Representative Albums: "America," "Live at the Village Vanguard, Vol. 2," "City Gates"
Biography
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 Don Pullen) 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 Sam Cooke, 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 Roy Haynes, Gil Evans, and Art Blakey, among others. However, it was his association with Charles Mingus (1973-1976) that gave him his initial fame. After playing a bit with McCoy Tyner, Adams co-led a stimulating quartet with Don Pullen that made many records. Late in life, Adams (who enjoyed taking an occasional raspy blues vocal) teamed up with James Blood Ulmer in the group Phalanx, and occasionally played with Mingus Dynasty. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
George Adams's musical style was rooted in the blues and in American (especially black) popular music. As a saxophonist his greatest influences seem to have been Rahsaan Roland Kirk, with whom he played in Mingus's band on occasion, as well as the adventurous edginess of John Coltrane and Albert Ayler. He played with tremendous intensity and passion, as well as lyricism and subtlety. At times he bent over backwards when playing, almost ending up on his back yet somehow staying on his feet, such was his physical power. His singing varied from wild wailing blues to heartfelt and moving ballads.
Adams and Pullen shared a musical vision and their quartet comfortably straddled the range from R&B to the avant-garde. (The quartet was sometimes known as the "George Adams-Don Pullen Quartet", and sometimes as the "Don Pullen-George Adams Quartet"). After Adams' death, Pullen dedicated to his memory the CD Ode To Life, recorded by his African-Brazilian Connection, and in particular the beautiful ballad "Ah George, We Hardly Knew Ya".
One of his last recordings was America on the Blue Note label. This album consists of classic American songs like "Tennessee Waltz", "You Are My Sunshine" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" as well as a few original songs that articulate Adams's surprisingly positive view of his country and the gifts it had given him. It also includes "The Star Spangled Banner" and "America the Beautiful".
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