George Adams (April 29, 1940 – November 14, 1992) – Keep On Steppin' (1974)
This ultra-funky jam was the title track to the Fatback Band's fourth LP, the last album to feature the talented saxophonist and flutist who played with jazz greats like Mingus.
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George Adams played tenor sax and flute as a sideman to jazz greats including Roy Haynes, Art Blakey, Charles Mingus, and McCoy Tyner. He was also an early member of the New York City-based Fatback Band.
Born in Georgia, Adams began playing the piano when he was eleven, but took up tenor sax in high school. He learned the flute in college, and after graduating toured with Sam Cooke in 1961 before relocating to Cleveland, Ohio where he worked with organist Bill Doggett for several years.
In 1968, Adams moved to New York City and toured with Roy Haynes the following year. He played with Art Blakey and eventually joined Charles Mingus’ band. In the early seventies he joined the Fatback Band, a New York group put together by drummer Bill Curtis whose music combined jazz, soul and funk into an R&B stew.
Their very funky debut album Let's Do It Again was released in 1972 and featured three tenor saxophonists altogether. Adams laid down a magnificent solo on the superb track “Give Me One More Chance.”
For their 1973 album People Music, they recorded funky jams like the party anthem opening cut “Njia Walk (Street Walk),” the funky workout of a closing cut “Kiba,” and the very funky “Fatbackin’,” (written by Weldon Irvine, Jr.) which featured Adams on flute, including on its break that later became a favorite of Grandmaster Flash.
Another of the album’s highlights was the epic jam “Baby Doll,” which prominently featured Adams on flute and was written and sung by guitarist Johnny King.
Their fourth album Keep On Steppin’ (1974) was the group’s last album with Adams, although he continued performing with them on and off.
Keep On Steppin’ was full of funky numbers, including its opening cut “Mister Bass Man” and the laid back jam “Love.” The super funky title track was arranged by Bill Curtis. Released as a single, it hit #50 R&B.
Adams went on tour in Europe with Mingus in 1975, and that same year began recording with Gil Evans and releasing his own jazz LP’s as leader.
In 1976, he started performing and recording with McCoy Tyner, a collaboration that would last through the late eighties. He began having breathing difficulties in 1991, and passed the following year, gone much too soon at age 52.
Rest in Power, George Adams.
Further info:
“Music: The Fatback Band,” Routes, August, 1978.
“Obituary: George Adams,” The Independent (UK), December 9, 1992.
“Fatback: The Last of the Great Dance Bands,” by Robert Del, 5 Mag, December 16, 2016.
“The Fatback Band,” bio, FatbackBand.com
#soul #jazz #funk #FatbackBand #GeorgeAdams