Adam Schultz - Soulful Distancing

Adam Schultz
Soulful Distancing
Blue Heart Records

"Soulful Distancing" is the debut album under the name of 18-year old songwriter-guitarist Adam Schultz. Schultz's dad asked Clarence Spady if he would give then 14-year old Adam a guitar lesson, and Spady was so impressed he invited Adam to play a couple of songs with him at Spady's regular Terra Blues gig in NYC. Thus began Spady's mentoring of Schultz, who has developed into quite a guitarist and has quite a close musical relationship with Spady.

Spady and Douglas Schultz produced the present album. Spady adds his guitar as well as vocals on the five cover tunes. Adam Schultz wrote six songs for which Spady sang one, Michael Angelo sang four, and Ekat Pereyra sang one. Besides Adam and Spady's guitar, the core members of the studio band are Adam Cohen on bass, Robert O'Connell on keyboards, Sharon O'Connell on drums, Scott Brown on piano, Tom Hamilton on saxophone, and Pat Marcinko on percussion.

As Spady says in his liner note about Adam, "He has developed a unique style: fusing a Latin jazz influence from his music teachers with a blues influence from me, sprinkled with a bit of funk that Adam is naturally drawn to." This statement is displayed in his playing on the revival of Johnny 'Guitar' Watson's "A Real Mother For Ya," as well as his original "Harlem Tonight," a fine original that might melodically suggest "Just the Two Of Us" with a solid Michael Angelo vocal. The old Louis Jordan classic "Early in the Morning," besides showcasing Adam's keen, crisp guitar, also has saxophonist Hamilton in the spotlight.

Spady revisits Adam's "Good Conversation" that Spady recorded on his recent album, "Surrender." Then on an imaginative cover of Little Walter's "Who," Adam's lean, twisting guitar impresses more. Another song of note is the Latin-tinged funk, "Cure For the Blues," about this dancing lady who has the cure for the blues. A terrific vocal by Angelo, a churning bass line by Cohen, and more scintillating blues guitar result in a super track. Then there is a nifty cover of Tyrone Davis' "Can I Change My Mind," with a choice Spady vocal, along with an intriguing funk re-working of the old Ricky Allen recording "Cut You Loose."

There is plenty to enjoy in "Soulful Distancing." Adam Schultz is a guitarist who shows much more than promise and writes some darn good songs. Add that the under-recorded Clarence Spady sings on six of the eleven songs and strong backing from a first-rate studio band, and one has quite a solid blues with a strong dash of soul recording.

I received my review copy from a publicist.

Clarence Spady Surrender

Clarence Spady
Surrender
Nola Blue

As Bill Dahl observes in the booklet accompanying "Surrender," "You wouldn't call Clarence Spady a prolific recording artist." He recorded "Nature of the Beast" in 1996 and "Just Between Us" in 2008, both highly praised and nominated for Blues Foundation Awards. Now 13 years later comes "Surrender," a disc that is likely to enjoy similar acclaim as the previous albums.

Varying groups of musicians back Spady's vocals and guitar on this recording. These include bassist Jon Ventre, keyboardist Scott Brown, saxophonist Tom Hamilton, Tom Martin harmonica, drummer Barry Harrison, drummer Pat Marcinko, guitarist Adam Schultz, organist Mark Hamza, and drummer Adam Wilson. There are six Spady originals, one from Schultz (who has been mentored by Spady), and covers of songs by James and Lucky Peterson and George Jackson. Six of the nine tracks are studio recordings, while three are from a 1999 live performance.

Listening to "If My Life Was a Book," one might suggest Spady's music as Robert Cray mixed with Marvin Gaye. Here he reflects on his musical career as Schultz takes the lead guitar at the end. Schultz wrote "Good Conversation" with Spade's relaxed, sensual vocal on a soulful performance that might evoke some Gaye for some. Schultz shines within a solo that might suggest George Benson. It is followed by a cover of the Petersons' slow blues "When My Blood Runs Cold," with his hard-edged guitar supporting his passionately singing. There is a relaxed shuffle "K-Man," a moving tribute to his son Khalique who passed away at the age of 25 and whom Clarence thinks about every day. Tom Martin adds down home harmonica here. The title track is a gospel blues inspired by the daily church group meetings he attends. The church helped him overcome his drug use, and talking about his travails, he sings about surrendering to the lord's will. The final studio track is a terrific acoustic small band recording of the Z.Z. Hill classic "Down Home Blues," again with Tom Martin adding harmonica. Pianist Brown is superb on this.

Among the 1999 live performances is "Addiction," a terrific slow blues whose lyrics come from his life with some razor-sharp guitar and keen vocals. "Jones Fall Expressway" is a blues-rock jam that also showcases saxophonist Hamilton and organist Hamza in addition to Spady's scorching guitar. "Pick Me Up" is a strong original dealing with relationship problems and needing a helping hand. He still loves his baby and hopes she understands. This song featured another top-flight vocal along with some biting guitar.

As noted previously, Clarence Spady has not recorded often, but when he has, it has been memorable. "Surrender" is another impressive blues and soul gem, and one hopes it is far sooner than 13 years before his next album.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is "Good Conversation."