Biography:
Blues guitarist Jimmy Adler is a live-wire entertainer that packs passion and energy into every performance! His music is a blend of Chicago blues and West coast jazzy jump. His passionate, rough-edged vocals compliment his spirited playing. Jimmy Adler is noted for his stingingly sweet slide guitar, as well as his elegant phrasing and clean fat tone. His band also includes barrelhouse piano, honking saxophone, and a tight rhythm section. The Jimmy Adler Band channels the essence of the blues. Audiences can’t help but to respond to the passion and spontaneity of his live shows.
Jimmy Adler taught himself to play guitar at the age of fifteen. He was heavily influenced by Eric Clapton’s early recordings. Not surprisingly, In Pittsburgh Magazine has said, "Adler's Claptonesque leads will appeal to the modern blues lover..." Through Clapton and early Rolling Stones records, Jimmy discovered the blues of Jimmy Reed, B.B. King, and Elmore James. He used to sit for hours with a whiskey bottleneck that he cut with a special glass saw, attached to his finger, emulating the sounds of Elmore James. The editor of BluesBiz.com has stated, "If you like bad to the bone slide guitar, don't miss [a Jimmy Adler] show!" He later discovered the sophisticated stylings of T-Bone Walker, Little Charlie Baty, and Duke Robillard. These players have inspired Jimmy to add a swinging sound to his music.
Jimmy has lent his talents to a variety of Pittsburgh’s most prominent blues bands for more than fifteen years, where he has performed at seven consecutive Pittsburgh Blues Festivals. However, it is as a leader of his own band where he really displays the full breadth of his experience and talent. At a Blues for Food benefit in February ’05, one writer stated, "Straight up boogie blues followed with the Jimmy Adler Band. These players are seasoned blues veterans, and they showed it with a strong and tasteful set. Jimmy was glidin' and slidin' all over the fretboard and the thumpin' rhythm section got the Sunday blues crowd on their feet at last. It was a good thing, too, because by this time the place was packed with not a seat to be had." -- Blues Society of Western PA
Pick up a copy of Absolutely Blues! Live at the Boneyard and you won’t be disappointed. This CD contains 8 originals and 5 classic gems. George Raker of The Front explains, “The disc falls into the category of post WWII blues, but also contains elements of swing and New Orleans jazz.” It was featured on the “Blues and Rhythm” show on Pittsburgh's WYEP 91.3 FM radio station where it remains in steady rotation on their blues programming. Wrett Weatherspoon, 25-year host of WYEP's "Big Town Blues" show has stated, "Nice piece of work. Jimmy, you did it!" Experience the Jimmy Adler Band. Absolutely live! For more information, visit the website at: www.jimmyadler.com
Quotes:
Jimmy Adler’s clean fat tone, along with his strong voice and passionate live performances have earned him media praise and respect.
"Adler's Claptonesque leads will appeal to the modern blues lover..."
Phil Harris In Pittsburgh Magazine
“Jimmy Adler’s style of blues is reminiscent of grandma’s pot roast… this is one damn good meal that will leave everyone satisfied… Adler does have a strong raspy voice… The band are clearly good players that any lover of the blues could appreciate.”
George Raker The Front Magazine
“Indeed it was a night that showcased awesome guitar players [including] Jimmy Adler and his masterful slide work. As usual Jimmy and his players were tight and solid and by now the house was filling up and things were rockin’”
Blues Society of Western PA
"Nice piece of work. Jimmy, you did it!"
Wrett Weatherspoon WYEP 91.3 FM, 25-year host of "Big Town Blues" show
"Witness some of the best Slide Guitar licks in the Burgh! If you like bad to the bone slide guitar, don’t miss [a Jimmy Adler] show.”
Editor, bluesbiz.com
“Straight up boogie blues followed with the Jimmy Adler Band. These players are seasoned blues veterans, and they showed it with a strong and tasteful set. Jimmy was glidin’ and slidin’ all over the fretboard and the thumpin’ rhythm section got the Sunday blues crowd on their feet at last. It was a good thing, too, because by this time the place was packed with not a seat to be had.”
Blues Society of Western PA
www.blueswpa.org
“Absolutely Blues! Live at the Boneyard [contains] … plenty of barrelhouse piano, dirty slide guitar and growling vocals … a cover of Ronnie Earl’s “Baby Doll Blues” features some of Adler’s most scorching and fluid guitar work. A killer original is “Elmore’s Blues,” a spirited and rocking tribute to James that lets all the band members cut loose.” Scott Mervis, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“Adler romps, jumps and wails … with infectious dynamism. His playing slides and swings … and you might hear suggestions of Joe Cocker or Dr. John when Adler vocally lets loose his growling and shouting. [Absolutely Blues!] reaches out far and wide in all directions while bringing the good times home.” Gordon Spencer, Pittsburgh Magazine
“Jimmy plays blues guitar a bit like B.B. King with a bit more swing in his style. And he’s great at it … Jimmy Adler is one of the best blues guitar players I ever heard. Jimmy will play you some blues that’ll break your heart then fill you with glee…. Powerful stuff, Jimmy’s blues.” Donnie A. Gutherie, Promoter of the Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival
"Jimmy Adler has a sympathetic band and a tight set, incorporating T-Bone swing, swampy grooves, stinging slide, breakneck jump, hard Chicago shuffles, and four-to-the-bar jazz comping. A dark blue reading of Ronnie Earl's "Baby Doll Blues" that tips its hat to Otis Rush is particularly harrowing ... Absolutely Blues! Live at the Boneyard offers guaranteed excitement for fans of straight-ahead blues guitar." Blues Revue Magazine
