It’s midnight… there’s still possibility in the air and energy in your bones… you grab your iPod to search for the right soundtrack… Tony Adamo's WHAT IS HIP? will be the one you want for such a soulful night. A richly sophisticated, musky collection of 13 intoxicating tracks. The former radio announcer turned Hollywood agent turned singer/songwriter has gathered together his original seductive tunes with some of his favorites including The Beatles “Eleanor Rigby,” Randy Crawford’s classic “Rio de Janeiro Blue” and of course the album’s namesake, Tower of Power’s “What Is Hip?” It’s a raw, sexy and funky blast alluding to the past with a scintillating jazz sensibility that heats up the vibe intensely… the word ‘smoldering’ comes to mind. Organic ingredients include A-listers Jerry Stucker, Steve Gadd, Neil Larsen, Freddie Washington and TOP’s Doc Kupka. Jazz lovers and unique vocal aficionados who appreciate edgy and interesting voices like Lou Reed and Tom Waits’ will dig what Tony’s laying down here… hipness is what it is!
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A beat poet for the new generation?  Or a jazz-funk crooner?  Take your pick.  I think that either one of these characterizations could easily describe Tony Adamo.  Tony comes to USNewJazz.com with two tracks from his recently released CD – “What is Hip”


“What is Hip?”
When I first heard this cover of the Tower of Power song from 1973, it brought back memories of other spoken word songs.  However, Tony’s offering is not as “gimmicky” as these other songs.  There is a strong sense of cool sophistication in the way he delivers the lyrics.  It doesn’t hurt that he has a set of smooth pipes.  It also doesn’t hurt that a great group of musicians that add so much to this song backs him.  A special “thumbs up” to Sandy Griffith, whose background vocals give this song a real (for lack of a better reference) “Motown Feel”.


“Cold Duck Time”
Tony does a laid-back and funky version of this Eddie Harris and Les McCann song from their 1969 album - “Swiss Movement”.  On this track, Tony shows (once again) his smooth vocals.  Melecio Magdalugo on sax is a great foil for Tony’s vocals.  Neil Larsen on organ brings an undercurrent of soul to the party.  This is without a doubt a fine tribute to one of jazz’s classic tracks.


Jeff’s Favorite:  “What is Hip?”


Jeff’s Final Thought:  For me,  Tony’s renditions conjure up visions of the classic “cocktail party”.  Others have called his music a combination of the big band and sound with a seasoned Vegas lounge singer.  I agree with those comparisons.  However, it is much more than that for me.  Taking a quick tour of this CD, you will find a number of good versions of classic songs.  Some of the standouts include “Make a Memory”, “Calling” and an interesting version of the Beatles “Eleanor Rigby”.  The combination of smooth vocals, spoken word and, solid arrangements make this album complete. 


I am really having a hard time thinking of contemporary comparisons for Tony.  I think that he is without a true equal.  Others have said that you could compare him to Tom Jones or Lou Rawls.  I’ll throw Dean Martin into that mix.  Still, there really is no comparison.


Jeff Niziol
February - 2011
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