A musical homecoming for Samuel Adams at Brava in Other Minds 29

"For a hustling young jazz musician coming of age in the early years of the 21 st century the Mission District was an irresistible proving ground. Growing up in Berkeley and then as an undergrad at Stanford, Samuel Adams was drawn back again and again as a skilled bassist hungry for new experiences, frequenting jam sessions at Bruno's and gigging at Amnesia."

"When it comes to transformations, Adams could be talking about himself. Now living in Washington, where his wife, violinist Helen Kim, is associate concertmaster of the Seattle Symphony, Adams returns to the Mission as one of the featured composers at Other Minds 29. Running Oct. 16-19 at Brava Theater, the new music festival has carved out a singular West Coast niche presenting an far-flung constellation of performers and composers exploring a myriad of experimental musical traditions and techniques."

"The son of acclaimed composer John Adams, who attained international fame with his 1987 opera "Nixon In China," he's largely given up the jazz life over the past decade as a steady stream of commissions keep him busy. "I'm really lucky," he said. "That's basically what I do, wake up and go to my studio and work on pieces people have asked me for.""

Samuel Adams developed as a jazz bassist in the Mission District, frequenting Bruno's jam sessions and gigging at Amnesia after growing up in Berkeley and studying at Stanford. He now lives in Washington with violinist wife Helen Kim and returns to the Mission as a featured composer at Other Minds 29. He has largely left the jazz life as commissions sustain his composing career. He is the son of composer John Adams and has maintained Bay Area ties through premieres such as the San Francisco Symphony's 2023 performance of No Such Spring. Friction Quartet performs multiple Adams works at OM29 and local venues.

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