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Michael Manring: The Adamski Photographs

By Mike Jacobs
November 1, 2025
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In many ways, Michael Manring's album The Book of Flame (Alchemy, 1998) proved to be a stylistic bridge between his Thonk (High Street, 1994)-era output and his subsequent canon (which ended up almost exclusively solo bass—oriented). But not only was the album populated with about half and half multi-instrument pieces to solo pieces, it also contained some of the most original outliers in the bassist's catalog. "The Adamski Photographs" is perhaps the foremost example of this. Incorporating rollicking, Monk-isk piano work, a tri-tone leitmotif, drumming that touches on NOLA and swing grooves, and an otherworldly cinematic scope with Manring's signature bass innovations, it's one-of-a-kind, enthralling ride.

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