The River of Calm - Beyond The Music Podcast - featuring guitarist Adam Werner

The River of Calm's Beyond The Music Podcast episode #10 takes an up close and personal look at guitarist and composer Adam Werner.

Adam Werner is a solo acoustic guitarist with interest in unconventional techniques, styles, and applications to fingerstyle guitar playing. He has an impressive musical background of experience and education. Adam continues to move forward and grow as an accomplished musician and artist.

Indigenous to California, Adam grew up with rock guitar legends, including Randy Rhoads, Steve Vai, and Joe Satriani, among many others. Adam started his first rock band, IMAGINE, in the early 1990s and gained much respect as an innovative and progressive musician who incorporated odd meters, unorthodox key changes and intricate instrumentation with compositions that pushed the boundaries of rock music. 

He soon found the desire to explore the acoustic guitar when introduced to Windham Hill and its artists, such as William Ackerman and Michael Hedges. Soon after, Adam decided this was the direction he was destined to go.

Adam Werner's debut label release, "Signatures," a 2008 Grammy Awards contender for Best New Age album, has become a new addition to solo acoustic guitar. This album is a culmination of emotionally intense compositions with technically exceptional playing and profound musical energy. Merging the traditions of fingerstyle techniques with provocative percussive elements adds extra flavor to this music. A touch of electric bass, masterfully created by Kentaro Otsuka, is featured on this album.

Adam has also produced "Woodsongs: An Acoustic Guitar Collection", which is a 17 track guitar album of previously unreleased music from artists, such as: Will Ackerman, Alex de Grassi, Preston Reed, William Coulter, John Keawe as well as, Chris Yeaton, Michael Hewett, Scott Burwell, Dylan Schorer, Rudy Perrone, Robert Walling, and many others! This is an album NOT to be missed.

Adam Werner’s latest release, “deep”, is a collection of musical compositions that, with the help of some very special friends, such as Samite, Michael Manring, Jim “Kimo” West & others, captures the essences of love, hope and encouragement to overcome life’s challenges and carry on.  

Adam's extensive performance schedule, as a solo artist, as well as with Chris Yeaton and the Woodsong Acoustics Group, has exposed many people to his beautiful guitar styles throughout the Mid-Western United States and the Hawaiian Islands. He has performed with such people as Alex de Grassi, Michael Manring, William Coulter, Ben Verdery, Hawaiian Slack-Key Masters John Keawe & Chris Yeaton, Antonio Calogero, among others.

However, on December 3, 2018, Adam's life dramatically changed, as he was hit by a drunk driver going 50+ mph.

This accident has been a game changer/life changer and could happen to anyone of us. Adam Werner is a proud man, and too proud to ask for help. So please, make sure you support this gifted artist by donating to his recovery at the following link:

https://www.gofundme.com/adam-recovery

When he recovers, one of Adam's big dreams is to record a song with New Age guitarist Will Ackerman. Hey Will - hint hint…. BTW, here's how to reach out to Will and let him know!

At The River of Calm, we truly believe Adam Werner's best work is still yet to come. So join us as we celebrate his music, his creativity, and his unwavering spirit.

Here are links to his music:

https://www.adamwerner.com

https://adamwerner.bandcamp.com/album/deep

https://www.gofundme.com/adam-recovery <- and don't forget to donate!

The River of Calm Beyond The Music Podcast Episode #10

Artist: Adam Werner
Host: Ed Bazel
Producer: Eric Bikales