ARTHUR ADAMS "STOMP THE FLOOR" Source: Big City Rhythm & Blues Date: 04/2010 Writer: Roger White

Arthur Adams originally came from Medon, Tennessee, traveled throughout the south before moving to Los Angeles in the late sixties.  His soulful smooth rhythm & blues vocals combined with his jazz influenced guitar, while paying respect to his early gospel roots, made him a popular mainstay of the blues scene in Los Angeles. His first album was “It’s Private Tonight” in 1972 and he's done extensive session work for Jimmy Smith, Nina Simone, Quincy Jones, Lowell Fulson, The Crusaders, Bonnie Raitt and has also been the house bandleader at B.B. King’s blues club in Universal City California. His song writing won him honors from "Somebody Is Gonna Miss Me" for Sam Cooke, "Truck Load of Loving" for Albert King and the Grammy award-winning "Love and Peace" for Quincy Jones. Arthur Adams appeared on Delta Groove’s very first effort “That Represent Man” by The Mannish Boys and with his latest recording "Stomp The Floor" who better to represent him then Delta Groove. This CD is deeply infused with a southern soul groove with some jazz licks to add a touch of  spice. Arthur wrote a dozen new songs and produced along with Lou Castro who also plays occasional bass. The band is filled out with Hense Powell on keyboards, the bass of Reggie McBride and drums from James Gadson. Adams.

The bass line and synthesizer leads you into“Stomp The Floor”  as the smooth soul vocals build to a shout and the guitar takes a turn towards jazz in a forceful strut. The guitar runs accentuating the lyrics of the hard luck story “You Can't Win For Losing”  and the hard times tales are brought up to date on “I Know What You Mean” with the feel of a contemporary Curtis Mayfield it's soulful blues.  Arthur takes on the persona of a youthful B.B. King on “Don't Let The Door Hit You” his voice and guitar emulating his friend while the progression of the horns flows over the keyboards.  Leaving those rough times behind the upbeat silver tongued love song “So Sweet” has some tasty licks. With the  instrumentals “You Got The Right,”  you'll cruise along on it's southern soul groove with a touch of California sun and“Around The Sun” is as bright as a spring morning.  Arthur's gospel roots shine through with blissful heartfelt vocals on the devotional “Callin' Heaven” and his Christian sensibilities color his take on the business of capitalism and social injustice it's created with the “Nature Of The Beast.”  His melancholy plea of “You Are Invited” is one man's painful plea at his solitary  party with the cry of the guitar hitting home the message of loneliness that is overcome with the jazzy pop feel of “Thrive On Your Vibe.”  The final number on the CD the instrumental, “Blue Roots” with jazzy guitar infused with a steady beat and light touch of the keys that pulls everything together and a good way to close out the set.

This combination of earthy southern soul and slick urban jazz may put off a hard core Chicago blues fans, but it's well worth taking the time to check it out because  it's just another shade of the blues.