By Jesse Bertel
Across The Street

The Raven Cafe will roar with live jazz when trumpet player Patrick Adams returns home to Prescott for a visit. Since moving to New York City, Adams has performed at iconic venues including Jazz at Lincoln Center, Cornelia Street Cafe, Nublu, Fat Cat, and Smalls. In 2021, Sunnyside Records released Lynx, a duo album that was recorded with his brother, pianist Nicki Adams, to critical acclaim.

Adams spoke with Across the Street staff ahead of his performance at “A Special Night of Jazz,” from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, at the Raven Cafe, 142 N. Cortez, Prescott. The performers are Adams on trumpet Dave Russell on tenor saxophone, Troy Schilperoort on keyboard, Selwyn Reams on bass and Ted Bouras on drums. The following interview was edited for length and clarity.

What would you say audiences respond to the most when they see you perform?

The most common thing I hear from audience members is they love the sound of my trumpet. The trumpet can be a very harsh instrument. It’s a brass instrument, I can be loud, it can be in your face. That’s one approach to playing it, but there are multiple approaches like anything you do in life. I always try to go for a little bit more subtle, warm, welcoming approach in my playing. So I think most people appreciate the sound of my instrument and are attracted to that element of my playing.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a trumpet player?

Listening is huge for young trumpet players. Beyond that, practicing consistently. So let’s say you’re a first year trumpet player. I would always recommend first year trumpet players practice 15 minutes a day. I feel like most people have 15 minutes to spare and that consistency of practice is what really will make a difference in their growth and development as trumpet players.

What challenges you as a musician and specifically as a trumpeter?

I think the hardest part about trumpet is the physicality of it. It’s a super physical instrument to play. You basically have to be practicing every day. So you really have to be on it, you know, with your work ethic and your consistency to always wanting to improve. It’s hard to take days off and come back to the instrument and and feel comfortable on it. It’s a continual process. Every day things get easier or more challenging. It could go either way, I feel like, with this instrument. I think it all is derived from trying to basically break down the barriers between my own body and the instrument itself. And that’s a daily process I have to work on.

For more information about Patrick Adams, visit www.patrickadamsmusic.com.

Jesse Bertel is a reporter/videographer for the Prescott News Network. Follow him on Twitter @ JesseBertel, email him at jbertel@prescottaz.com, or call 928-445-3333, ext. 2043.