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Terry Adams: Terrible [Deluxe Edition]

By Dave Linn
February 19, 2024
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Terry Adams is best known for his work with the seminal band,

NRBQ

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">NRBQ (New Rhythm & Blues Quartet). Their self-titled debut (Columbia, 1969), included

" data-original-title="" title="">Sun Ra's "Rocket Number Nine." The follow-up was a collaboration with early rock legend Carl Perkins called Boppin' The Blues. In 1974 singer, songwriter, and guitarist extraordinaire, Big Al Anderson and drummer Tom Ardolino joined the band. For the next 20 years that lineup thrilled live audiences around the world. In 1994, Anderson (dismayed by the band's lack of success) left and was replaced by bassist's Joey Spampinato younger brother Johnny.

The quartet was known for its live performances, containing a high degree of spontaneity and levity, and blending rock, pop, jazz, blues and Tin Pan Alley styles. The band has never been easy to pigeonhole, with a repertoire that ranged from traditional folk-blues ("Dutchess County Jail") to jazz (Sun Ra and

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk) and novelty tunes (homages to the Three Stooges and pro wrestling icon Captain Lou Albano). They played standards ("Getting to Know You") and pub rock classics ("Me and the Boys," Green Light"). Their songs have been covered by a Who's Who of the pop music world. Additionally, Adams produced and wrote the liner notes for a Monk two-record set of previously unreleased recordings, Always Know (Columbia, 1979).

Adams was always the driving force behind the band and its musical direction. His unique piano approach would range from hard-driving rock, R&B and swing but was always quirky. Perhaps the best description would be to imagine Monk on a light dose of acid. So when Adams released his debut solo album, Terrible (New World Records, 1995) it came as no surprise that it was an eclectic hodge-podge of his various styles and influences. Well-known music journalist Peter Keepnews, who composed an essay for the original release, wrote "To the degree that labels count for anything, this is a jazz album. But it's not like any jazz album you've heard before because it's also the first Terry Adams album in the history of the universe." A remastered Deluxe Edition of the album with four bonus tracks lets us revisit this gem.

Adam's choice of sidemen for the project is telling. There are three alumni from Sun Ra's band,

Marshall Allen

saxophone, alto
b.1924

" data-original-title="" title="">Marshall Allen,

Tyrone Hill

trombone
1948 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Tyrone Hill and

Knoel Scott

saxophone, alto
b.1956

" data-original-title="" title="">Knoel Scott.

Roswell Rudd

trombone
1935 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">Roswell Rudd (whom Adams first met when they both worked with

Carla Bley

piano
1938 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Carla Bley's band in 1977) is also featured along with bassist

Greg Cohen

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Greg Cohen, best known for his work with

John Zorn

saxophone, alto
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">John Zorn.

Bobby Previte

drums
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobby Previte, drummer for

Jane Ira Bloom

saxophone, soprano

" data-original-title="" title="">Jane Ira Bloom and

Wayne Horvitz

keyboards
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Horvitz is here, as are two members of Whole Wheat Horns, NRBQ's occasional horn section. They are Adams' brother

Donn Adams

trombone
- 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Donn Adams on trombone and

Jim Hoke

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Jim Hoke on alto and flute.

Dave Gordon

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Gordon plays trumpet. Finally, (as if that were not enough) the other three members of NRBQ (the Spampinato brothers and Ardolino) appear on half the tracks on the album.

It opens with "Toodlehead," a simple, playful tune with Adams playing Japanese organ before switching to piano as the soloists begin. Hoke on soprano and Rudd on trombone give the song some meat. He returns on organ for his solo before the band comes back in.

There are a couple of ballads, "Venusian Sunset" and "Thinking Of You." The former had a wonderful horn arrangement and a hint of

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington's "Take The A Train." Allen enters full force with

Eric Dolphy

woodwinds
1928 - 1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Dolphy-like exhortations before Adams plays a deceptively simple solo. The latter is taken mid-tempo with a horn section of alto, trombone and trumpet. "Yes, Yes, Yes" is a trio recording with Cohen on bass and Previte on drums, providing tasty support. It alternates between the angular and percussive style Adams is known for and straight-ahead swing.

Adams shows his bop chops with "Say When," an up-tempo track with driving piano and drums supported by five horns and flute. Scott's alto and Gordon's trumpet get to solo, while "Brother" showcases Scott on soprano in a quartet setting.

Not surprisingly, there are a few Monk-influenced tracks here. "Hilda" is a simple melody played as a quartet. Rudd on trombone and Adams are the primary soloists. "I Feel Lucky" is another Monk-style track, both in melody and approach. It features NRBQ with Hill's trombone and Gordon's trumpet.

"Out The Windo" is a bluesy bop blowing session. It features Hill, Gordon and Allen on the frontline with NRBQ's backup. "These Blues" closes the original release and is a barrel-house blues. It is the only vocal on the record and Adams shows here what he does best. NRBQ provides the foundation while four horns, two harmonicas and the piano get to jam with Adams singing his goofy blues lyrics.

Finally, there are two meditative Japanese-type folk songs. "Little One" is highlighted by the ethereal sound of the three flutists underscored by two trombones and Adams's harmonica subtle chordings. That is followed by "Distant Instant." Adams performs it entirely solo on dulcitone (an instrument where sound is produced by a range of tuning forks that vibrate when struck by felt-covered hammers activated by the keyboard). The four bonus tracks don't add much new. There's another solo dulcitone piece, a second take of "Say When" plus another original showcasing Adams abilities on the electric DX7. The highlight is "Wrong Gasket," which Adams previously released on Ten By Two (Edisun, 2005) a duo album with Marshall Allen.

This is an engaging and eclectic potpourri of music and styles. Sun Ra said about Terry Adams, "Terry is well-known because he has true talent, not because he's aggressive. He cares about music. He hears music. He may not speak the same language as most people, but he can reach them anyway." Added to the previously mentioned Keepnews line, "it's not like any jazz album you've heard before -because it's also the first Terry Adams album in the history of the universe," sums up the essence of this record beautifully.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Toodlehead; Venusian Sunset; Say When; Yes Yes Yes; Hilda; Brother; I Feel Lucky; Out The Windo; Little One; Distant Instant; Thinking Of You; These Blues; Wrong Gasket; Thedy; Kalimba; Say When (Take 2).

Personnel

Terry Adams

piano

Marshall Allen

saxophone, alto

Tyrone Hill

trombone

Knoel Scott

saxophone, alto

Roswell Rudd

trombone

Greg Cohen

bass, acoustic

Bobby Previte

drums

Dave Gordon

trumpet

Pete Toigo

bass

Donn Adams

trombone

Jim Hoke

saxophone, alto

Joey Spampinato

bass, electric

Johnny Spampinato

guitar, electric

Tom Ardolino

drums

Additional Instrumentation

Terry Adams: keyboards (1-8, 10-16), harmonica (9); Marshall Allen, alto sax (2, 8, 11, 12, 13) flute (3, 9, 16); Tom Ardolino: drums (1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14); Greg Cohen: bass (1, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11); Dave Gordon: trumpet (2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12,16); Jim Gordon: harmonica (12); Tyrone Hill: trombone (2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 16); Jim Hoke: alto (3, 12, 16), soprano sax (1, 6), flute (9), harmonica (14); Bobby Previte: drums (3, 4, 5, 9, 16); Roswell Rudd: trombone (1, 5); Knoel Scott: alto sax (3, 16), flute (9); Donn Adams: trombone (3, 9, 16); Joey Spampinato, bass (2, 7, 8, 12, 14: Johnny Spampinato: guitar (2, 7, 8, 12); Pete Toigo: bass (3, 9, 16).

Album information

Title: Terrible [Deluxe Edition] | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Omnivore Recordings

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