This powerful yet elegant ensemble performs a wide spectrum from originals, standards and smooth-jazz, to arrangements of contemporary pop and movie themes. Led by bassist and composer John Adams, The JOHN ADAMS GROUP is comprised of some of the finest, most versatile studio/jazz musicians and vocalists in the Southwest. Adams’ group regularly appears in a variety of configurations, from duo to six-piece, at festivals, concert series, colleges, churches, and special events of all kinds in the DFW area and throughout Texas and the southern U.S.
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John Adams/Bassist/Band-leader/Presenter –

As an accomplished acoustic and electric bassist, John Adams is one of the Southwest’s most versatile and in-demand musicians. Adams holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of North Texas, where for ten years he was also the jazz bass instructor. He is also active as a session musician, producer, arranger, composer, music contractor, lecturer and workshop clinician. Since 2005 he has led the “Special Edition Band,” a high-energy, eclectic party/dance/event band.

In addition to his on-going studio session work with other top musicians, since the early 2000’s Adams has also provided bass parts for remotely from his home studio (with first rate sounds and tonal options) for clients of every musical genre from across the US, as well as internationally including countries such as UK, Australia, Canada, Russia, China, Singapore, and more. He has backed and/or recorded for a wide array of artists including Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Phil Driscoll, Wayne Watson, Byron Stripling, Woody Herman, Randy Brecker, Marvin Stamm, Bill Mays, Joe McBride, Bobby Lyle, Carl Fontana, Chet Baker, Clark Terry, Dave Liebman, and many others. His broad musical background has also included symphonic work for the Dallas and Fort Worth Symphony Pops Orchestras and pit/musical performances.

Through his independent Congruent Music label, Mr. Adams has released eight highly acclaimed and widely varied album projects, including “John and Mark’s Excellent Rock Adventure,” which also includes a unique instructional/play-along component. The seven jazz album projects have received radio airplay on hundreds of radio stations nationwide and have been prominently featured on various online radio & streaming formats. Each of these projects presents the listener with unique originals, stunning arrangements, and various instrumentation combinations, each with a compelling musical rapport.

On his passions has been teaching Music Appreciation as an adjunct faculty member at Dallas College since the Fall of 2012. Since March of 2015 John has hosted and performed at the wildly successful “Elite Jazz Jam” on Wednesday nights at Dallas’ legendary Balcony Club.

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Members of the John Adams Group appearing in various configurations:

Matthew Babineaux (saxophone, keyboards, vocals) –

Matthew Babineaux is a saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist, and a native of the Dallas area. An alumnus of the 2013 Student GRAMMY Ensemble, while in High School, Matthew went on to receive his Bachelor of Music at the esteemed music program at Indiana University. He has performed with Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Branford Marsalis, Domi & JD Beck, and Blaque Dynamite, and many others. He has composed for ballet (“Literary Women”, 2022), short films, and regularly records projects that blend genres from around the world with microtonality, pop, classical and jazz influences, and rare ethnic instruments. He is active in the Texas, LA & Nashville music scenes as a session musician, orchestrator, composer and producer. He joined the Special Edition Band horn section in 2023.

Steve Barnes/Drums –

Steve Barnes, has enjoyed a 45-year career of performing, recording, traveling and educating in primarily the jazz and big band world. Steve has extensive experience in Los Angeles’ high profile entertainment industry, including album projects and playing for TV and movie scores, as well as serving the Cinncinati, Chicago and LA Symphony orchestras. The impressive list of luminaries he has performed and or recorded with includes: Sonny Stitt, Bobby Shew, Eddie Harris, Conrad Herwig, John Fedchock, Gene Bertoncini, Jim Rotundi, Rufus Reid, Andy Laverne, Bill Watrous, New York Voices, Eddie Vinson, Hank Crawford, Bruce Foreman, Groove Holmes, Ira Sullivan, Bill Holman, Bob Florence, Tommy Dorsey, Keely Smith and others. The University of North Texas brought his family here in 2011, where now both he and his wife (vocalist Jennifer) both teach in the famed jazz department there. Barnes performs and records now with the DFW-area’s top musicians and artists, in a wide range of genres.

Chris Borin (Trumpet) –

Chris Borin is a versatile trumpeter, educator, and recording artist with over 30 years of professional performing experience. A U.S. Army Bands veteran, he later earned a BM degree in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas and an MM in Performance from the University of Texas at Arlington. Borin has toured nationally and internationally with renowned artists and ensembles, including the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, The Dallas Jazz Orchestra, The Polyphonic Spree, Bobby Shew, Richie Cole, Delfeayo Marsalis, Craig Wagner, Ana Popovic, and the Bobby Falk Group. With Falk’s band, Chris has been part of several Midwest tours and appeared on the album “Coming to Fruition.” Borin’s debut album, “Influenced” (2018), showcases his original compositions and arrangements, and his performances have been featured at jazz festivals, concert halls, and venues across the U.S. and abroad. Chris Borin is proud to be a Bell Trumpets endorsing artist, performing exclusively on Bell instruments by Steve Bell. His primary Bb trumpet is a custom #BT7345R, and his flugelhorn is a 24-karat gold-plated custom Bell.

Noel Johnston (guitar) –

Producer, composer and educator, Noel has become one of the Dallas-area’s most active and widely recorded musicians. He has performed and/or recorded with artists such as Alex Acuna, Joey Baron, Ignacio Berroa, Vinnie Colaiuta, Wayne Delano, Sheila E., Dan Haerle, Fred Hamilton, Pete LaRoca, Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, Monica Mancini, Adam Nussbaum, The One O’Clock Lab Band, Ed Soph, Paul Tynan, Bill Watrous, Gary Willis, and Kenny Wheeler. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Studio/Jazz Guitar from the University of Southern California and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas, where he is also now one of the jazz guitar instructors.  He has previously served on the faculty at Wesley Institute for Ministry & the Arts in Sydney, Australia, and at Grayson County College in Denison, TX. In 2006 he opened the highly successful Lonestar Academy, a multi-faceted music instruction facility in Flower Mound, TX.  Noel Johnston also performs and records on a weekly basis in the elite studio band for a daily Christian TV show on the Daystar TV network. Noel has also developed a large and burgeoning online following due to his innovative instructional books and videos.

Stefan Karlsson (piano/keyboards) –

A native of Sweden, Karlsson came to the United States in 1984 to study at the University of North Texas where he earned bachelor and master degrees, and was a member of the 1:00 Lab Band.  Following teaching posts at several other colleges, in 2005 Stefan’s career came full circle as he joined the esteemed jazz faculty at North Texas, where he served until 2014. He served for four years as artist-in-residence on the faculty of Univ. of Texas – Arlington, and now is curriculum consultant and visiting artist for a music conservatory in China.
Stefan has been the touring pianist for jazz bass legend Eddie Gomez since 1996, and been part of six of Eddie’s CD projects. He is also highly active as a jazz recording artist, and his discography includes 75+ recordings as a sideman and eight as a leader.  His solo piano recordings have been widely praised by critics both in Europe and the US, and several of his tracks have been featured in motion pictures and TV shows.
Stefan’s extensive touring work routinely takes him to Japan, China, Thailand, Korea, Taiwan, Venezuela, Brazil, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Scotland, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Mexico, and throughout the US.  He has performed and/or recorded with such jazz greats as: Herb Ellis, Carl Fontana, Steve Gadd, Tim Hagans, Steve Houghton, Clay Jenkins, Marc Johnson, Larry Koonse, Joe LaBarbera, Red Mitchell, Dick Oatts, Rich Perry, Mike Pope, Chris Potter, Rufus Reid, Adonis Rose, Bob Sheppard, Marvin ‘Smitty” Smith, Ed Soph, Marvin Stamm, Jiggs Wigham, Eliot Zigmund, and many others.

Sean McCurley/Drums –

As a member of the Kirk Whalum Band for over 15 years, Sean played venues and festivals from worldwide, including numerous TV appearances and album projects. He is currently the touring drummer for legendary Pop star and composer Paul Anka. His talent also has supported the tours of other artists such as Lee Ann Rhimes, George Duke, Joe Sample, Jonathan Butler, Boney James, Philippe Saisse, Jeff Golub, Bobby Lyle, Bernard Wright, Peter White, Rick Braun, Marc Antoine, and dozens of others. Sean’s skill and versatility also frequently places him on jingle and commercial recording sessions, as well as projects for a vast spectrum of local DFW recording artists and composers such as Tom Faulkner, Andy Timmons, Anna Grey, Jim Hodges, Joe McBride, Tom Braxton, Keith Anderson and others. His combination of sensitivity, stylistic diversity, rock-solid time and stunning technique make Mr. McCurley a rare asset to every musical situation.

Brian Piper (piano/keyboards) –

Brian is one of the most sought-after studio/commercial writers and keyboardists in the southwest. First as a vice-president and writer for Axcess Broadcasting Inc., and now as owner of his own production company (BPM) he has written and recorded literally thousands of pieces of music for everything from jingles to films to albums. He has also held long-term music ministry staff positions in the music ministries of Park Cities Presbyterian Church and Grace Bible Church. Illustrative of Piper’s musical diversity is his long-standing position he held as pianist for country star Jerry Jeff Walker. Mr. Piper has played and conducted for a vast array of local and international artists and groups, including Rosemary Clooney, Eartha Kitt, Cab Calloway, Joel Grey, Kris Kristofferson, The Ink Spots, The Dallas Summer Musicals, and the Vocal Majority. Brian brings a wonderful combination of virtuosity, creativity, and musical integrity to every performance.

Jason Harrison Smith (drums/percussion) –

Finding a drummer with the chops, grooves and knowledge necessary to recapture a wide range of various styles authentically is no small task. Following an intensive 20-year career in the LA/Southern CA music scene, in early 2020 Jason, with his wife (and vocalist/bandleader) Brandi (and family) relocated to the DFW area. Currently he keeps busy juggling tours with Blues legend Albert Lee and guitar virtuoso Carl Verheyen, along with local gigs of all types in the DFW area. His past credits outline his versatility, including time spent with Enrique Iglesias, Five For Fighting, Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson, Mike Keneally (former Zappa guitarist), guitar legend John Jorgenson, Kelly Sweet, Julia Fordham, Buzz Feiten, Wings’ Denny Laine and many, many more. On his debut solo recording, “Think Like This,” he’s joined by bassist Dave Carpenter and keyboardist Gary Husband. The album showcases a precocious, updated and unconventional take on the standard Jazz trio format.

Jason “JT” Thomas/Drums –

“JT” began playing at age 3 and by age 7 was already performing weekly in gospel church services. While still in his elementary school years JT began playing from time to time with the jazz band at Weatherford (TX) College. At the age of 16, Mr. Thomas began performing professionally in a vast array of genres from Top-40/cover bands, to blues, rock, Latin and jazz groups of every stripe. Jason Thomas regularly tours with noted artists such as Snarky Puppy (Grammy Award winners), Phil Phillips, Mark Lettieri, Roy Hargrove, Marcus Miller, Fred Hammond, Tamela Mann, & many others. When in the elite studio band at the Daystar Television Network, church gigs, and performing with many with different local DFW bands and jazz groups.

Aaron West (Keyboards) –

Aaron West has been a professional musician since he was fifteen years old. He has performed with jazz and pop legends such as Arturo Sandoval, Brian Wilson, Norah Jones, Bob Reynolds, Andy Timmons, Tom “Bones” Malone, Melissa Aldana and others. He released his first solo album in 2007, titled Colors and Angles. Aside from his performing career, as an academic he has published and written for Jazz Perspectives, The Grove Dictionary of American Music (2^nd edition), Fontis Artis Musicae, and Notes. He has taught music history and other courses at Collin College since 2011.

Eric Willis (keyboards) –

Eric Willis is a modern day renaissance man with an impressive and diverse list of accomplishments. He gained prominence for composing the title cut, “Bounce” on Tom Braxton’s recording, produced by Wayman Tisdale. With national releases on Pacific Coast Jazz and Rendezvous labels, he solidified himself as a respectable composer. More successes followed with “Good To Go,” “Home Sweet Home” and “Santa Fe Moon.” Eric was raised in Houma, Louisiana, studied Jazz at Southern University and was a Percussion Section Chief in the 77th U.S. Army Band. He currently lives in Dallas where he works in sacred music and performs on the local music scene. He served as Music Director for Highland Park United Methodist Church (Cornerstone Worship), Park Cities Baptist Church Contemporary Worship and was also Music Director for Fellowship Bible Church North. Mr. Willis has an extensively list of performance credits, including: Kirk Whalum, Eric Darius, Roy Hargrove, Les McCann, Angela Bofill, Mikki Howard, Gerald Albright, Melba Moore, Kim Waters, Phil Perry, Tommy Organ and others. He toured for ten years with Wayman Tisdale and has been with Tom Braxton for over twenty years. Eric has released a CD/album project called Father to Son (with his son Joshua on drums), and several books ranging from music instruction to life issues.