musical biography

I studied drums with Lou Donders in London, Ontario as a young child.  Lou was a jazz drummer and introduced me to a world of new music such as Miles Davis and John Coltrane.   At the age of 11, we went together to a drum workshop by legendary jazz drummer, Alan Dawson, at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto.  In grade 10, I won a prize for snare drum performance in a marching band.  Jazz became a growing hobby and over the years, I built up a huge collection of vinyl and CDs.  Initially this was primarily free jazz from the 1960's but it has stretched back to post-Bird bebop and forward to the current crowd.   My favorite drummers include:  Alan Dawson, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Roy Haynes, Jack deJohnette, Ed Thigpen, Max Roach, Andrew Cyrille.  In 2005, I started playing the vibraphone and have enjoyed Walt Dickerson, Steve Nelson, Bobby Hutcherson

performance

School Daze - a quartet with Randy and Herb Bayley and Norbert Mazi.  The group was originally conceived as a tribute to the Steve Lacy School Days quartet (1963).  The group performs the music of Thelonious Monk, Coltrane, Shorter, standards and original compositions in a freebop style.  The band has played at the University of Western Ontario, the World Transplant Games, Museum London and at the Michael Gibson Gallery.

Marginal Donors- a doctor's rock band that played medical conventions (2000 - 2003).  The band received a lot of publicity (CBC National News) and played in Washington and Boston.  The band reunited for the World Transplant Games.

Eric Stach - London's longest standing free jazz improvisor, I have played with Eric at a weekly gig at the Home Restaurant in London (2004) and with his Free Music Unit and his own performance space on Clarence St

Other jazz gigs have been with Steve Smith, Jon Feldman,  Rob Thibert, Chris Norley, George Mitchell, Paul Stevenson, Jesse Ross, Kyle Brenders, Glen Hall, Don DiCarlo, John Kenny, Conrad Good, David Lee, Michael Lynn, Geoff Johnson, MJ Izerda.

recordings

Paul Adams Quartet – My Foolish Heart

Paul Adams, David Lee, Peter Gossage, Conrad Good 

Norbert Mazi Quintet - Tenor Madness
Norbert Mazi, Chris Norley, Troy Neeb, Jon Feldman, Paul Adams

Boxing Day Quartet - Green Dolphin Street
Jon Feldman, Peter Gossage, Norbert Mazi, Paul Adams

Footprints
Rob Thibert, Jon Feldman, Norbert Mazi, Paul Adams,

Lonnie's Lament

Randy Bayley, Conrad Good, Paul Adams

Eric Stach Quartet - Message from HOME
Eric Stach, Paul Stevenson, Kevin Muir, Paul Adams

Marginal Donors - Unchain my heart
Heather Ross, Paul Greig, Mark Cattral, Mick Woodhouse, Paul Adams, Julian Kerr

Downstairs Blues Upstairs

Glen Hall, Paul Adams, David Lee

bookings

Contact Paul Adams at padams@uwo.ca