Marc Adams just may be the hardest working keyboard man in New Orleans and he rides hard on this solo outing.
One of the busiest sidemen in the City, playing and recording with Marva Wright, Bryan Lee, Amy and the Hank Sinatras, Brint Anderson, Cyril Neville, and George Porter, Jr., to mention a few, Adams takes his rightful place alongside other Crescent City masters such as David Torkanowsky, Dr. John, Jon Cleary and the late, great Sammy Berfect.
This CD reveals all sides of the multi-talented, hard working keyboardist. Adams Rides Again is well put together, well recorded and produced (thanks Chris Polacheck). Adams’ fine songwriting holds as much water as the thoughtful covers he has chosen to include on the project, the most outstanding being the Doc Pomus/Mac Rebennack classic, “Must Be a Better World Somewhere.”
The CD is down from the get-go. It starts on a low, funky groove on the title cut and then covers the gamut from straight-up funk, through all kinda rhythm plus blues, to rock ‘n’ roll. Adams sticks pretty close to his B-3 throughout the recording but throws in some well placed piano on a rockin’ “Satisfy Suzy” and a sort of second-line-driven “Keep the Train Rolling.” He mixes it up with other keyboards as well and displays some funky finesse on “Spooky.”
Adams even manages to push his rather mediocre voice to some fairly stunning heights—his vocals are always heartfelt, witty and gritty. In addition, he receives superb support from Jon Cleary’s drummer, Jeffrey “Jelly Bean” Alexander, and bassist, Jim Markway.
The focus of this CD is, however, where it should be, on Adams’ masterful organ playing. Adams has created and developed his own sound on an instrument that often defies individualization. Any diehard aficionado of contemporary New Orleans music should by now be able to easily identify a Marc Adams performance, no matter who the front man or woman may be.
Finally, we get a chance to listen to Marc Adams, Front Man, and hear what’s only been hinted at while he’s paid his dues on the backline for so many others.
