Don't Say It's Tony Adamo And The Headhunters

Mike Clark, legendary drummer and former member of Herbie Hancock's Headhunters band, can now add another name to his illustrious music career as the Funk Wizard of Manhattan. In addition to producing his new discovery, singer/nu-hip spoken word artist Tony Adamo's CD, Clark brought in four members of the Headhunters - Bill Summers, percussion; Rob Dixon, horns; Richie Goods, Bass; Derrick Gardner, trumpet - to play and finish out the recording. Final mix day on Tony Adamo's new CD is in late July 2012. Mike Clark producing Tim Ouimette mixing and pushing buttons. It is a really new concept--Oakland Funk and New York throw-down meets vocal/hip spoken word.

Tony Adamo & Mike Clark: Groovin' High

Legendary drummer, Mike Clark (Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters) and the highly respected musician, trumpet player, big band leader and music arranger, Tim Ouimette recently completed the mix for vocal/hip- spokenword artist, Tony Adamo’s new CD at Ouimette’s recording studio in upstate New York. Adamo and Clark started this music project in the summer of 2011 after Clark recorded with Adamo on a new cover for Tower of Power’s “Soul Vaccination.” It was at that point a music alliance was formed between the two, and Clark became the music producer for Adamo’s new CD. Music industry insiders who have listened to some of the new cuts off this CD have commented that Adamo and Clark have come up with a fresh new sound in vocal/hip-spokenword laced with a funk musical attitude. Tim Ouimette said “This project is so original and bluesy groovin’ and is sending all the right messages. I am just really happy to be involved.” Tony Adamo is a Strokeland Record artist. Strokeland is owned by funk icon, Stephen “Doc” Kupka of Tower of Power. “Doc” Plays on Adamo’s new CD.

MusicDishTV Presents Tony Adamo's "Nine Miles of Blu"

In his latest video and mp3 "Nine Miles of Blu," Tony Adamo runs the voodoo down with legendary drummer Mike Clark (yes the drummer who played with Herbie Hancock back in 1974 on Thrust), and references to being in the middle of a happening jazz scene, tipping his verse to Miles' and Coltrane's "Giant Steps". Guitarist Steve Holman lays down a solid comping on this jazz trio's post-bop, with Clark sparking the track with great rhythmic ideas. The esteemed Clark also produced "Nine Miles of Blue," in which Adamo pays a verbal homage to Dizzie Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, and other widely recognized jazz masters who led the way for the music we have today. Using cleverly smooth but complex combinations of jazz melodies, this track is a funky, jazzy, get in your face groove that, at first play, makes you feel like you're sitting in a great jazz club. Email: tv@musicdish.net

Tony Adamo & Mike Clark’s New Vibes - Just Too Kool

Mike Clark, legendary drummer and former member of Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters band, can now add another name to his illustrious music career as the Funk Wizard of Manhattan. In addition to producing his new discovery, singer/nu-hip spoken word artist Tony Adamo’s CD, he had to bring in the right mixer/engineer who could funk the tracks for Adamo’s groove vocabulary and triplet soul-jazz voicings. Clark was looking for a mixing fool of an engineer who could dig the new perspective on the nu-hip speak vocals that he and Adamo are puttin’ down. That engineer is Tim Ouimette, a hip to the bone musician /composer who has played or written for Ray Charles, The 4 Tops, The Temptations, Blood Sweat and Tears and Aretha Franklin. In addition, Ouimette has composed music for TV, Cable and commercials. Nuff said! Now let’s get down with the new musical zounds of Tony Adamo and Mike Clark. Website: http://jazztimes.com/contributors/17915-tony-adamo Music: http://soundcloud.com/fredharris/9-miles-of-blu

Tony Adamo Meets Tower Of Power Meets The Headhunters

By Scott Yanow
L.A Jazz Scene/ All Music Guide to Jazz/ The Jazz Singers

A new CD that has recently been recorded is being described as “Tony Adamo meets Tower of Power meets The Headhunters” set to be released in early 2012. This unique set teams together singer and spoken word artist Tony Adamo with drummer-producer Mike Clark, several members of the Headhunters and special guests. The drummer says of the project, “The three elements on the CD are rhythm and blues (we married some old ideas with some newer surprises), a heavy blues saturation and some straight ahead bebop. There is even some avant-garde music and a duet with drums and voice.”

In addition to Tony Adamo, the lineup of musicians include Rob Dixon on tenor, alto and keyboards, trumpeters Derrick Gardner and Pharez Whitted, guitarist-keyboardist Gary Mielke, organist Delbert Bump, guitarist Steve Homan, bassist Brett Palm, percussionist Bill Summers, Mike Clark on drums and co-founder of Tower of Power, Doc Kupka on bari sax.

The musical friendship of Adamo and Clark began about six years ago. Tony, whose warm deep voice is perfectly at home in a variety of settings whether it is soul or swing, is a creative improviser with an accessible yet unpredictable style. His style is friendly, personable, very musical, and open to spontaneity as can be heard on his two prior recordings, STAIGHT UP DEAL and WHAT IS HIP. Mike Clark says of Tony, “He sings with soul and also does spoken word along with the singing. He is not afraid to address issues that are pertinent to what is going on in the world. He will often have a sketch for a song and then, when we are in the studio, he spontaneously fills it in and improvises, sometimes taking the music in a completely different direction.”

Mike Clark is one of the most in-demand drummers on the scene today. Earlier in his career he played with vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, trumpeter Woody Shaw and tenor-saxophonist Joe Henderson. After beginning an association with Herbie Hancock that resulted in him becoming the drummer with the Headhunters, he became well known as a funk drummer although he remains very active in jazz. Among his recent projects have been leading the straight ahead acoustic group Integral Blue which includes Randy Brecker, Donald Harrison and Christian McBride; touring with guitarist Scott Henderson and bassist Jeff Berlin in an electric band performing Wayne Shorter tunes; and recording with keyboardist Michael Wolff’s quartet. In addition he co-leads the Headhunters with Bill Summers. The Headhunters recent CD release is called PLATINUM.

Tony says “The music is in a different and new genre.” Mike Clark is also enthusiastic about the project which is the first time he produced a singer. “We were all really glad to play together and it translates. The music tips its hat towards the days in Oakland when Tower of Power reigned. It has elements of James Brown and some real modern funk. All the music was so swinging and so funky that it was very enjoyable for us and we are very glad to be putting out the music soon.” Tony Adamo’s new CD will be released in a few months and it promises to make a strong impact on the music world.

http://www.strokeland.com/StrokelandJazz/TonyAdamo/WhatIsHip/WhatIsHip.htm