Adam Smale 7-string Jazz Guitarist: (Solo/Duo/ Trio/Quartet)

Between the applause, the sound of his guitar, and even the stage itself, within the first few notes, a serious impact was made on a young boy—Adam Smale became hooked on music. Four years later, at age 12, a vision of becoming a professional guitarist came true, to much surprise to himself and his parents.Guitarist/composer Adam Smale tells stories with his music. His “pen” is a personally designed 7-string guitar, wielded with both virtuosity and creativity. His tales are woven from his rich imagination stoked by a wide variety of musical influences and his latest CD, Out of the Blue, fully attests to his compelling artistry.Raised in a small working class community in Canada, Adam’s roots first began in Country and Bluegrass. He took up the guitar at age 7 and a lifelong bond grew as was a personal commitment to the instrument. By the time he was 14, the budding guitarist was on his way to becoming a seasoned professional in different performing scenarios.The young guitarist eventually branched out to a variety of music. When he later discovered jazz his path took a profound turn. Jazz was a natural progression partially due to a somewhat naive belief that all musicians improvised previous to studying music at Humber College. Along with building on the influences with his first two guitar heroes, Chet Atkins and Eddie Van Halen, Adam forged a logical new direction for himself in the classic tradition of jazz. Charlie Parker, Ed Bickert, Pat Metheny, John Scofield, and pianist Bill Evans, soon became important influences.With Toronto as his home base, Adam eventually performed all over the globe, including South America, India and the Middle East, as well as some cross-Canadian tours gaining even more experience. He performed consistently and was a regular presence at the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival. Adam’s debut CD, Fun City was released in Canada in 2000 to extensive radio play to critical acclaim. His group was also featured at the prestigious Grand Prix du Jazz at the 2002 Montreal Jazz Festival. Ultimately it was the playing style of the legendary Lenny Breau that had the greatest impact. Not only in the direction of Adam’s music, but in the physical means by which he would choose to also express it. He then began to conceive the sound he is currently known for by returning to a thumb-pick and fingerstyle technique of his early years. Adam then also designed his two primary 7-string guitars, a custom-built electric and a self-built classical guitar to complete the process.In 2007 Adam left for Michigan where he received his Masters Degree in Jazz Performance at Western Michigan University in 2009. During this time he embraced jazz guitar masters such as Pat Martino, Tal Farlow, and Jim Hall. Adam then decided to move to the Jazz Mecca, New York City, where he remains.
Adam has written and published the book, New Approach to Scales for Guitarists: A Practical Modern Direction, that he feels will change the way guitarists organize and implement music scales on guitar. The book’s content is the nucleus of much of his musical material. Over the years he has also conducted master classes and seminars at Universities in the U.S. and Canada. He has taught at Guitar Workshop Plus, National Guitar Workshop, and has maintained private students over the years. His first U.S. CD, Out of the Blue, was released on Ropeadope Records and demonstrates his versatility and virtuosic artistry on guitar as well as his compositional skills, weaving intricate and compelling stories. Adam is currently focusing on touring, composing new material to record. While certainly containing modern elements, his music still holds the embryo of something that is pure and simple of heart that everyone can understand without being either overly simplistic or complex—a direct outgrowth from Adam’s early roots. It is therefore no surprise that he calls his music “Jazz for people who think they don't like Jazz.” Adam Smale is ready to establish his own place in the forefront of today’s guitar greats

BAND MEMBER BIOS:

Peter Brendler

Evan Hyde