Who Was George Adams?

May 21, 2025

Who Was George Adams?

The reason you may not be familiar with George Adams or his music is that much of it was recorded in Italy. Born in Covington, Ga., in 1940, the tenor saxophonist and flutist did most of his recording as a leader or co-leader in a range of Italian studios.

Adams is probably best known for his work with Charles Mingus, including his terrific solos on Changes One and Changes Two, both released in 1975. His finest work was co-leading a quartet with pianist Don Pullen that featured drummer Dannie Richmond (all three were Mingus alums) and bassist Cameron Brown. They recorded 12 albums between 1979 and 1987 and continued to collaborate until 1992.

George Adams died that year at age 52, following a respiratory illness.

In tribute to Adams as a leader and co-leader, give a listen:

Here's the 1975 album Jazz a Confronto #22, with George Adams (ts,fl,p,vcl), Don Pullen (p), David Williams (b) and Dannie Richmond (d)...

Here's Suite for Swingers in 1976, with George Adams (ts,vcl), Don Pullen (p,el-p), David Friesen (b), Dannie Richmond (d) and Afonso Vieira (perc)...

Here's A Spire from the 1979 album Sound Suggestions, with Kenny Wheeler (tp,flhrn), George Adams (ts,vcl), Heinz Sauer (ts), Richie Beirach (p), Dave Holland (b) and Jack DeJohnette (d)

Here's the 1979 album All That Funk, with George Adams (ts), Don Pullen (p), Cameron Brown (b) and Dannie Richmond (d)...

Here's the album Paradise Space Shuttle from 1979, with George Adams (ts,fl,vcl), Ron Burton (p), Don Pate (b), Al Foster (d) and Azzedin "Niles" Weston (perc)...

Here's the title track from Earth Beams in 1980, with George Adams (ts,fl,vcl), Don Pullen (p), Cameron Brown (b) and Dannie Richmond (d)...

Here's The Clocker from Hand to Hand in 1980, with Jimmy Knepper (tb), George Adams (ts,fl), Hugh Lawson (p), Mike Richmond (b) and Dannie Richmond (d)...

Here's the title track from Breakthrough in 1986, with George Adams (ts), Don Pullen (p), Cameron Brown (b) and Dannie Richmond (d)...

And finally, here's Billy Joel's Just the Way You Are, from Old Feeling, Adams's final album, in 1991, with Marvin "Hannibal" Peterson (tp), George Adams (ts,vcl), Jean-Paul Bourelly (g), Santi DeBriano (b) and Lewis Nash (d). Click "Watch on YouTube" in embedded screen...