Mark
Adams - Asceticism a portrait of Jazz
Asceticism?
What a peculiar word for such exquisiteness like a Smooth Jazz album. Mark
Adams doesn't even take this title probably seriously, cause we
see him on a photo laughing, taking a seat and drinking a glass of
red wine. Mark is one of these independant artists, which have already
played with great musicians like Roy Ayers, Hugh
Masekela, Noel Pointer, Tom Browne, Ronnie Laws and Angela Bofill.
This led to opening for Tito Puente and Roberta Flack at the JVC Jazz
Festival in 1991at Carnegie Hall. Mark is the keyboardist and pianist
on four albums of Roy Ayers: “Live in Berlin”, “Good
Vibrations”, “NASTE”, and “Spoken Word.”
In 2001 Mark
produced his debut album showing his great talents. The album starts
with Der Grüne Mann (the green man). The
theme is first played on piano with nice bridges played on sythesizer.
Mark comments: "In Germany, a green man represents the traffic
signal for walk and symbolically this track gives the signal for
beginning a totally fresh musical experience."
The following track Song For My Mother starts
with a classical fugue changing its character straight to a Smooth
Jazz tune. Anew Mark impresses with his skills and prestidigitation.
Colors
showcases Ken Admas' wonderful flute and piccolo play. Also
magnificient Dominique Kanza on guitar. This piece has a broad
orchestral background. Responsible for the string arrangement is Dave
Ernst.
Good potential
for a single has Free For Freedom with
Dave Jones phat bass groove and Mark Adams accentuated
piano play. I love these piano runnings.
Free
Day is a slow theme in the mood of Careless Whisper. Mark Adams
has a weakness for keyboard sounds like calliopead and synthbones. The
only shadow is the too quick fadeout of some tunes.
Adams
Apple is an uptempo funky tune with a strong sax part. Casey
Benjamin is the hero on alto saxophone.
If you await
that Remembering Breaux is a guitar song,
you are wrong. This memorial for the great guitar player Zachary
Breaux is solely played in by keyboards.
Seeing
In The Dark is a sparkle of loud tones and instuments,
dominated by Casey Benjamin's alto sax.
Asceticism
means abstemiousness and moderation, temperance and sobriety. In this
case we have to search for it in vain. Mark Adams keyboard play is
voluptously.
Reggae mood is
the invitation to the Club Carib. For
Mark its the starting spot for a broad piano improvisation.
Jazz
That Funk is starting with a remarkable allusion of an early
funk tune (GAP Band?) guiding to Mark's fusionesque piano style.
On his final
tune Work Song (Remix) Mark
uses the opportunity to proof anew his master-like abilities on piano and
keyboards.
Mark
Adams is a raw diamond. His debut album raises the anticipation of a
great career. Selling instrumental music is nowadays a difficult
business. But with his abilities it might be a little bit easier.
