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Tony Adamo: Miles of Blu
Tony Adamo
vocalsb.1965
James Brown
vocals1933 - 2006
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
pianob.1940
Tower of Power
band / ensemble / orchestrab.1968
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
vocalsTony 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).
Album information
Title: Miles of Blu | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Random Act Records
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