Grounded was initially recorded as the first track of what was to become Crickets II by my NYC-based ensemble Crickets, and the follow up to the album of the same name from 2018. The track was recorded remotely from locations literally across the world in Winter of 2020/2021, which everyone knows was a time of minimal in-person recording opportunity. As the band further spread out over the next year, this consequently was the only documentation of the new material I had written for the group featuring Anna Webber, Josh Sinton, Ed Rosenberg, Jonathan Goldberger, and Devin Gray. Perhaps a reunion is a possibility down the line, but for now I'm thrilled to present this final Crickets track on the 5th anniversary of the original album's release.
Included here in digital format is Crickets (OOYH 001) from 2018 for the first time in HD at 88.2 kHz/24-bit, and the new track Grounded which will release on October 19, 2023. TJ Huff gave the album art a sweet redesign for the 5th anniversary LP release, in line with his more recent OOYH artwork. TJ also did the awesome single cover for Grounded in the 90s skateboard art style we initially conceived as the look for OOYH Records. All of the tracks featured on this page are included as part of the 5th anniversary LP release.
Crickets Press from 2018:
#2 Best Debut Album in the 2018 NPR Jazz Critics Poll // 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 + Top 20 Best Albums of 2018 by Jazz Right Now + Best of 2018 (Jazz/Fusion) on Something Else! Reviews.
“Mixing jazz sophistication with punk aggression, bassist and label owner Adam Hopkins makes a striking debut.” —JazzTimes
“Crickets introduces Adam Hopkins as one of the few talents with the vision to make jazz directed at the current and future generations, not the past ones.” —Something Else! Reviews
“…compelling and unconventional jazz compositions juxtaposed with blowouts. This is a singular release and hopefully the first of many from Hopkins.” —Avant Music News
**** "Hopkins’ debut unpacks a thrill-a-minute suite rooted in grunge, indie, and punk.” —MOJO Magazine
“There is something different going on here than the usual Downtown noise/improv.” —Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
released October 19, 2023
Adam Hopkins - bass, compositions
Anna Webber - tenor saxophone
Ed Rosenberg - tenor saxophone, bass saxophone (track 6 + 9)
Josh Sinton - baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
Jonathan Goldberger - guitar
Devin Gray - drums
Originally released October 19, 2018, Grounded + OOYH 5th anniversary LP released October 19, 2023.
Recorded January 17, 2017 by Marc Urselli at EastSide Sound. Track 7 recorded April 26, 2018 by Nathaniel Morgan at The Forest. Track 9 recorded remotely throughout Winter 2020/2021.
Tracks 1-8 Mixed by Nathaniel Morgan at Buckminster Palace, Brooklyn NY, 2018. Track 9 mixed by Chip Johnson + Kit Karlson at Alpine Red Studios, Gainesville VA, 2021.
Mastered by Scott Hull at Masterdisk, 2018/2023 (track 9). Vinyl lacquer cut by Scott Hull, pressed by Gotta Groove Records, 2023.
Artwork + Layout + Design by TJ Huff (
huffart.com).
All compositions © 2018/2023 Adam Hopkins/AdamHop Music (BMI).
Out Of Your Head Records | OOYH 001.1