Paul Adams (musician)
Encyclopedia
Paul Adams is an eclectic musician
, writer
and musical instrument builder. He
began his foray into the arts by making stringed musical instruments such as guitar
s, banjo
s,
Basses
, and Dulcimers after being introduced into the craft as a student of Ethnomusicology under Dr. Joel
Maring at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He has been commissioned to build instruments by Daryl Hall
, members of Stevie Wonder
's band as well as other well known musicians.
In the 1980s he decided to start composing music and got a label deal with Nature Recordings/ World Disc (Now defunct) – a popular New Age label. His first title Various Waves and was placed in the Top Five of the year by the popular syndicated Radio Show Musical Starstreams
. The San Jose California Metro claimed that “Adams is perhaps the most important New Age musician since George Winston.”
Adams left the label after his first release in order to produce music in genres other than strictly New Age. He spent some time working with John Golden of Centerfield Productions whose main focus was the band jazz band Steps Ahead
. Centerfield (Now defunct) re released Adams second album Wonder Dancing On Global Bop. After Centerfield folded, Adams took back control of his music.
In Tower Records Pulse magazine
John Diliberto
, the host of the Echoes (radio program)
wrote called his guitar playing on his second release Wonder Dancing On Global Bop “Willfully eclectic with scintillating fretwork immersed in Latin African rhythms.” His eight other album titles would fit in genres such as Jazz, World Fusion, Acoustic, Ambient, and Eclectic.
Adams also works as a producer and was part of the production team that released independent music titles by David Hoffman
who was the Trumpet Soloist and occasional arranger for The Ray Charles Orchestra until Rays death. They both tend to release music that is varied and eclectic. Adams started a sideline band called THE NEURONS with Hoffman that focused on more aggressive and exotic improvised Ethnic music designed to work with multi media. They worked extensively with The Illinois Ballet and live dance.
Adams is also a poet
and utilized poetic readings in some of his music. He has also worked as a writer
on various subjects such as mental health issues, as well as philosophical and spiritual topics. He has also interviewed such artists as Tony Levin and Kazu Matsui for various independent publications. His article titled The Power Of Limitation – a guitarists hand injury was popular among musicians. Adams drew upon his own experience as he lost a number of fingers in an accident. This inspired him to create alternatives in composing for the guitar. His primary medium is finger style guitar utilizing open tunings and is best exampled on his album A VIEW FROM THE PLAIN. He is missing his small finger on his fretting hand. The ends of his middle and ring finger were grafted from his leg.
Adams also releases music utilizing the Native American Flute and is played extensively by all the syndicated radio stations throughout the world. Due to his background in Ethnomusicology, his main interest is in integrating more exotic modes and scales along with the traditional Minor Pentatonic.
Adams cites his experience working in the mental health profession along with his music as being his deepest artistic influence.
Played on:
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and musical instrument builder. He
began his foray into the arts by making stringed musical instruments such as guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
s,
Basses
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, and Dulcimers after being introduced into the craft as a student of Ethnomusicology under Dr. Joel
Maring at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He has been commissioned to build instruments by Daryl Hall
Daryl Hall
Daryl Hall is an American rock, R&B and soul singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter and producer, best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of Hall & Oates . Hall scored several Billboard chart hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, and is regarded as one of the best blue eyed soul singers...
, members of Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
's band as well as other well known musicians.
In the 1980s he decided to start composing music and got a label deal with Nature Recordings/ World Disc (Now defunct) – a popular New Age label. His first title Various Waves and was placed in the Top Five of the year by the popular syndicated Radio Show Musical Starstreams
Musical Starstreams
Musical Starstreams is a terrestrial and internet radio program that first aired in the San Francisco bay area in December 1981...
. The San Jose California Metro claimed that “Adams is perhaps the most important New Age musician since George Winston.”
Adams left the label after his first release in order to produce music in genres other than strictly New Age. He spent some time working with John Golden of Centerfield Productions whose main focus was the band jazz band Steps Ahead
Steps Ahead
Steps Ahead is a jazz fusion group and the brainchild of vibraphonist Mike Mainieri. According to the liner notes of the group's 1983 debut album , entitled Steps Ahead, "Steps began as a part-time venture in 1979 at Seventh Avenue South, a New York City nightclub." The group began releasing...
. Centerfield (Now defunct) re released Adams second album Wonder Dancing On Global Bop. After Centerfield folded, Adams took back control of his music.
In Tower Records Pulse magazine
Pulse magazine
Pulse magazine is a weekly publication for general practitioners in the United Kingdom.It publishes news, features and comment pieces on clinical, political and financial issues relevant to GPs working in primary care. It is published in London by UBM Medica, a subsidiary of United Business Media,...
John Diliberto
John Diliberto
John Diliberto is an award-winning radio producer, music writer, and host of Echoes, a radio program on Public Radio International featuring ambient, downtempo music "soundscapes"....
, the host of the Echoes (radio program)
Echoes (radio program)
Echoes is a daily two-hour music radio program hosted by John Diliberto featuring a soundscape of ambient, space, electronica, and New Age music. The program features in-depth artist interviews and intimate "living room" performances. Interview subjects have included Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel,...
wrote called his guitar playing on his second release Wonder Dancing On Global Bop “Willfully eclectic with scintillating fretwork immersed in Latin African rhythms.” His eight other album titles would fit in genres such as Jazz, World Fusion, Acoustic, Ambient, and Eclectic.
Adams also works as a producer and was part of the production team that released independent music titles by David Hoffman
David Hoffman
David Hoffman is one of America’s veteran documentary filmmakers. During his 40-year career, Hoffman has made five feature-length documentaries including King, Murray, an experimental feature film about a Long Island salesman who goes to Las Vegas on a junket to gamble with other high rollers....
who was the Trumpet Soloist and occasional arranger for The Ray Charles Orchestra until Rays death. They both tend to release music that is varied and eclectic. Adams started a sideline band called THE NEURONS with Hoffman that focused on more aggressive and exotic improvised Ethnic music designed to work with multi media. They worked extensively with The Illinois Ballet and live dance.
Adams is also a poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and utilized poetic readings in some of his music. He has also worked as a writer
on various subjects such as mental health issues, as well as philosophical and spiritual topics. He has also interviewed such artists as Tony Levin and Kazu Matsui for various independent publications. His article titled The Power Of Limitation – a guitarists hand injury was popular among musicians. Adams drew upon his own experience as he lost a number of fingers in an accident. This inspired him to create alternatives in composing for the guitar. His primary medium is finger style guitar utilizing open tunings and is best exampled on his album A VIEW FROM THE PLAIN. He is missing his small finger on his fretting hand. The ends of his middle and ring finger were grafted from his leg.
Adams also releases music utilizing the Native American Flute and is played extensively by all the syndicated radio stations throughout the world. Due to his background in Ethnomusicology, his main interest is in integrating more exotic modes and scales along with the traditional Minor Pentatonic.
Adams cites his experience working in the mental health profession along with his music as being his deepest artistic influence.
Discography
- Various Waves
- Wonder Dancing On Global Bop
- A View From the Plain
- The Property of Water
- In the Land Where I Come From
- This Christmas
- Flute Meditations For Dreaming Clouds
- Heavens
- Dance
Played on:
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- From Energy to Stillness by David HoffmanDavid HoffmanDavid Hoffman is one of America’s veteran documentary filmmakers. During his 40-year career, Hoffman has made five feature-length documentaries including King, Murray, an experimental feature film about a Long Island salesman who goes to Las Vegas on a junket to gamble with other high rollers....
- Christmas In Your Heart by David HoffmanDavid HoffmanDavid Hoffman is one of America’s veteran documentary filmmakers. During his 40-year career, Hoffman has made five feature-length documentaries including King, Murray, an experimental feature film about a Long Island salesman who goes to Las Vegas on a junket to gamble with other high rollers....
- The Web Craig PeytonCraig PeytonMoving from music to film, Craig Peyton has charted a unique creative course. Peyton's production, writing, and arranging skills contributed to many music hits, including Peyton's own Latitude, 40 Degrees North. In the 1980s and 1990s Peyton worked with artists including James Brown, Melba Moore,...