordal improvising with an unexpected scream or roar, George Adams was an original voice who (like his friend <a href="spotify:artist:0zdSGWAAxDPCaU0Xa3FTQP">Don Pullen</a>) crossed over several stylistic boundaries. He started on piano, but by the time he was in high school he was playing tenor in funk bands. In 1961, he toured with <a href="spotify:artist:6hnWRPzGGKiapVX1UCdEAC">Sam Cooke</a>, and in 1963 Adams moved to Ohio where he played with organ groups for the next few years. In 1968, he relocated to New York where he played with <a href="spotify:artist:1tGINpEJVUsQXssRC28ugo">Roy Haynes</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7g9DeYASD3RzlT4kDchsQZ">Gil Evans</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:6QQuESLtKhAOcLW2TeWC2t">Art Blakey</a>, among others. However, it was his association with <a href="spotify:artist:1W8TbFzNS15VwsempfY12H">Charles Mingus</a> (1973-1976) that gave him his initial fame. After playing a bit with <a href="spotify:artist:2EsmKkHsXK0WMNGOtIhbxr">McCoy Tyner</a>, Adams co-led a stimulating quartet with <a href="spotify:artist:0zdSGWAAxDPCaU0Xa3FTQP">Don Pullen</a> that made many records. Late in life, Adams (who enjoyed taking an occasional raspy blues vocal) teamed up with <a href="spotify:artist:1f1FGHLhOigcRYNI5pcHuh">James Blood Ulmer</a> in the group <a href="spotify:artist:2PqdwD9Jm2P8RnbZhvrhHB">Phalanx</a>, and occasionally played with <a href="spotify:artist:76RVMB4iAPdPJvuTFPkHQ1">Mingus Dynasty</a>. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi

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