18 | SMOOTH JAZZ NEWS AUG. 30 Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment Seal Beach, California www.spaghettini.com 562-596-2199 SEPT. 20 10th Annual Gulf Coast Jazz Festival Vince J. Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park Pensacola, Florida www.gulfcoastsummerfestjazzedition.com 850-393-3028 OCT. 17 39th Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival Catalina Casino Avalon, California www.jazztrax.com “Music education was huge in my career before I became an educator. I had incredible band directors—I took private music lessons growing up, and I got so much out of that.” continued from page 17 He went on to list the other versatile artists on MBF, including saxophonist Fabian Chavez, utist Brandon Marceal and saxophonist Gianni Vancini from Venice, Italy. At 41 years old, Hawley is a young musician on the smooth jazz scene despite his already impressive resume. He’s at least 10-20 years younger than most of his peers, but he insists that there’s no generation gap when it comes to creativity and the purity of music. “I might be younger, but music is, and I obviously didn’t coin this phrase, but music is a universal language,” Hawley said with a slight laugh. “It spans beyond age or where you’re from, or if you speak the same language. “I’ve jammed with people that I couldn’t actually speak to, but we both know the musical language, so music connects people of all ages and demographics, nationalities. If I’m younger, or even older, it doesn’t matter. e goal is to make great music.” e guitarist is also an academic, as he has been working as professor of Music Education at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo in Southern California. He received his doctorate from the University of Southern California years ago. Hawley is a big believer in the value of music education—even as funding for music education has been cut across the nation— especially because he feels he owes his career to his early studies. “Music education was huge in my career before I became an educator. I had incredible band directors—I took private music lessons growing up, and I got so much out of that. Once I got to college at USC, I had great faculty, so it meant everything for my career,” he explained. “I ended up doing a bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate at USC, so now to ip the coin, I’ve been teaching on a collegiate level since 2013. Before that, I was teaching—I was subbing at the studio I used to take lessons at before I could drive when I was 16. “I think I get more out of the lessons than they do,” he said, laughing. “It’s invigorating. ey bring in new music that they’re excited about, and I have to learn it, so it’s always exciting.” e versatile guitarist-producer has a heavy touring schedule ahead, mixing club dates and jazz festivals, but he nds plenty of time for home life and his family. Road life can be tumultuous, but Hawley nds peace of mind in the little things. “When I’m at home, I still play at my church band, and that keeps you grounded. When I come o the road, it’s important. We have rehearsal on ursday and two services on Sunday. at’s always a big part of my life. “I started playing in church when I was 15, so that’s 26 years. Of course, my family is important. My son is excited about lm, and he just won a bunch of awards at a lm festival at his school. He’s also busy with his basketball games, so we are rushing back to see him play. “He’s on travel ball, so if we might y to the city he’s playing in and then y to our show between that and other things, it keeps my wife and I grounded and centered on the life beyond music and what matters most.” For more information on Hawley, visit www.adamhawley.com. ON TOUR
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