PAUL ADAMS
Genres: Jazz Related Improv, Composition • United States

Adams' multifarious past was birthed from a musical father and artistic mother. "Dad introduced me to Louis Armstrong and Besse Smith. Mom would paint, have a glass of wine and float through the house listening to Liszt and Beethoven. I've loved the romantic composers ever since. I've always loved big band jazz and am proud that my cousin Mike Wallace was trombonist with Stan Kenton for many years. Slowly , other influences like Pete Seeger, The Beatles, Zappa, Cage, Terry Riley and many others took root. Eventually Adams enrolled as a student of Ethnomusicology under Dr. Joel Maring at Southern Illinois University where he became interested in building ethnic and exotic musical instruments. Having received commissions from such luminaries as Daryl Hall, members of Stevie Wonder, The Pointer Sisters, and others was a rich reward in itself but, "making music was really my first love - I just needed to read more...