Although its roots are grounded firmly in the uniquely soul based genre associated with the San Francisco East Bay Area, East Bay Soul is first and foremost about R&B for our time. For the past year this classy collective has been delighting live audiences across the USA and is now set to move to a whole new level with the September 22 release of its self titled debut album. In fact East Bay Soul is the brainchild of trumpeter, producer and arranger Greg Adams whose musical arrangements for the likes of Rod Stewart, Elton John, and Linda Ronstadt have made him one of the ultimate musicians’ musicians. Indeed everyone from the Rolling Stones to Paul Schaffer to Madonna has called on him to contribute to their projects and, in addition, Greg’s hallmark ensemble sound has made the concept of the horn section an American treasure. Given the huge credentials gained as founding member of the evergreen Tower of Power and a solo career that most recently delivered the spectacular ‘Cool To The Touch’ it is fair to assume that the new CD will be one of the musical highlights of 2009.
Adams co writes several of the songs with former Tower of Power band mate (and now Music Director for Joe Cocker) Nick Milo while Lee Thornburg emerges with his stunning interpretation of Howard Tate’s 1968 gem ‘Stop’. Typically, Adams’ arrangement brings the full funk of this timeless track to life and is totally indicative of how the album balances the sultry and robust with the hopeful and the absolute.
Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘East Bay Soul’.
