Johnny Adams › The Verdict

Personnel: Johnny Adams (vocals, whistling); Carl LeBlanc, Anthony R. Brown, Steve Masakowshi (guitar); Scott Billington (harmonica); Tony Dagradi (soprano saxophone); Houston Person (tenor saxophone); David Torkanowsky, Harry Connick, Jr. (keyboards); James Singleton (acoustic bass); Chris Severin (electric bass); Shannon Powell, Billy Kilson (drums); Michael Skinkus (percussion, congas); David Farrell (percussion); Tara Darnell, Charles Elam III, Pamela Landrum, Earl J. Smith, Jr. (background vocals).

Recorded at Ultrasonic Studios, New Orleans, Louisiana from June to August 1994. Includes liner notes by John Sinclair.

Veteran R&B singer Adams' second jazz album continues in the tradition of its predecessor, which is to say that it contains one non-jazz ringer; here, it's the slow gospel workout "Come Home to Love" (co-written, of all people, by longtime Burt Bachrach collaborator Hal David). The rest of the album, however, is all jazz, with Adams in fine form on standards including Cole Porter's "Love for Sale." Most of the backing is by a highly sympathetic small combo, although Harry Connick Jr. does accompany him on solo piano on two songs. Adams himself contributes a few of his trademark mouth trombone solos, and on "You Always Know Me Better," one of his far too infrequent electric guitar workouts.

Genre:

• R&B / Soul

Music Categories:

• R&B: New Orleans

Product Series:

• Rare & Hard-To-Find Audio CDs