Sparta grad launches his debut album

SPARTA-Adam Gilbert, a 2000 graduate of Sparta High School (2000) and 2004 graduation of the University of Miami School of Music, has released his debut album, K-16. Before his studies at the University of Miami in composition, voice, and piano, Gilbert was already a recognized young talent in the local area. He won the Sussex County Music Competition seven times on three different instruments - piano, saxophone and voice - and was named Edna Schank Scholarship musician of the year in 1998. At the New Jersey Performing Arts Center Jazz for Teens summer program, he was one of ten teenagers selected on their designated instruments in 1997 and 98. There he studied saxophone and voice for two years under the direction of jazz great Rufus Reid. Gilbert says, "As a kid, I was always into sports and jock type stuff, but my parents always told me to keep practicing. which I am glad they did." The work paid off when he received a music scholarship to the University of Miami. While there, he soloed at Lincoln Center with the University of Miami chorale at the 2003 ACDA music convention in New York City and was a featured soloist on their 2003 release Love of my Soul. Out of 721 music students at Miami, Gilbert was one of four awarded Who's Who in Colleges in America. Taking his compositional training and influences in classical, jazz, and rock/pop, Gilbert has focused his attention to songwriting. After playing in New York City with his band for four years between college breaks, he wanted to expand musically, and cut his debut album, K-16. When asked what the CD sounds like, Gilbert replies, "It's piano based, a lighter rock/pop, but I tend to fall into the singer/songwriter category like Sting. My songs always change because musically I am always growing. I am and always will be a student of music, following where the song takes me, always learning from this beautiful art." K-16 contains 13 tracks and 62 minutes of Gilbert's music. To listen to samples or to buy the CD, visit gilbertmusic.net.