Since 2009, and with three outstanding albums, trumpet player extraordinaire Greg Adams has been building his East Bay Soul creation into what is now the preeminent horn driven collective of its era. This hugely talented line-up has its roots firmly grounded in the uniquely soul based genre of San Francisco’s East Bay area and as a consequence delivers tight horn filled rhythms that are entirely timeless. Now this founding member of the legendary Tower of Power is doing it all again with ‘Conversation’ that will be released March 26 on Ripa Records.
For those checking out East Bay Soul for the first time and wondering what the buzz is all about look no further than the big, brassy but understated ‘Possibilities’. It is one of seven tracks co-written by Adams and another is the first single to be serviced to radio, the jazzy ‘Look Book’, where Adams’ smoky horn has never sounded better. Much needed attitude is provided by Dwayne "Smitty" Smith's fabulous bass and talking of attitude ‘Send’, with an incredible piano solo from Nick Milo, plus more great work from Smith, has it in abundance.
In terms of covers, Greg takes the Otis Reading version of ‘Try A Little Tenderness’ and, courtesy of Darryl Walker’s on-point vocal, infuses it with new life while elsewhere Adams reprises his original arrangement of the Little Feat favourite ‘Spanish Moon’. With Kay-Ta Matsuno reimagining Lowell George’s work on guitar and the ubiquitous Michael Stever stepping up on trumpet to combine with Adams and (another member of the Tower Of Power alumni) Lee Thornburg, they together make it all their own.
When Adams eases down the tempo for the romantically disposed ‘Where Do We Go From Here’ it proves to be the ideal vehicle for Walker’s soulful singing voice. Lyrics for this one come courtesy of song-writer Rocky Maffit who also provides words and music for the similarly inclined ‘Our Love Devine’ where, not surprisingly, Walker again hits it out of the park.
The rich and velvety ‘Tiger Beat’ is textbook East Bay Soul and then some yet in terms of personal favorites the wonderfully tender ‘Quiet Scream’ (complete with more of Walker’s sublime vocals) stands as a glowing tribute to Adams’ writing, arranging and production skills. It is right up there with the best that ‘Conversation’ has to offer although, all things considered, the accolade of Smooth Jazz Therapy ‘top tune’ goes to the decidedly sultry title cut that creates an aura not unlike that fashioned by Greg’s seminal 1995 smash ‘Burma Road’.
1. Look Book
2. Conversation
3. Quite Scream
4.Tiger Beat
5. Spanish Moon
6. Our Love Divine
7. Possibilities
8. Send
9. Where Do We Go From Here
10. Try A Little Tenderness
