''America'' is an album by saxophonist
George Adams which was recorded in 1989 and released on the
Blue Note label the following year.
The George Adams Homepage: Discography
accessed June 27, 2018
Reception
The Allmusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
review by Scott Yanow
Scott Yanow (born October 4, 1954) is an American jazz reviewer, historian, and author.Allmusic Biography/ref>
Biography
Yanow was born in New York City and grew up near Los Angeles.
Since 1974, he was a regular reviewer of many jazz styles an ...
states "This is one of tenor saxophonist George Adams' funnest records. He takes eight songs, all of which now qualify as American folk songs (along with two originals), and gives them melodic but inventive treatments. "... This CD is accessible, patriotic, and a highly recommended and continually surprising set".Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...
, Don Heckman called it "an unusual contemporary jazz outing" and wrote "Tenor saxophonist Adams takes an interesting risk with this collection of songs from what he calls the "mainstream of Americana." ... For the most part, it pays off. Adams' big blowzy sound and brusquely rhythmic articulation bring a vigorous, almost folk-like slant to these familiar songs".[Heckman, D]
Los Angeles Times Review
accessed June 27, 2018
Track listing
# " America the Beautiful" (Samuel A. Ward
Samuel Augustus Ward (December 28, 1848 – September 28, 1903) was an American organist and composer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, the son of a shoemaker, he studied under several teachers in New York and became an organist at Grace Church (Newar ...
, Katharine Lee Bates) − 3:59
# "Tennessee Waltz
"Tennessee Waltz" is a popular country music song with lyrics by Redd Stewart and music by Pee Wee King written in 1946 and first released in January 1948. The song became a multimillion seller via a 1950 recording – as "The Tennessee Waltz" â ...
" (Pee Wee King
Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski (February 18, 1914 – March 7, 2000), known professionally as Pee Wee King, was an American country music songwriter and recording artist best known for co-writing "Tennessee Waltz".
Pee Wee King is credited with ...
, Redd Stewart
Henry Ellis Stewart (May 27, 1923 – August 2, 2003), better known as Redd Stewart, was an American country music songwriter and recording artist who co-wrote "Tennessee Waltz" with Pee Wee King in 1948.
Biography
He was born in Ashland City ...
) − 6:48
# "Motivation" (George Adams) − 4:34
# "Old Folks at Home
"Old Folks at Home" (also known as " Swanee River") is a minstrel song written by Stephen Foster in 1851. Since 1935, it has been the official state song of Florida, although in 2008 the original lyrics were revised. It is Roud Folk Song Inde ...
" ( Stephen Foster) − 5:33
# "Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You
"Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You" is a 1929 song written by Andy Razaf and Don Redman. It was recorded by the Redman-led McKinney's Cotton Pickers on Victor on November 5, 1929 as "Gee, Ain't I Good to You."
King Cole Trio recording
Nat King C ...
" (Andy Razaf
Andy Razaf (born Andriamanantena Paul Razafinkarefo; December 16, 1895 – February 3, 1973) was an American poet, composer and lyricist of such well-known songs as " Ain't Misbehavin'" and " Honeysuckle Rose".
Biography
Razaf was born in Washi ...
, Don Redman) − 7:18
# " Take Me Out to the Ball Game" (Jack Norworth
John Godfrey Knauff (January 5, 1879 – September 1, 1959), known professionally as Jack Norworth, was an American songwriter, singer and vaudeville performer.
Biography
Norworth is credited as writer of a number of Tin Pan Alley hits. He wr ...
, Albert Von Tilzer) − 2:41
# " You Are My Sunshine" (Jimmie Davis
James Houston Davis (September 11, 1899 – November 5, 2000) was an American politician, singer and songwriter of both sacred and popular songs. Davis was elected for two nonconsecutive terms from 1944 to 1948 and from 1960 to 1964 as the ...
, Charles Mitchell Charles Mitchell may refer to:
* Charles Mitchell (footballer), British soccer player
* Charles Mitchell (academic) (born 1965), professor of law at University College, London
* Charles Mitchell (American football) (born 1989), American football pl ...
) − 5:05
# " Georgia on My Mind" ( Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell) − 8:14
# "Have You Thanked America?" (Adams) − 6:49
# "The Star-Spangled Banner
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics come from the "Defence of Fort M'Henry", a poem written on September 14, 1814, by 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key after witnessing the b ...
" (Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key (August 1, 1779January 11, 1843) was an American lawyer, author, and amateur poet from Frederick, Maryland, who wrote the lyrics for the American national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner". Key observed the British bombardment ...
) − 1:40
Personnel
* George Adams – tenor saxophone, flute, vocals
* Hugh Lawson – piano
*Cecil McBee
Cecil McBee (born May 19, 1935) is an American jazz bassist. He has recorded as a leader only a handful of times since the 1970s, but has contributed as a sideman to a number of jazz albums.
Biography Early life and career
McBee was born in Tu ...
– bass
*Mark Johnson – drums
References
{{Authority control
Blue Note Records albums
George Adams (musician) albums
1990 albums