Marcus Adams

A thrilling performer and one on the rise, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist soul/jazz artist Marcus Adams is a sign that the new crop of smooth jazz artists can certainly carry the torch. Working on his sophomore studio album, he combines R&B;, Soul, and Jazz to create songs that takes the listeners on a musical ride of the highs of love and depths of pain in life. His friendship with Grammy nominated producer Demonte Posey led to the release of his heralded freshman release entitled ‘Suddenly’. The project propelled Adams into the national spotlight. The jump from a beloved local act in Milwaukee, WI to a favorite performer in jazz venues across the nation proved to be the right path for Adams to establish his unique sound and brand. Following the release, Adams toured the nation and created an avid and loyal following.

Adams is an artist and producer that has shared the stage with and for some notable household names. Honing his craft in church, he established himself as an intricate member of Christian Faith Fellowship Church’s band under the direction of the late maestro Cornell Thigpen. While there, he produced a project for his sisters, ‘A Touch of Faith’, that eventually earned him and the group a Stellar Award nomination. Adams would go on to establish himself as a force in the gospel industry while working for and with notables such as Fred Hammond, Victor and Cedric Caldwell, Ben Tankard, and the late Reggie White. During this time, his primary focus was piano, guitar, and production. It wasn’t until randomly listening to famed saxophonist David Sanborn’s ‘Chicago Song’ that Adams knew he had to return to his true love of the saxophone. “Besides my experience of working with so many great artists, I think I bring a lot of musical integrity to the table. My greatest gift is not simply the ability to play the sax, but to connect emotionally with listeners—to create songs that can touch people.” Marcus explains, “It’s all about being connected in the moment with others and ‘Suddenly’ is exactly the response I want people to feel when they listen, like a breath of cool, crisp fresh air”. This is the motivation behind Adams’ freshman release.
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In a recent radio interview, Adams said he believes that the idea of winning a Grammy is a great honor by one’s peers, but the most important thing to him is seeing the way his music can inspire people and change their ways of understanding. The six infectious tracks on his sophomore release ‘Dream Again’ have the power to do just that, starting with the perfectly titled “Heartbeat,” which begins the journey with a vibrant soulful melody sang by him, a thumping groove and rich soaring sax textures. Adams is all about love and passion on “Tonight”, a sizzling r&b; influenced ballad featuring an emotional trumpet accompaniment by Lin Rountree and subtle guitar nuances by guitarist Nils. “Leave it Alone” is a peek into the ups and downs of love as Adams and jazz artist “Angela Rene” sings to a grooving beat featuring hypnotic piano textures provided by Nate Harasim and rocking guitar riffs by Nils. Named after a jam session with a friend, “Tj’s Groove” is an inviting soprano-driven melody enhanced by a grooving bass line and subtle trippy synth effects. Adams explains the romantic tribute ‘My Everything’ is to be viewed this way: “There is a single woman that can please you in every way. The challenge is finding her. The joy is in living life with her.” “Dream Again” wraps with the project title tune, a story of Adams’ personal struggles with mental health and a tribute to Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. Adams is currently preparing to tour in the fall of 2019.

Born in the small town of Greenwood, Mississippi, where he spent part of his childhood, Adams wrote his first song at age eight. An early love of gospel was a natural outgrowth of his religious upbringing, and he was influenced by Al Green, James Cleveland, The Caravans and The Winans. Hearing alto sax legend David Sanborn, however, put the dream of becoming a sax player front and center; Adams’ father purchased an alto at a local pawnshop and by 8th grade, Adams was already being courted by colleges for his musical ingenuity. At 14, he moved with his family to Milwaukee and became a standout musician at Vincent High School, winning numerous awards. After his experience producing his sisters and working with Reggie White, Adams began pursuing his career as an instrumentalist. In addition to his passion for music, Adams is also a mental health advocate which is the story behind the title song.