Since the early 1990’s, the piano sounds of Mark Adams have flooded the airways with artists such as Bell, Biv, Devoe, Mary J. Blige, Eyrah Badu, Savion Glover and many others. His unique studio tones have a way of ripening everything in their path. Although Hip-Hop paved the way, opening doors that welcomed in his stellar talent for entertaining, it’s his passion for Jazz that will keep you excited about all he has to offer. His latest is “Embellishments”, a collection of smooth Jazz idioms that feature a piano player at his best. The album is crafted with the delight of real instrumentation and not watered down tones that just any old musician can belt out. This album gives Adams’ the opportunity to enjoy delivering his craft with passion and confidence and for sure you will be delighted to welcome any project that bears his name.
Piano players are a dime a dozen, some good and some not so good, but Mark Adams is spectacular at what he does, and his music continues to compliment that. “ I studied Classical growing up, “says Adams. “I was influenced by Dennis Moorman, Ron Carter, and my idol and inspiration, Roy Ayers. This is what I call good Jazz Music. The musicians of my time, I consider good Jazz musicians, who were not only creative, but leaders in their crafts”. In efforts to continue what legends such as Moorman started, Adams has taken his skill and ability to the classroom. He’s currently on staff at York College (CUNY), where he teaches music theory, piano, jazz style and techniques, jazz improvisation and keyboard harmony. “I want to give our youth some of the opportunities that I had, and it’s getting harder and harder because of the budget cuts and all of that. So outside of my day-to-day job, I teach two times a week, giving kids private lessons, and instruction for free. President Obama sees the importance of preserving music in our schools, and a lot of people do, then there are a lot of people who do not. So there is really no real music anymore. And it’s not the kid’s fault; this is just the times in which they live. Also our Black schools get very few instruments because of budget cuts. So in providing classes for free, this is something that I like to do to kind of give back.”
When it comes to the music recorded for his latest, “Embellishment”, Adams’ explains, “Again, we don’t have a lot of that (real Jazz) right now, and I’m trying to keep it alive. One great thing about my career is that I’ve been able to play with many of the greats, including Roy Ayers. This album for me is well rounded. It gave me an opportunity to play what I felt and do it the way that I wanted to do it. Music and entertainment is about balance. That is important for young people to know. Music is like human nature. You don’t have to read music before you can play it. It’s a feeling, an emotion and that’s what I like to do with music”. Singles on the album include “Lady in My Life”, ‘Round Midnight”, “ All The Things That You Are”, “ Dedicated To You”, the lead single, “ Embellishments”, “If I Ruled The World”, “ Marleigh”, which features Jonathan Quash and Roy Ayers. Other singles are “ Mona Lisa”, “ Virtuous Patience”, “ Flamingo”, “ Angels Sing”, “ Final Answer” and “Stellar By Starlight”, which round out a very interesting set. “ My listeners are 18 years of age and up. Jazz Music is getting less and less airplay, and I’m very grateful for platforms like the Internet. People who have never heard of me before are discovering my music on the Internet. And it has it’s good and bad points, but it allows the world to see and hear you immediately. This will be the thing that keeps the new artists going. I know there are still real Jazz lovers out there who want an alternative, and that’s what I provide with Jazz music”.
In the past many followers of Adams have recognized his work on such productions as the Savion Glover produced and directed, “5 Guys Named Moe”, and “Hoofin and Bangin”, which have become Off Broadway Classics. Adams’ has also been seen playing piano in films such as “The Prince of Central Park”. But it’s his current work that has him excited,” . “Yes, it’s been real nice to be part of Roberts Music Group, which was formed by Barry Roberts. The label has a few new artists other than myself developing, and we’re getting ready to do some big things. I know we have a new record for 2012, with a new DJ Jazz project with a few Hip-Hop artists. Our goal is to bring some of the younger minds back to Jazz. Jazz started as Dance music and has evolved over the years into a variety of styles. And because Jazz is loosing its’ prominence of the past, I’m taking it upon myself to keep it alive. Again music is all about being grounded, and it’s sorry to say, but because a lot of the music programs in the schools are being cut, our African American kids are suffering the most. The cuts to the arts are so drastic that our kids don’t have a chance”.
Recently Adams participated in the Berks Jazz Festival in Reading, PA., along with such legendary artists as Joe Sample, Welton Felder and Wayne Henderson. To learn more about Pianist Mark Adams, visit, http://www.smooth-jazz.de/Artists4/Adams_Mark.htm or http://www.myspace.com/markadamssje
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