Jump Shot by John Adams

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Biography

As an accomplished acoustic and electric bassist, John Adams is one of the Southwest's most versatile and in-demand jazz, pop, and studio musicians. He currently leads various performing groups. John served as Music Director and performed weekly for three and a half years at Dallas' prestigious Crescent Court Hotel. Adams holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of North Texas, where for ten years he was the jazz bass professor. He is also active as a producer/arranger, a composer, clinician, and an instructional author.

John toured extensively with jazz great Woody Herman and has also backed vocalists Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Wayne Watson, and Sandi Patti, and jazz artists such as Randy Brecker, Marvin Stamm, Bill Mays, Carl Fontana, Chet Baker, Clark Terry, and Dave Liebman. His broad musical background has also included extensive orchestral and show work.

Adams' debut CD, "Jump Shot," ('96) features New York and regional artists, and showcases his formidable writing skills. "Fly By Night" ('99) features members of John's exceptional acoustic-jazz quartet in an intimate club setting, and the compelling, "With You In Mind" CD ('01) was released nationwide (with airplay on over 130 stations), and features top musicians from Dallas, Austin, and L.A., and "The John Adams Group - Live!" ('04), captures the intensity and variety of John's five-piece group in concert. The latest release, “Trios,” (’06) features five different combinations of spectacular jazz trio performances, and received airplay on over 160 stations nationwide.

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Band Biography

Warren Bernhardt/Piano – A resident of Woodstock, New York, Bernhardt records and leads tours with groups of his own in both the acoustic and electric jazz idioms. The most recent of Warren Bernhardt’s 14 CDs, “The Family Album,” has stayed high on the jazz and adult-contemporary charts, and receives frequent air-play on a wide array of stations nationwide. As a sideman Warren has toured and recorded with Jack DeJohnette, Gerry Mulligan, Michael Mainieri, Carly Simon, Liza Minelli, and others. He has also been involved in the commercial recording business in New York city for many years, including performing for the sound tracks of dozens of major motion pictures. Since 1993 Warren has been the music director and pianist for the world tours of the pop group “Steely Dan” and Art Garfunkel. He is an extremely versatile, energetic, and yet lyrical pianist.

Chris Seiter/Trombone – As a four-year veteran of the UNT One O’clock Lab Band (including two tours of Europe), Chris and John studied at UNT at the same time. Chris’s subsequent five-year stint in New York city found him with some of the world’s finest musicians, most notably as a member of Toshiko Akiyoshi’s, Bob Mintzer’s, and Mel Lewis’ big bands. Though currently maintaining a career in the computer business, Chris is one of DFW’s most respected trombonists, performing regularly with Dave Zoller and Pete Peterson. Chris’s exceptional facility and creativity make him an enjoyable member of any ensemble.

Ed Soph/Drums - His drumming provides a rare and dynamic combination of technical virtuosity, rhythmic ingenuity, and musical sensitivity. A native of Houston, Ed Soph studied classical percussion as well as jamming with local jazz greats Arnett Cobb, Jimmy Ford and Don Wilkerson. As an alumnus of North Texas State's One O'Clock Lab Band, Ed moved on to New York. From there he toured and recorded internationally with jazz legends such as Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Bill Evans, Joe Henderson, Dave Liebman, Slide Hampton, Lee Konitz, Phil Woods, and many others. Since returning to Texas in 1987, Ed Soph serves as head of the jazz percussion department at the University of North Texas, and maintains a busy schedule as a performer, recording artist and clinician nationwide.

Marvin Stamm/Trumpet - Throughout his distinguished career, Marvin Stamm has been praised for both the art and the craft of trumpet playing. Originally from Memphis, Stamm settled in New York in 1966, where he quickly established himself as a busy jazz and studio trumpeter. His big band experience has ranged from Woody Herman and Stan Kenton to the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, and Duke Pearson's Big Band. He has also recorded with jazz stars such as Bill Evans, Stanley Turrentine, Charles Mingus, and Michael Legrand. Mr. Stamm has also performed on numerous pop/rock recordings of artists such as Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Paul Simon, Quincy Jones, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Barbara Streisand, and Lena Horn. Since the early 1980's, Marv Stamm has developed his solo-artist career, including concerts around the U.S. and Europe, and the release of five CD's of his own, including "Machinations", "Stammpede," "Bop Boy," and "By Ourselves."

Greg Waits/Trombone – Another alumnus of the UNT jazz program and the One O’clock Lab Band, Greg has performed in a broad spectrum. He was a member of West Point’s premier jazz band, “The Jazz Knights.” Greg has also done tours with Columbia Artists’ “Big Band Cavalcades,” and stints in the bands on the cruise ships “SS Norway,” and “SS Constitution,” and has spent extensive time performing and recording in various European settings. Greg’s outstanding technique on this difficult instrument has also put him in the bands of Woody Herman and Harry Connick, Jr.

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