George Rufus Adams (April 29, 1940 – November 14, 1992)[1] was an American jazz musician who played tenor saxophone, flute and bass clarinet.

[2] He is best known for his work with Charles Mingus, Gil Evans, Roy Haynes and in the quartet he co-led with pianist Don Pullen, featuring bassist Cameron Brown and drummer Dannie Richmond.

At this point, Adams was based out of Cleveland where he spent a great deal of time studying and working with organ trios alongside pianist and organist, Bill Doggett.

1975, while touring Europe with Mingus, he made his first recordings under his own name with Don Pullen, Dannie Richmond and bassist David Williams.

The album features orchestral versions of songs such as Angel, Castles Made of Sand and Voodoo Child.

[4] In December 1979, George recorded the album Paradise Space Shuttle with his personal quintet that featured pianist Ron Burton, drummer Al Foster, bassist Don Pate and percussionist Azzedin Weston.

The album featured trombonist Jimmy Knepper, pianist Hugh Lawson and bassist Mike Richmond.

In 1983, Adams started to expand on his career as a sideman by recording with trombonist Craig Harris on his album Black Bone.

In April 1985, Adams and Pullen recorded the album Live at Montmartre, but it wasn't released until 2000, and featured a guest appearance by guitarist John Scofield.

It featured trumpeter Ken Cervenka, trombonist Peter Cirelli and French horn player Gunther Schuller, amongst others.

The same year, George recorded an album of ballads and spirituals entitled Nightingale, alongside Lawson, Sirone and drummer Victor Lewis.

After Adams' death, Pullen dedicated to his memory the 1993 CD Ode To Life, recorded by his African-Brazilian Connection, and in particular the ballad "Ah George, We Hardly Knew Ya".

With Phalanx With Gil Evans With Craig Harris With Roy Haynes With Cecil McBee With Charles Mingus With New York Unit With Don Pullen With James Blood Ulmer With McCoy Tyner With Ravi Shankar