[4] He spent his early years in the Chicago area, first in Evanston, Illinois, then in Wilmette, where he attended McKenzie Elementary School.

[10] Abrams lists as his musical influences Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Oscar Peterson, and James Taylor, as well as Marshall Hawkins, head of the jazz department at Idyllwild Arts Academy.

He was selected as one of the Top 24 semi-finalists, but two days before he was due to perform for the semi-finals, he suffered severe stomach pains and was rushed to the hospital.

During the performance he kissed audience members, rolled onto the stage, thanked the judges, and sang the last two words ("you're mine") to fellow contestant Haley Reinhart.

[failed verification][14] In August 2011, Abrams became a spokesman in a national campaign called IBD Icons to raise awareness of inflammatory bowel disease.

[15] Abrams and former American Idol season 10 contestant Haley Reinhart recorded a holiday song, "Baby, It's Cold Outside", in November 2011[16]—also released on video.

[25] In 2018, Abrams recorded and released his second full-length album, Put a Spell on You, whose title track is a reprisal of his final performance on American Idol.

[29][30] Like Put a Spell on You, Jazz was also recorded at the Hirsch Center, with Abrams calling the decommissioned church's acoustics "magic.