George Adams Quintet ‎

Included in the “cosmic” section of Chee Shimizu’s Obscure Sound disc guide, Paradise Space Shuttle is tenor saxophonist George Adam’s first U.S. release as a bandleader. Adams was once noted as “one of the most underappreciated side-men in music today” and has played with everyone from Charles Mingus, to Cecil McBee, and was also a regular member of McCoy Tyner’s band. Across the album’s six-tracks, Adams flows freely through a number of styles including hard bop, ballads, samba jazz, and cosmic jazz. The album’s highlight is the last track “Invisible Funk-a-Roonie Peacock,” a wild and cosmic 14-minute funk excursion which features Adams’ flute, lyrics, and vocals. When asked what that title meant, Adams laughs, “Wellll… like, you take a stroll through in any big city, not through the red light district necessarily… but to areas where people are dressed certain ways, and are into a funk mood, worried about each other… that’s the picture I’m trying to create here.”

– Phil Cho

Recommended – B1 City of Peace, B2 Invisible Funk-a-Roonie-Peacock