Waxman's voice is a gentle giant, matching his towering frame and sweet demeanor. With or without the band, he commands the stage like he’s been singing the blues since the day he was born.

Despite encouragement from a musician father growing up, Adam didn’t warm up to musicianship early on. He was 23 when he decided he owed the world a tune or two and hit the ground running with a natural knack for song writing. Teaming up with Dad, Waxman started performing regularly at the old Chicky’s Fine Diner (now The Frog and Turtle) in Westbrook. A hub for local music, Chicky’s was where Adam recruited the founding members of ‘The Waxmen.’ There he became immersed with like-minded players namely Bobby Queen (bass), Chuck Prinn (drums, percussion), Frank Hopkins (horns, keys, guitar), Michael Chasse (lead guitar) and Adam Jackson (sax).

Adam’s reasoning for deciding to make music is simple: “I wanted to make people feel good.” While being in the audience or in the middle of a pair of headphones for a dose of his blues is tried and true to that effect, this isn’t just feel good music.

“I don’t write a lot of love songs I write a lot of…things about hopes and dreams and change and fear and insecurities and just not being afraid to…to live.”

Adam also writes about what he believes in, which is in part a call to action for social awareness and an obligation to the world community. This theme resonating in his music is not the whimsy of an ideological dreamer, but a statement made by a man who puts his money where his mouth is.

When we sat down to chat at Sebago Brewing Co. in Portland Adam had just finished hosting a talent show organized to raise funds and awareness for the not for profit ‘Invisible Children.’

Invisible Children is an organization working to improve the quality of life for war-affected children in Uganda. Adam provides monetary support to the cause through an automated monthly deduction from his bank account and gives of his time and talents when the opportunity arises. His mantra mirrors the message put forth in his music. ‘It’s important especially in this country to look outside of your own box that you live in and recognize that there are a lot of children, a lot of people out there that need something, that need a lot,” he said.

Like most everything he dedicates his time and energy to, Adam’s music is a labor of love. While it has the power to do what he intended for it to do, to ‘make you feel good’, it might also make you think.

The album the band has been working on features Damien Allen on brass and is scheduled for an April 1st release. While you’re waiting for your copy you can slip in a pair of ear buds and visit www.myspace.com/adamandthewaxmen and www.adamandthewaxmen.com.

If you feel like tapping your toes and changing the world at the same time go to invisiblechildren.com to see how you can make a difference in the life of a child affected by war.