Greg Adams & East Bay Soul at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley July 2-3
The Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley welcomes Grammy and Emmy nominated trumpeter Greg Adams and his band East Bay Soul, touring in support of their new release CONVERSATION! Band members include, Greg Adams (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals), Darryl Walker (lead vocals, tenor sax), Nick Milo (keys), Michael Stever (trumpet, flugelhorn) Johnnie Bamont (sax, flute, vocals), Steve Nieves (sax), Kay-Ta Matsuno (guitar), Dwayne “Smitty” Smith (bass), and Herman Matthews (drums). Show times Monday and Tuesday at 7:30pm, doors open at 6pm.
It has been nearly a quarter century since the genre chameleon, Grammy and Emmy nominated trumpeter, arranger became a leader in his own right with his ground breaking debut Hidden Agenda. The sound of Greg Adams is one of the world’s best-known musical signatures. As a founding member of Tower of Power, legendary for his arrangements that made the TOP horn section a sought out entity all its own. Beginning early with his arrangements on Santana’s “Everything Is Everything”, Elton John’s “The Bitch Is Back”, Chaka Kahn’s “Fool’s Paradise”, Little Feat’s “High Roller”, and Heart’s “Tell It like It Is” to name a very few. With countless collaborations in the studio and live on stage, Adams has made his mark on a broad stretch of today’s musical landscape that includes jazz, pop, rock, R&B, soul, and funk.
Adams’ latest release (March 26 on Ripa Records) Conversation marks the fourth studio album for East Bay Soul and takes a giant leap to cement their own style -a blend of Funk, Jazz, R&B and Soul. Their combined extraordinary talents bring incredible energy to the recording with heart and soul.
“The best part” says Adams, “was putting the band together and building a sound unique to our style and creating a group that was more like brothers. We have the perfect person in Darryl Walker for lead vocals and the horn section breathes as one. Herman Matthews drives the bus and the rhythm section is just so tight, they can play it all! These are some of the best musicians that I have ever worked with!”
The combined musical pedigree of East Bay Soul reads like a who’s who in pop culture. Pick up a record, album or CD from any genre of music; R&B, soul, rock or contemporary jazz, one or several of the East Bay Soul members is most likely on it!
With the benefit of vision, musical “know how” and the insight that comes through genuine affection, respect and friendship and you have a recipe for making memories and some primetime music history.