Michael Adkins

MICHAEL ADKINS is an emerging saxophonist and composer, currently living in New York City. His latest recording release entitled Michael Adkins Quartet- Rotator on hatOLOGY 660 is an inspired blend of new and original jazz sounds featuring drum legend Paul Motian. Michael grew up near Detroit, Michigan in a town called Sarnia, Ontario. He bought his first saxophone at the age of 14. Having taught himself how to play the instrument, he performed with various local bands and by the time he was eighteen he left home to pursue formal studies in Boston and at Berklee music school.

Michael grew up near Detroit, Michigan in a town called Sarnia, Ontario. He bought his first saxophone at the age of 14. Having taught himself how to play the instrument, he performed with various local bands and by the time he was eighteen he left home to pursue formal studies in Boston and at Berklee music school. Apparently, even then, the young saxophonist style was somewhat controversial. As he started exploring musical possibilities of extending and fusing different elements, Michael created a personal musical vocabulary free from the prevailing conventions of harmonic and melodic structures.

After moving to New York City, he was fortunate enough to find a core of talented musicians, who embraced his music. They spent a great deal of time improvising and rehearsing.

Things changed dramatically for Adkins in 2005 with the release of his debut album, Infotation, and soon thereafter, he could not be ignored. Now a second album, Roator, featuring the legendary Paul Motian on drums alongside, Russ Lossing on piano, and John Hebert on bass.

The musical connection between drummer Paul Motian and the saxophonist was immediate from the first bar of the recording session. Paul Motian's incredible artistry and deep openness made its legendary presence felt on the recording session that day in January. Since neither bassist or drummer functioned in a conventionally rhythmic sense and with the support of pianist Russ Lossing providing immense chordal harmonies, the band members were given tremendous room in which to improvise and to interact.

Infotation is the name given to the trio recording project written and produced by Michael Adkins. The quest began in 2000 and the initial expedition took six months to complete. This was the production of the debut album, Infotation, which was conceived and recorded in its entirety, by Michael, Ian, and John in New York. The idea was to create an album heavily influenced by the sounds of the city, with many connecting themes manifesting throughout the 8 songs and over the entire album. Also influenced by that improvised noise you get only in Manhattan. Michael set out to incorporate busy, but open forms and sounds, to keep a haunting blues-like energy threaded through the album as a way of presenting the energized state of mind and thought during overlapping moments of solitude and big city stress. A live to two track studio setting, new all original tunes and an energizing group connection were the perfect ingredients for the Infotation EP. One three hour rehearsal and two studio sessions were all that was needed to lay out the entire album from start to finish. The connection was immediate. Within the first bar of the first rehearsal for infotation it was quite apparent that something special was taking place. Adkins felt fortunate to be able to document this experience.