Paul Adams The River of Calm

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Official website	https://www.pauladams.org/

I wonder what it is that Paul Adams doesn't do. Working in multiple genres, his 13 critically acclaimed albums have over 118 million streams on Pandora and can be heard on Spotify, Sirius Radio The Spa, Music Choice, Amazon Radio, Echoes, Apple Radio, Tidal and other platforms. In May of 2016 his album IMAGININGS won Contemporary Instrumental Album of the year at the Zone Music Awards in New Orleans! His follow up album with Australian Elizabeth Geyer DEEPER IMAGININGS was released to rave reviews and nominated New Age album of the year by the Independent Music Awards as well as Meditation Album of the Year by the Zone Music Reporter. Having worked in mental health for 35 years, Paul also utilizes his music in various modalities such as meditation, relaxation, sleep, yoga and addiction. 

With a background in Ethnomusicology, Paul began building stringed musical instruments. He has built instruments for well-known musicians including Daryl Hall and members of Stevie Wonder's band. Paul is also a writer, poet, and photographer and developed an interest in playing a vast array of exotic instruments. When asked about his diversity he likens himself to a painter. “I’ve always loved the different musical genres. Just as a painter doesn’t want to be stuck in oils, or acrylic, I don’t want to be restricted to one theme for the rest of my life”.  

Adams album SLEEP the dreaming flute won Native Flute Album of the Year at the Zone Music Awards in 2013. His albums HEAVENS and FLUTE MEDITATIONS FOR DREAMING CLOUDS were also forged in this meditational style. THE PROPERTY OF WATER was created with electro music pioneer Laurie Spiegel’s Music Mouse, an intelligent music program for computers. Because of its blend with acoustic instruments and nature, Laurie calls a “unique amalgam of silicon and wood.”  

A VIEW FROM THE PLAIN and THIS CHRISTMAS use Paul’s drop thumb guitar style to create images of the prairie.  Some familiar with Adams may not know that his unique style was the result of a tragic accident in which three fingers on Paul's fretting hand were amputated. The ends were rebuilt with grafts from his leg and he says, “I had to completely re-approach my playing. A radio program who had placed my album VARIOUS WAVES in the TOP 5 of the year asked about my ‘unique way’ of phrasing! Limitation sometimes has a way of pushing one beyond barriers.