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 Thursday, 18 March 2010 |
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Clifford Adams: I Feel Your Spirit |
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Written by Carmel DeSoto
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Tuesday, 02 May 2006 |
 The reader of this article is very lucky to have happened upon this
informative treasure. No, you are not about to experience the
best written article ever, or the wittiest story. However, what
is presented here is the first time such an occurrence has happened and
you can be one of the first to experience this great new
happening. This article will introduce to you the first smooth
jazz--- trombonist. Yes, trombonist, Clifford Adams is about to set the
smooth jazz nation on fire and make the masses wonder why Kenny G ever
wanted to place that soprano saxophone at such a weird angle in his
mouth in the first place.
You’ve heard Clifford Adams play for years, a nameless sound pumping
through your stereo making you dance and smile ever since the first
time Kool & the Gang vibrated the woofers. Generations of
people are familiar with the Clifford Adams trombone solos on "Joanna"
from Kool & the Gang, "Someday We'll All Be Free/Save the Children"
from Regina Belle, and the much celebrated "Slam Dunk" released in the
spring of 1996 by Kool & the Gang Featuring Clifford Adams on the
"NBA at 50" multi-platinum selling album.
What you might not expect though is Adams has played with many of the
legends of jazz and I mean legends. Adams has played with Sonny
Stitt, James Moody, George Benson, Shirley Scott, Gene Ammons, Don
Patterson, and Charles Earland, who took young Adams out on the road.
While playing at Harlem's famed jazz spot, The Club Barron, Clifford
met many jazz greats such as Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, and more.
Clifford met, and most times even played with, almost all of his
heroes. The following artists are just some of the strong musical
influences in young Clifford's life: Clark Terry, J.J. Johnson, Curtis
Fuller, Slide Hampton, Julian Priester, Grachan Moncur III, Wayne
Henderson, Fred Wesley, Woody Shaw, Joe Henderson, Dizzy Gillespie,
Milt Jackson, Ron Carter, Thad Jones, Count Basie, Al Grey, McCoy
Tyner, Sonny Fortune, Abdullah Ibrahim, Lou Donaldson, Miles Davis,
John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk.
In 1973, Cliff Adams, Mike Ray, and Larry Gittens were the horn section
for The Stylistics world tour. Clifford went on a two-year stint with
the world famous Thad Jones and Mel Lewis Big Band. After playing with
Duke Ellington's Orchestra, then headed by the Duke's son Mercer
Ellington, he did a European tour with Max Roach, and then formally
joined Kool & the Gang.
After reading the above names and experiences one would probably get
the notion that this guy can play! And it is true, Adams sounds great
on his new smooth jazz release, I
Feel Your Spirit. A collection of twelve tunes that are
sure to keep the smooth jazz fan smiling and thinking, wow, smooth jazz
trombone does work, it sounds great.
Adams rich tone is framed by many styles on the new release. A very
recognizable and lyrical instrumental version of “Joanna” displays
Adams well crafted talent for style and melody. All of Adams
solos on the CD are lyrical and storytelling. A highlight on this
disc is the danceable track, “People Make the World Go Round.” Also,
the flow of the material and the arrangements yield a great listening
experience.
The title track “I Feel Your Sprit” sums up the over all mood and
energy of the entire CD. In a recent interview Adams spoke about what
resonates close to him, “Where there is love, you will find the Divine
Light of the Creator. Darkness cannot reign in the light. My prayer is
that we all stay in the infinite rays of the Creator's Love and Light
and dispel the darkness of hatred, prejudice and negativity throughout
eternity."
Do not miss out on the opportunity to experience Clifford Adams. I Feel Your Spirit will introduce
you to the feel good sounds of smooth jazz trombone and the
re-introduction of stellar musicianship by Adams. Yes, play on
brother. Play on!
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