Biography

Johnny Adams
The Great Johnny Adams Jazz Album
Rounder Perfect 10 series

Johnny Adams was one of the greatest singers to emerge from the classic rhythm and blues era, with a honeyed voice that could deliver a tender ballad as convincingly as a soul-testifying shout. This collection explores Johnny’s jazz side, in the company of such jazz greats as Dr. Lonnie Smith, Harry Connick, Jr., Houston Person, David Torkanowsky, Alvin “Red” Tyler and many of New Orleans’ leading musicians, along with several arrangements by Wardell Quezergue

Booklet:

1. Come Rain or Come Shine 5:28

2. Love For Sale 4:08

3. Angel Eyes 3:30

4. Why Do I 3:07

5. Ill Wind 3:16

6. Good Morning Heartache 5:14

7. Blue Gardenia 4:28

8. I Hadn’t Anyone ‘Til You 6:02

9. I Cover the Waterfront 5:58

10. Cookin’ in Style 3:15

Original recordings produced by Scott Billington



1. Come Rain or Come Shine 5:28
(Johnny Mercer-Harold Arlen/A M Music Corp., ASCAP)
From Rounder 11661-2125-2, Good Morning Heartache

arranged and conducted by Wardell Quezergue:

Johnny Adams vocal
Jamil Sharif trumpet
Clyde Kerr, Jr. flügelhorn
Maynard Chatters trombone
Joe Saulsbury, Jr. alto saxophone
Tony Dagradi tenor saxophone
Edward “Kidd” Jordan baritone saxophone
David Torkanowsky keyboards
James Singleton bass
Johnny Vidacovich drums

Recorded and mixed by David Farrell at Ultrasonic Studio, New Orleans, 1993


2. Love For Sale 4:08
(Cole Porter/Harms, Inc, ASCAP)
From Rounder 11661-2135-2, The Verdict

Johnny Adams vocal
Steve Masakowski acoustic 7-string guitar
James Singleton bass

Recorded and mixed by David Farrell at Ultrasonic Studio, New Orleans, 1995


3. Angel Eyes 3:30
(Matt Dennis-Earl K. Brent/Music Sales Corp., ASCAP)
From Rounder 11661-2144-2 One Foot in the Blues

Johnny Adams vocal
Dr. Lonnie Smith Hammond B3 organ
Jimmy Ponder guitar

Recorded and mixed by David Farrell at Ultrasonic Studio, New Orleans, 1996


4. Why Do I 3:07
(Roger Ebacher/Bo-Muse, BMI)
from Rounder 11661-2044-2, From the Heart

Johnny Adams vocal
Walter “Wolfman” Washington guitar
Craig Wroten piano
Alvin “Red” Tyler tenor saxophone
Darrel Francis, Sr. bass
George “Geeje” Jackson, Jr. congas
Wilbert “Stix” Arnold drums

Recorded by Jay Gallagher at Ultrasonic Studio, New Orleans, 1984
Mixed by Glenn Berger at Blue Jay Studio, Carlisle, Massachusetts


5. Ill Wind 3:16
(Harold Arlen-Ted Koehler/Fred Ahlert Music Corporation-S A Music Co., ASCAP)
From Rounder 11661-2144-2 One Foot in the Blues

Johnny Adams vocal
Dr. Lonnie Smith Hammond B3 organ
Jimmy Ponder guitar
Ed Petersen tenor saxophone
Shannon Powell drums

Recorded and mixed by David Farrell at Ultrasonic Studio, New Orleans, 1996


6. Good Morning Heartache 5:14
(Ervin M. Drake-Dan Fisher-Irene Higginbotham/Fisher Music Corp.-Lindabet Music Corp., ASCAP)
From Rounder 11661-2125-2, Good Morning Heartache

arranged and conducted by Wardell Quezergue:

Johnny Adams vocals
Jamil Sharif trumpet
Clyde Kerr, Jr. trumpet
Maynard Chatters trombone
Joe Saulsbury, Jr. alto saxophone
Tony Dagradi tenor saxophone
Edward “Kidd” Jordan baritone saxophone
David Torkanowsky keyboards
James Singleton bass
Johnny Vidacovich drums

Recorded and mixed by David Farrell at Ultrasonic Studio, New Orleans, 1993

7. Blue Gardenia 4:28
(Sidney Keith Russell-Lester/Lee/Harms, ASCAP)
From Rounder 11661-2135-2, The Verdict

Johnny Adams vocal
Harry Connick, Jr. piano

Recorded and mixed by David Farrell at Ultrasonic Studio, New Orleans, 1995


8. I Hadn’t Anyone ‘Til You 6:02
(Redd Evans-Arthur Kent-David A. Mann/Evans Redd Music Company, ASCAP)
From Rounder 11661-2125-2, Good Morning Heartache

Johnny Adams vocal and mouth trombone
Ralph Johnson tenor saxophone
David Torkanowsky piano
James Singleton bass
Johnny Vidacovich drums

Recorded and mixed by David Farrell at Ultrasonic Studio, New Orleans, 1993


9. I Cover the Waterfront 5:58
(John Green-Edward Heyman/Harms, Inc., ASCAP)
From Rounder 11661-2135-2, The Verdict

Johnny Adams vocal
Houston Person tenor saxophone
David Torkanowsky piano
James Singleton bass
Shannon Powell drums

Recorded and mixed by David Farrell at Ultrasonic Studio, New Orleans, 1995


10. Cookin’ in Style 3:15
(Percy Mayfield/Tangerine Music Corp., BMI)
From Rounder 11661-2144-2 One Foot in the Blues

Johnny Adams vocal
Dr. Lonnie Smith Hammond B3 organ
Jimmy Ponder guitar
Donald Harrison, Jr. alto saxophone
Ed Petersen tenor saxophone
Shannon Powell drums

Recorded and mixed by David Farrell at Ultrasonic Studio, New Orleans, 1996


Compilation by Scott Billington
Mastered by Jonathan Wyner at M Works, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Photography by Rick Olivier
Series design by Scott Billington and Devon Guillery