Paul Adams – A Journey Of Music Dreams
7 min read
- Your collaboration with Elizabeth Geyer has spanned multiple albums, including “Imaginings,” “Deeper Imaginings,” and the award-winning “Sanctuary.” What sparked the initial collaboration, and how has your musical partnership evolved over the years?
The semi short version is me finding her solo music (Jazz / singer songwriter / Flugel Horn and Piano) and being really impressed. We communicated between the USA and Australia where she lives. She fell in love with an album I did called IN THE LAND WHERE I COME FROM and asked if I would help her with her next project called THE DREAM. During that time I introduced her to Bruce Lundvall at Blue Note who also loved her work. She flew to America and we started on the project with Bruce following. Unfortunately Bruce was ill and taken by Parkinson’s so we finished with just the two of us. During that time I was working the New Age release (IMAGININGS) and she joined in (Along with contributions from Pravin Godkhindi in India). Being a sophisticated “Jazzer” I was surprised she really dug it. Her contribution was so natural and right with little control by me. We then did DEEPER IMAGINIGS and SANCTUARY. It really feels good and natural. - “A Journey Of Dreams” is the title track from your upcoming album. Can you share the creative process behind this particular piece, especially considering the exotic instruments and the electric sitar you made during your time as a luthier?
We started out with an exotic sonic pad to improvise over. I then used a flute called an EZ Anasazi in a pentatonic frame. I then sent the music files to Australia for Elizabeth to add piano. Despite the 17 thousand mile difference it felt very natural and connecting. She has such a gift for “feel”. She also added vocalizations that I really loved. I also used a dobro with slide to create exotic decorations. The electric sitar I made was used very minimally on this tune. Mostly as part of the underlying pad. This instrument works well not just melodically but for underlying drones much like the Indian Tambura. It’s important to the both of us to create something soothing without loosing a sense of artistic richness. - The synergy between you and Elizabeth Geyer has been evident in the success of your albums, including winning the “Contemporary Instrumental Album of the Year” at the Zone Music Reporter Awards in 2015. How do you navigate the challenges of collaborating from opposite ends of the globe, and what strengths do each of you bring to the partnership?
It’s a miracle that we can send digital files back and forth in the snap of a finger. It’s an amazing time to be a composer. As I mentioned above, Elizabeth has an amazing ability to “feel” music that is deeply rich and heartfelt. She creates the balance between the new age and jazz genres. In Jazz there will be more usage of chordal complexity as well as key change modulations and rhythmic turns. From an artistic standpoint this adds a richness to the painters pallet. However, we wanted to have this music also have a sense of mysticism, chill and comfort. Especially in this current time. Our world is currently overwhelming in many respects (Culturally, socially, spiritually). I know we both hope the music is not just artistically rich, but helpful. - “Sanctuary” was recognized as the “Album of the Year” by the New Age Music Guide in 2022. How do you approach creating music that not only resonates with your audience but also maintains a timeless and spiritual quality, which has become a trademark of your collaborative work?
We go by our own “gut” intuition. What feels right for us. Music is a strange combination of art and commerce. The commerce is the hard part. My best friend David Hoffman was the Trumpet soloist for Ray Charles many years. We are always debating this. He believes commerce poisons art. I’m trying to find balance of recognizing that promotion and connecting with an audience is essential in being heard. And of course putting food on the table. So Elizabeth and I may make a few decisions we know will “connect” but do our best to not detract or lower the integrity and the music and the artistic process. - The new single, “A Journey Of Dreams,” is described as focusing on beauty amidst the chaos of the world. Can you elaborate on the inspiration behind this theme and how you translate it into the musical narrative of the piece?
I think it goes back to that balance of art and commerce as well as wanting to contribute something helpful to the world. I wish there was something powerful I could say to encourage people to be more tolerant and loving and assist in interpersonal maturity in dealing with all these tricky aspects about our ego. My dad was a Navy carrier pilot in WWII and made concrete contributions to the insanity of his time. Things were more black and white then. The difference between good and bad ws more easily defined. Maybe all Elizabeth and I can do is to contribute music that embraces us and helps us through this current time. The process of composing although difficult at times, can be so deeply gratifying to us. BUT we want it to be helpful to other as well. - Your music has garnered over 132 million streams on Pandora and regular programming on SiriusXM Radio. How does it feel to have such widespread recognition, and what impact do you hope your music has on listeners?
Very grateful ! Pandora and SiriusXM as well as ECHOES and many other radio outlets have been a huge blessing. SPOTIFY is where we struggle and hope that we can make deeper inroads there to reach even more people. I wish there was a more impacting word than GRATEFUL !! - Elizabeth Geyer’s solo album projects have been praised by Bruce Lundvall of Blue Note Records. How does her musical prowess contribute to the unique sound and emotional depth of your collaborative projects?
As I may have already mentioned, she has an ability to “feel” musical beauty. The jazzer in her doesn’t insist on forcing complexity, yet the richness she plays so naturally makes things very interesting. Her solo projects like albums like ON PATROL WITH THE JAZZ POLICE, THE DREAM and THE BRIDGE make use of complexity, but it never stands in the way of the story she tells. She has a deep gift of storytelling. It’s her sensibility of knowing what is right for the project at hand that allows her to become part of the inner process. - The new single is said to have an exotic nature and ethnic impressions. How do you incorporate these elements into your music, and what role do they play in conveying the intended artistic and spiritual pragmatism?
I studied “Ethnomusicology” in college and it nurtured a deepened interest in ethnic musical cultures from around the world. Whether Eastern Indian, Balinese Gamalon or Native American my love of all of them has shown to be an influence. I think their influence adds richness and depth to the music we do. For me personally it adds a sense of mysticism and the exotic. And perhaps it even reflects the unity that is underway in the current world condition. As we grow closer together in so many areas (The digital world, travel, communication etc) there will be difficulty, pain and resistance. Growing pains. We would like to think maybe what we are doing is helpful. - “A Journey Of Dreams” aims to create a sense of safety and home. How do you believe music has the power to evoke such emotions, and what message do you hope listeners take away from this upcoming album?
That sense of safety and home must come within us. Finding contentment from outside of the self isn’t lasting and leaves one vulnerable. Perhaps music can he an anchor or tool to be used to connect with that inner self. That sense of being OK within. I think the stronger we are within, the better able we are in dealing with outside difficulties. And currently, there are many outside difficulties. - As the world faces challenges and changes, you mention feeling a need to focus on the deep beauty we are all capable of. How does your music contribute to fostering a sense of interconnectedness and cultural understanding in the rapidly changing global landscape?
I have probably touched on this in precious answers. I would like to think that the music we make is about more than just pleasing us. But, we are human and have many lessons coming our way. Ha! But as I said, maybe the music can be a tool, maybe it can be an anchor to grasp while navigating our way though the wild world. Perhaps it can be a friend. A friend of solitude, safely and of being connected.
THANKS for such thoughtful and insightful questions. It was a real pleasure
For more information:
Official artist website – Paul Adams: www.pauladams.org
Official artist website – Elizabeth Geyer: www.elizabethgeyer.com
Paul Adams -Twitter: https://twitter.com/ppaul3
Paul Adams – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paul.adams.754/
Paul Adams – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ppaul3/?hl=en
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