Stomp the Floor

Album Review

Veteran soul singer Arthur Adams has been plying his trade at B.B. King's nightclub in Los Angeles for many years, but has been in and out of the national spotlight since the disco days of the late '70s. Fans may remember his all-star-laden 1979 A&M label classic I Love Love Love My Lady. Stomp the Floor — only his seventh album — bears the slight visage of those dance craze days, but concentrates more on the sweetness and light of his voice, somewhat dipping into the blues, and presenting some new themes and old sentiments. Adams is not so much slick as solid, plays the bulk of the guitar licks, and takes on main man duties as composer and arranger while singing with a minimal complement of bandmates, including seasoned veterans like the great drummer James Gadson and bassist Reggie McBride. On occasion horn players join, including saxophonist David Woodford, the popular trumpeter Lee Thornberg, and trombonist Garrett Adkins, all adding even more class to the proceedings. He is also highly influenced by the vocal style of King and longtime partner Bobby "Blue" Bland in his phrasing and enunciation, with a grittier edge. The classic "You Can't Win for Losing" is a contemporary anthem for laid-off workers, while "Don't Let the Door Hit You," in the King tradition, also hints at a modern but tried and true theme, suggesting a quick exit rather than a contentious breakup. Slow ballads like "Callin' Heaven," "Nature of the Beast," the innocent and engaging "Thrive on Your Vibe," and the seductive "You Are Invited" show the core values of Adams not only as a suave sophisticate, but also as a persuasive storyteller and ultimate ladies man. Three instrumentals showcase spare guitar playing, not as much as B.B. King, but right there in the pocket, and each shows the band in a different light: "You Got That Right" is not bad at all in its quality groove paired with organist Hense Powell; Adams overdubs two guitars during the cute, light funk of "Around the Sun"; while "Blues Roots" is a good rocker. Since his days as the bass player for Nina Simone, Arthur Adams has come a long way, attaining legendary status, sticking close to his California home, and making the occasional recording to emphasize that he's been around all the time. This one is good enough to keep him in the public eye past being a regional artist. ~ Michael G. Nastos, Rovi