“Adam Hopkins is one of the few talents with the vision to make jazz directed at the current and future generations, not the past ones.” —S. Victor Aaron, Something Else! (full review)
Adam was included in the 2018 International Critics Poll as the #2 Newcomer Musician for the year.
"The sound of this album is intimate, strong, and clear. To cite only one example, Hopkins' bass thrives." —NYC Jazz Record on Peter Hess Quartet - Present Company
“A browse through the catalogs of Pyroclastic, Tao Forms, and Out of Your Head — thriving imprints headed respectively by pianist Kris Davis, drummer Whit Dickey, and bassist Adam Hopkins — shows how musicians are banding together to showcase one another’s talents: the singular visions of the aforementioned Eric Revis and Craig Taborn, for example; the drumming gifts and rich compositional style of Tani Tabbal; or the challenging creations of Anna Webber and Nick Dunston. Even in the absence of in-person connection, the web of jazz continues to grow.” —Hank Shteamer, Rolling Stone Magazine (full article)
“Adam Hopkins’ Out Of Your Head Records is a Brooklyn-based record label that gets music out from vital, progressively-minded jazz artists. There might be a number of labels just out of Brooklyn alone that does that but OOYH does something extra that as far as I know no one else does. His Untamed Series not only puts out live performances from some choice artists, but these are unvarnished recordings ‘warts’ and all that are nonetheless well above bootleg quality. The word ‘warts’ is put in quotes because the raw presentations reveal little if any imperfections and that’s what’s special about this series: these guys are so good, they can play highly complex music on a tightrope with no net and make it to the other side every time.” —S. Victor Aaron, Something Else! (full article)
OOYH Records featured as the Label Spotlight in the April 2021 issue of New York City Jazz Record, written by John Sharpe. (full feature)
On Crickets (OOYH 001):
Crickets was ranked #2 Best Debut Album in the 2018 NPR Jazz Critics Poll.
“Mixing jazz sophistication with punk aggression, bassist and label owner Adam Hopkins makes a striking debut.” —JazzTimes (full article)
Best Debut Album of 2018 by El Intruso, Music and More, NYC Jazz Record, JazzdaGama, Jazz Trail, and Stalker 21.
Best of 2018 on Avant Music News (full list) + One of the Top 20 Best Albums of 2018 by Jazz Right Now (full list) + Best of 2018 (Jazz/Fusion) on Something Else! (full list)
“Evidently, Adam Hopkins learned a great deal about how to play the bass (and likely much more) from luminary Michael Formanek and how to effectively lead a group (and likely much more) from heavy-hitters Henry Threadgill and John Hollenbeck, both in whose groups he has served time. Crickets is Hopkins’ first release under his own name, and what a fine and feisty romp it is.” —In On The Corner (full review)
“…compelling and unconventional jazz compositions juxtaposed with blowouts. This is a singular release and hopefully the first of many from Hopkins.” —Avant Music News (full review)
“There is something different going on here than the usual Downtown noise/improv.” —Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery (full review)
“There is one thing that might be expected though, and that is intensity. Not only because of the composition of the band but by the mere fact of mentioning Nirvana and Henry Threadgill in one sentence. And intensity is certainly one of the things Hopkins and his Crickets serve us on this debut.” —Beat Media (full review)
**** “The music dips and dives, cruising down a long highway, taking tight turns at break neck speed…a solid album, highly recommended, well worth your time.” —David Menestres, Free Jazz Collective (full review)
**** "Hopkins’ debut unpacks a thrill-a-minute suite rooted in grunge, indie, and punk.” —MOJO Magazine
“Hopkins employs adroit compositional strategies throughout the recording, aiming at an inviting hybridity, which he has all the reasons to be proud of. This is a wonderful start for him as a leader.” —Jazz Trail (full review)
“Creative and inspired by punk rock energy, there's a lot of cool things going on here well worth taking notice of. An accomplished debut…it's obvious great things lie ahead.” —Midwest Record (full review)
“Exploding with a diversity of musical ideas…music that lives from contrasts that are well aimed by Hopkins’ musical vision.” —Vital Weekly (full review)
“If you like your jazz forward-looking, seasoned with fractious horns and head-bobbing beats, this fits the bill nicely.” —NYC Jazz Record (full review)
“Active as a leader, sideman and now a label owner, bassist and composer Adam Hopkins is set to make a splash in the world of progressive jazz.” —Music and More (full review)
“An enthusiastic and technically brilliant album.” —Squidco
Additional Crickets Review Links:
Nextbop
On Party Pack ICE:
"Every so often an album comes along that is so strangely charming and forthright in its lack of convention that one cannot help but enjoy it." —Avant Music News
"With its peculiar sense of musicality, Party Pack Ice delivers a challenging but unmistakably fascinating album." —Can This Even Be Called Music?
"A mix of mayhem and cacophony dominate this album that is reminiscent of Naples’ Via Nazionale with a street full of honking horns." —Jazz Weekly