George Adams (musician)

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For other uses of "George Adams", see George Adams (disambiguation).

George Rufus Adams (29 April 1940 Covington, GA - 14 November 1992 NYC, NY) was a American jazz musician who played tenor saxophone, flute and bass clarinet. He was also known for his idiosyncratic singing.

He is best known for his work with Charles Mingus, Gil Evans, Roy Haynes and in the quartet he co-led with pianist Don Pullen, featuring bassist Cameron Brown and drummer Dannie Richmond.

His 1979 ECM record, Sound Suggestions, is unusual because it teams Adams up with musicians such as trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, Heinz Sauer, pianist Richie Beirach and bassist Dave Holland who tend to play in a different style than the majority of Adams's recorded work. To listen to Adams in a more familiar context, try his records with Charles Mingus, or Don Pullen.

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.

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".

George Adams was a member of the band that played Epitaph by Charles Mingus.