Nick Adams' side job as
Darrell Nulisch's guitar player
suits him to a "T."

Nick Adams is Super-guitarman of the New England blues scene. He has currently added some gigs to his schedule, playing with Jon Ross on bass and Marty Richards on drums and Darrell Nulisch, on vocals and harmonica, a sweet combo. "Darrell sounds better than ever." Nick told me. "He is blowing a lot more harp now, with that 50s and 60s vibe. He back at blues after a departure for a few years doing a couple of r&b cds."

Nick continued "I'm doing what I do, backing up Darrell's harp in classic Chicago tradition- Robert "Jr." Lockwood and Luther Tucker (influence). Robert Lockwood was great behind Little Walter and Junior Wells but he is better know for backing up Sonny Boy. These gigs have given me the chance to dig into the music of Little Milton, and (the more guitar oriented) Magic Sam and 50s r&b, and to focus less on the Chicago blues I do with Racky. With Darrell we aren't doing any jump blues, it's more of the uptown r&b citified blues, guitar oriented."

"You should hear Darrell on the Sonny Boy stuff. Nick exclaimed. "He will knock you out with "Trust My Baby. The other night the place was silent as he played it almost acoustic. He was really blowing dynamic harp." That's what makes Nick Adams such a great guitar player, he is superb at backing up a harmonica player, he listens, he studies, he really understands how to play with a harmonica player.

I just bought a new amp at Retro Music in Keene, from Gary Croteau. It is a Juke 1210 and sounds fantastic, very expressive 3D sound. It has a sound more like the Anson Funderburg's sound. Darrell used to play with Anson. I wanted to change my tone from big fat the hollow body Junior Watson sound that I usually go for. With Darrell I use the Telecaster most of the time it has a cleaner, tighter sound."

Everything Nick does in respect to his music is original. He has a his sense of what "gets" him and knows how to deliver that to the audience. The audience understands how he feels about the music he plays. "When it comes right down to it it's what you are comfortable with and what you're feeling on stage and the genre you're going for." He does this blues genre proud, he has respect for the masters and has learned from them, but he adds a new dimension with his talent and personality.

This all star band will be at the Acton Jazz Café on March 18, 2006 honoring the classic sounds of Little Milton and Bobby Blue Bland to the sweaty Louisiana Gulf Coast Lazy Lester shuffles to sexy Slim Harpo tunes, mixing it up with Chicago style Jimmy Reed, Sonny Boy Williamson.

The Acton Jazz Café has special significance to Nick, it is where he met his wife, Trisha. "It has a family atmosphere and I am not talking about canned beans, I mean they treat the musicians like family. Gwenn Vivian and the staff work together to make it a harmonious place to play. Not to mention the food is fabulous, it's gourmet."

Reservations are highly recommended because the club is pretty small and it often sells out before the night, so don't wait to call for a reservation today!

Acton Jazz Café- Acton, MA • 978-263-6161