The Sugarman 3 featuring Adam Scone
Neal Sugarman, a saxophonist from Newton, Massachusetts, began his career in the 1980s playing in punk rock bands like Boys Life and Black Cat Bone. In the early 1990s, he moved to New York to pursue jazz, with a brief stint in New Orleans playing with artists like Eddie Henderson and Mike Longo. Sugarman returned to New York and formed The Sugarman 3, a funk trio influenced by “Brother” Jack McDuff and The Meters. The band helped establish Desco Records and released several albums, including Sugar’s Boogaloo (1998), Soul Donkey (2000), Pure Cane Sugar (2002), and What the World Needs Now (2012). Sugarman also co-founded The Dap-Kings and worked as a session musician for artists like Amy Winehouse, Al Green, and Mark Ronson.
Adam Scone is a Hammond organ specialist known for his mastery of the instrument’s emotive power. His transformation from a young prodigy to a seasoned player came through years of performing at a classic organ lounge in New York City and touring globally with top bands. Notably, Scone toured with the Sugarman Three, playing prestigious festivals like Glastonbury, Montreux, and North Sea Jazz Festival. He also performed with jazz legends such as Lou Donaldson, Jimmy Cobb, and George Braith. Scone was a four-time Jazz Ambassador for Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center, playing in over 35 countries. His organ sound later became prominent in rock during his five years with JJ Grey & Mofro, and his work has appeared on over 50 albums.
