Artist Profile: Spunk Adams is OKC’s Jazz Sax Prophet

“I believe every musician has something to say. Every musician I play with has a story to tell.” Rhyan ‘Spunk’ Adams said at the Monday Night Jam at Ice after ripping blues with Chopz and Adam Ledbetter. “Every time I step on stage, I feel like I got something from God to share with people.” the saxophonist gestures skyward, “what it is may not be for me to know, I just try to be in the moment when I play. I believe I got something to say to the people.” Spunk is a supernatural jazz, funk, and fusion tenor sax player and band leader based in Oklahoma City.

The Oracle of Originality

Spunk is an inspired teacher. Spunk shows his audience how to let go and to be themselves for a time. Although highly improvisational, his live show intentionally takes listeners on an expedition from the banal to the ethereal.

Spunk’s musical voice sounds inspired, especially considering he has had little formal training. He’s never taken a theory class and navigates complex music with intuition and a watchful presence.

I don’t know these tunes tonight, man. When I was soloing, I’d wait til Adam played the chord to start a line ’cause I don’t know what chord’s coming next.”

Spunk doesn’t go weeks subsisting on wild honey and locusts (as far as we know), but you might find him in the wilderness. You’re as likely to see Spunk busking solo under a bridge downtown as you are to see him opening for Layla Hathaway at Tower Theatre. The man is there for the music.

The Soothsayer of Soul

All saxophonists move their fingers to make music; some move their bodies; Spunk moves the room. Whether leading the Spunk Adams Experience or supporting other projects like the Elizabether Speegle Band, Spunk communicates with musical queues, body language, hand signals, and the tried-and-true ‘yell out what needs to happen next’ to build energy, hits, or reign in excited musicians to create clement moments between musical storms.

Here’s Spunk’s Spotify. Full Album dropping late 2018.

The Diviner of Diversity – OKC Country to Hip-hop

Spunk is known for Funk, Jazz, and Fusion, but he’s crossed lines from country to neo-soul to hip-hop. Check out his collaboration with up-and-coming hip-hop artist J French.

Keep an eye on Spunk’s newest collaboration: The S.E.A.R.C.H. Committee, a mobile hip-hop brass band fronted by Adam L.

Spunk’s spirit is ever-burning fuel in OKC’s artistic engine, and he is welcome in his hometown. He’s one you have to see live, so check below for upcoming shows.

Cover photo by @kaylaburtt_