Hey Folks,

Jim Adkins “Turning Point”…..Anyone out there listening to this one? If not, y'all are really missing out on an incredible CD! I can't figure out who this fellow reminds me of…. sounds like Chuck Loeb in spots, bit like Peter White, little Wes Montgomery influence in there….. somewhat like Norman Brown and Larry Carlton on their slower stuff. If you like any of these guys you will like Jim Adkins….he is quite a talent….”Turning Point” has spent a lot of time in my CD player over the past weeks and many of you know this is quite a departure from my usual listening tastes (harder-edged jazz…Down To The Bone, Bona Fide, etc)

“Turning Point” was produced by Ken Navarro and has several of Navarro's band mates (Dan LaMaestra on keys, Andre “Blues” Webb on drums and Gary Grainger on bass)…Grainger is fabulous on the fourth trac “Straight Ahead” and the seventh trac “Get Over It”. Shannon, you are familiar this guy, right? (By the way, where can I get the “Grainger” CD with brother Greg?) In addition to playing with Navarro, Gary Grainger played extensively with John Scofield .…he also has appeared with George Duke, Dennis Chambers, Lonnie Liston Smith and Nancy Wilson…..he's a heck of a bassist! Also, playing on the release are percussionist Kevin Prince and Rob Holmes on saxes. Tremendous soprano work from Holmes on “A Kiss from You” (third trac) and “Take Me There” (the ninth trac). The cut “Wind Dancing” was recognized as one of the top MP3 downloads (out of over 50,000 songs! …see http://www.jazzreview.com/cdreview.cfm?ID=2687 ) . It may sound a bit strange, but to me the CD's final trac “Serenity” is somewhat reminiscence of the guitar work of Duane Allman (or was that Dickey Betts?) on the Allman Brothers' “Melissa”.

Both “Into the Storm (trac two) and “Get Over It” are getting airplay here in Richmond (Adkins actually lives in Prince George County just south of Richmond)…. “Turning Point” also has been listed on the Top 50 chart at smoothjazz.com.
Also, Check out amazon.com:(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005YQJ8/qid=1026330494/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-6978637-9042331) They have paired Steve O and Jim Adkins as a GREAT BUY!!

This is truly my favorite CD from a guitarist in the past year or so. He plays Saturday evening just outside of Richmond at Heritage Amphitheater within Pocahontas State Park for a mere 7 stones! (for details go to www.smoothjazz931.com )

Above Ground and Vertical,
CABBBBBBBBBBBBBBAGE
His Newbiness

P.S. Yeah, I've been AWOL, but I had sum binniz to "tend to. First, I went to a seminar at the University of Mars on makin' toothpicks out of logs…I may change occupations; Also had an interview for a job as a storm-door salesman…..But I ended up, sunnnnnin', in the Outer Banks of North Carolina….. Layne, you gotta cool state!

Yup..I have it and (ta da) there is a song on it up on my (are you getting tired of this yet) internet station. I was really suprised this one was totally overlooked because it is very radio friendly.

I have listened to it multiple times this week. One name that I didn't see that some of it reminds me of is Bryan Hughes. The songs are not overpowering but they are very "Layne friendly". I can imagine sitting out in the pool with this music playing. Now all I have to do is get a pool and I'll be set. But for now this one will be in my CD travel bag so I can play it on road trips. Unlike some BIG name CD's that I have purchased this year, there is not a single song that I would hit the bypass button on. So from me that is saying something.

And Cabbage, I know our state must be fun to live in. All those people from West Virginia, Ohio, California, New Jersey, New York, and Mexico that have moved here, can't be wrong!!

Gotta plug this for a home town guy:

Review of "Turning Point" in the Listening Loft at smoothjazz.com

Turning Point was re-released.

AG & V,
Cabbbbbbbbbbbbbbbage
noob

P.S. Also, a review of The Jon Barry Project "A Taste For More"

Wow, just what I need...yet ANOTHER smooth jazz guitarist to check out! :rolleyes:

No, seriously...thanks for bringing back this old topic. I think I'll get me a copy.

Ya know, back when I was looking for used copies of CD's from the GROUP "Turning Point", I used to see this Jim Adkins record and wonder if it was any good.

-Donna