About the Band

Tony Adamo: Miles of Blu (2013)

Long before rappers and scratchers, resurrected Mummies, and Lord Buckley's hipsters and flipsters, the ancient Greeks had a name for "cats" like Tony Adamo

Tony Adamo
b.1965
vocalist

 

—rhapsode. The homonym notwithstanding, a rhapsode was a speak-singer—who plucked his lyre and "spung" (spoke-sung) expressive tales of towering, powerful Gods and the tribulations of mortals below them. Pan pipes and percussion types might have accompanied a rhapsode (perhaps doing an early Greek version of James Brown

James Brown
1933 - 2006
vocalist

 

's "Famous Flames" or Adamo's hip crew here?).

With Miles of Blu,vocalist and modern day rhapsode Tony Adamo and his outstanding supporting musicians deliver a hip, poignant and exciting recording. He covers both slick original material and specifically salutes Tower of Power, James Brown, great Hammond B3 players, beboppers, and jazz-funk groups. Adamo's pungent yet poetic social commentary—performed and described as "hipspokenword"—glides over tight funk and jazz backgrounds.

As vocalist, Adamo's exciting, highly-energetic interpretations avoid any faux hip inflections. He swings soulfully heavy ("Ticking Clock"), has great rhythmic feel, and injects a soul vaccination across the date. His scripted dialog is powerful in presentation and content ("Sun-Ra Rockets to Mars"). There's no hand or lip jive; the "hipspokenwords" are performed as dit-dot tight as the horns and infectious rhythms behind him ("Ain't That a Groove"). He channels the "Beat" poets Jack Kerouac and Alan Ginsberg, and modern verbalists, Mark Murphy and Gil Scott-Heron. Adamo is way too sophisticated and on social point to be placed on the same street corner as "rap." His lines, inflected with the verbiage of the then-and-now hip, evoke and show an abundance of thought ("America R We Free?").

Adamo's entire support crew is superb and clearly dyed deep blue in the jazz-funk tradition. Laying down a solid, driving underbelly, drummer Mike Clark (of Herbie Hancock

Herbie Hancock
b.1940
piano

 

's "Headhunters" fame) shines. Trumpeter Tim Ouimette screams, leads and blows great jazz ("Miles of Blu"). The addition of Delbert Bump's B3 brings the R+B thing full circle ("Don't Change Horses") and Tower of Power

Tower of Power
b.1968
band/orchestra

 

's Stephen "Doc" Kupka makes a studio call, bringing his hat, black bag, and balls-to-the-wall baritone along.

While the Greek philosophers might have suggested we take all things in moderation, a very full serving of tasty jazz-funk and brilliantly performed verbal presentations are served on this "Blu"-plate special. It's a jazz-funk ear-feast. So, please pass the Ouzo, Plato.

Track Listing: JB; Miles of Blu; Funkin’ at the Chicken Shack; America R We Free?; BBQ; The Power of Funky Madness; Soul Vaccination; Don’t Change Horses; Ain’t That a Groove; Jack Kerouac, Jack!; Sun-Ra Rockets to Mars; What is Hip? The Other Side of Time; Ticking Clock.

Personnel: Tony Adamo: vocals, “hipspokenword”; Mike Clark: drums; Tim Ouimette: trumpet, trombone; Rick Gardner: trumpet (6, 7); Bill Harris: alto, tenor, baritone saxophone (1, 4, 14); Richie Goods: bass; Delbert Bump: organ; Steve Homan: guitar; Bill Summers: percussion (4, 9, 13); Rob Dixon: tenor, alto saxophone; Gary Milked: bass (4, 9), keyboards; Brett Palm: bass; Danny Drawer: guitar (14); Stephen “Doc” Kupka (7, 9); Tom Guarna: guitar (11, 13); Michael Wolff: piano (13); Kati Mac: background vocals (11); Brett Palm: bass (8, 12, 14).

Record Label: Random Act Records
http://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/musician.php?id=1728&width=1024
http://www.strokeland.com/StrokelandJazz/TonyAdamo/WhatIsHip/WhatIsHip.htm
http://randomactrecords.com/product/tony-adamo-miles-of-blu/
http://www.strokeland.com/StrokelandJazz/TonyAdamo/StraightUpDeal/StraightUpDeal.htm
http://www.criticaljazz.com/2013/05/tony-adamo-miles-of-blu-random-act-2013.html

 

Discography

change album image	Was out Jazz Zone Mad Label: Ropeadope Genres: Jazz Styles: Jazz Songs on the Album Track # Song Title Style Genre
change album image	Miles of Blu Details Label: Random Act Songs on the Album Track # Song Title Style Genre 1 Jb Jazz Jazz 2 Miles of Blu Jazz Jazz 3 Funkin'at the Chickin" Shack Jazz Jazz 4 America R We Free? Jazz Jazz 5 Bbq Jazz Jazz 6 The Power of Funky Madness Jazz Jazz 7 Soul Vacination Jazz Jazz 8 Don't Change Horses Jazz Jazz 9 Ain't That a Groove Jazz Jazz 10 Jack Kerouac, Jack! Jazz Jazz 11 Sun-Ra Rockets to Mars Jazz Jazz 12 What is Hip? Jazz Jazz 13 The Other Side of Time Jazz Jazz 14 Ticking Clock Jazz Jazz
change album image	What is Hip Details Label: Urbanzone Songs on the Album Track # Song Title Style Genre 1 Cold Duck Time (Get Your Groove on Line) Jazz Jazz 2 Rhythm of Your Love Jazz Jazz 3 Make Me a Memory Jazz Jazz 4 What is Hip? Jazz Jazz 5 Ecstasy Jazz Jazz 6 Eleanor Rigby Jazz Jazz 7 Rio De Janerio Blue Jazz Jazz 8 The Way You Do the Things You Do Jazz Jazz 9 Love Don't Get Jazz Jazz 10 Calling Jazz Jazz 11 Nine Miles of Blue Jazz Jazz 12 Mystery Jazz Jazz 13 This Time It's Real Jazz Jazz
change album image	Straight Up Deal Details Label: Urbanzone Songs on the Album Track # Song Title Style Genre 1 No Strings Hip-hop Rap/Hip-Hop 2 Passport Hip-hop Rap/Hip-Hop 3 In the Winelight Hip-hop Rap/Hip-Hop 4 Up in It Hip-hop Rap/Hip-Hop 5 Milestones Hip-hop Rap/Hip-Hop 6 Groove Therapy Hip-hop Rap/Hip-Hop 7 Hey Lou Hip-hop Rap/Hip-Hop 8 Mercy, Mercy, Mercy Hip-hop Rap/Hip-Hop 9 Autumn Leaves Hip-hop Rap/Hip-Hop 10 Midnight Cafe Hip-hop Rap/Hip-Hop 11 Wouldn't You Hip-hop Rap/Hip-Hop 12 Lolita Hip-hop Rap/Hip-Hop 13 Stolen Moments Hip-hop Rap/Hip-Hop 14 Speak Low Hip-hop Rap/Hip-Hop