Still trying to catch up to Greg we are posting another of Greg’s short storeis.  Posted on East Bay Soul’s facebook page September 5th 2010

Greg writes:  2003…Being known primarily as an arranger for horn oriented music is my legacy. And of that I’m very proud. It’s both flattering and humbling when my writing is identified by listeners as “my sound”. Over the last 40 years I’ve had the pleasure of participating on several major recording sessions and I still to this day get a thrill when I hear something I know is going to be very special. One of my true loves, though, is writing for strings. I caught the bug early when I did the strings for You’re Still A Young Man on Bump City. From then on, it was always a thrill on each project the day arrived when we would be cutting the orchestra. Conducting is like a drug! I’ve had the good fortune to work with some of the finest string players in L.A. and New York. Also the Metropole Orchestra in Amsterdam. What a band THAT is…But Amsterdam is another story altogether. The food. The coffee shops. But I digress. Back to the strings.

One of my favorite two people in the world are Miwa Yoshida and Masa Nakamura. They are the super pop group Dreams Come True from Tokyo. I’ve arranged and played on numerous CDs with them over the last 15 years. I’m sure you can remember me talking of them in past SSS’s. Miwa also has 2 solo projects to her credit. They are entitled Beauty And Harmony and Beauty And Harmony 2. The string date for B and H 2 was recorded at Sony Studios in New York City. Here is the story. Miwa and Masa, her producer on her B and H 2 lined up a stellar cast of musicians for this CD. We recorded in L.A. and N.Y.C. ( see the line up of players following ) She composed a song of but a single melody. No chords. She then asked me to write it for strings and take it where I wanted to. It was kind of like taking a charcoal drawing and making it into an oil painting. I spent alot of time on it because it just had to be right for her. It had to reflect her…

My role as an arranger is to become a chameleon of sorts and, while bringing my sound to the song, morphing myself into the artist’s own sense of who they are and giving a proper representation of where they are going in their song. This can be the difficult part for some, but to me it comes very easy. Especially with Miwa. Day of session. Sony has very tight security and you have to go through metal detectors to enter the building. I got there early and as some the orchestra started to arrive, we learned of a commotion at security. We later found out that one of the violists was packing heat. I kid you not. Oh boy….And he was not giving it up. Scratch one viola from the date. Now you have to know here that Miwa has no idea what I’ve done here with her melody and I am not capable of playing this arrangement on the piano. I know what it sounds like in my mind though, and I’m anxious for her to hear it. The players are all in their seats and I go into the studio to discuss tempo and bow marks, etc. We do a couple of run throughs to warm up and get the kinks out. Al Schmitt, our engineer says, “Let’s make one, then come in and take a listen”. We do just that. I go into the booth to hear how it sounds. I ask Miwa, “Do you like it?” She turns to me with tear in her eye and a big smile. I have my answer. These musical moments are magic for me.

For more on Greg Adams go to http://www.eastbaysoul.com/ or http://www.gregadamsmusic.com/

Seeing The Gods of Tower this up close and personal in a room the size of Ravello will be awesome – don’t miss it… 

Come out and join us at the M Resort’s Ra vello Lounge this Thursday (9:30pm), Friday (9:30pm) and Saturday (10pm), September 30-October 2nd.”

For Immediate Release

23 September 2010

Contact: Andrea Adams 818.609.9528

Email: andrea@almmanagement.com

Every strand of music seems to pass through one particular crossroads – Christmas music.

This holiday season and SWEET SOUL CHRISTMAS is a natural pairing, since each focus a lot on love, joy and happiness.

Performing classic Christmas songs with a mix of jazz and soul, Grammy and Emmy nominated trumpeter Greg Adams arrangements herald in the season and the soulful R& B vocals by Darryl Walker caress the timeless lyrics of your favorite holiday music.

Adams is a founding member of the super horn band Tower Of Power, Greg’s arrangements made the horn section a sought out entity all it’s own. Greg’s soulful trumpet and Darryl’s awe-inspiring lead vocals blend passion and warmth with every note.

Now add the incredibly dynamic sax man Michael Paulo, the masterful drumming of Herman Matthews, and the charismatic Lee Thornburg joining Greg on trumpet and backing vocals, the renowned group

East Bay Soul goes world class.

Completing the ensemble is a band that has toured together for eight years, and played with numerous luminary artists. With Johnny Bamont on alto, tenor, baritone saxophones and flute, Joey Navarro on keyboards, Brian Allen on bass, James Wirrick on guitar, and Johnny Sandoval on percussion. Ten soulful members and a music extravaganza that will remind you of what you loved most about music and the sprit of the holiday season!

GREG ADAMS AND EAST BAY SOUL

Sweet Soul Christmas is the ultimate Christmas experience capturing all of the inspiration, and nostalgia of the Holiday Season. Add the benefit of vision, musical “ know how” and the insight that comes through genuine affection and friendship – and you have the recipe for making very special holiday memories.

SWEET SOUL CHRISTMAS SET LIST WILL INCLUDE:

This Christmas Donny Hathaway

The Christmas Song

Winter Wonderland

Christmas Time Charlie Brown

Have Your Self A Merry Little Christmas

Silver Bells

I’ll Be Home For Christmas

Sleigh Ride

Merry Christmas, Baby

What Christmas Means To Me Stevie Wonder

…and many more

For Promoters and Talent Buyers: East Bay Soul is available Fall/Winter 2010

Headline/ Corporate/ Casinos • Available to Package/ Support 2010

Greg Adams And East Bay Soul’s partial list of performances include:

The Berks Jazz Fest, Reading PA

Yoshi’s SF, San Francisco, CA

Anthology, San Diego, CA

Rams Head Tavern, Annapolis, MD

Kettle Moraine Jazz Festival, West Bend, WI

Blues Alley, Washington, DC

Gerald Veasley Jazz Base, Reading, PA

Spaghettini’s, Seal Beach, CA

Peppermill Casino Resort, Reno, NV

Temecula Wine and Music Festival, Temecula, CA

Festival Of The Arts, Laguna Beach, CA

Las Vegas City Of Light Jazz and Blues Festival, Las Vegas, NV

Jazz On The Vine, Elkhart, WI

Scullers, Boston, MA

Groove In the Grove Concert Series, LA Quinta, CA

Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival, Avalon, CA

Cocopah Resort and Casino, Yuma, AZ

For more information about The Band • The Music • The Message • The Truth

Visit: http://www.eastbaysoul.com/

# # #

We missed the last few weeks of short stories that Greg writes on the East Bay Soul facebook page, so we will be publishing a couple of them this week.  Greg wrote the following item on September 5th.

Greg writes: Sunday Feb. 25, 2007. “I was called to do the Jimmy Kimmel as a supplimental musician at the last minute. The call time was for 10:00 AM. I never turn down TV. The dough is good and you get your mug on the boober, hopefully. Which is never a bad thing, right? The night before I was at …Spaghettini’s in Seal Beach with my band featuring Deniece Williams. The plan was to go to their Sunday brunch and sing, play and sign CDs. Instead, Andrea took Deniece to brunch while I drove to Hollywood for my early call time. I later learned they had eggs benedict and smoked salmon. It is an excellent spot for a brunch with great food.

The reason I just went through that last thing about food was that I was not going to see much that day in the way of quality sustainence. No eggs benny for me. We had instruction to park at a designated lot about a mile away. We would then be shuttled in to the studio where the show was taped. Oh, I forgaot one little thing: It was Oscar night across the street at the Kodak Theater. Security? Oh boy. The police basically shut down the entire area of Hollywood and Vine. They do not want any surprises. They even seal manhole covers. They wanted everybody on the Kimmel in and buttoned up by noon

There were 5 of us on the cast for the show. Violin, cello, clarinet, flute, French horn and yours truly on trumpet. The guests that night were Ellen DeGeneres, a new and relatively unknown singer named Gaga and Dr. Phil. That’s when we found out our fate. All 5 of us were going to be transformed to Dr. Phil clones. Oh, and two of our group were women. And one of the girls was Asian. And one of the guys is black. What the %#&@! How are they gonna pull that one off? In make-up for about 3, yes 3 hours and I guess anyone can be made to look like Dr. Phil. Perish the thought. Everyone except myself had flesh color skull caps applied. I did not need one. Be kind everyone. Thank you. Then the ring of hair was applied, I got that because of my short blond hair, where I still have it. Oh, and the moustashe. Somewhere along the line in this endless day we were allowed to go to the commissary for lunch.

After lunch we were taken to wardrobe. Since it was Oscar night they are fitting us all in tuxedos. Of course, ill fitting tuxedos at that. Wouldn’t have it any other way, right? Now here’s the good news. It’s now about 4 PM. We don’t go on the air until midnight!! That’s TV for you. Hurry up and wait. Of course we did camera blocking and several rehearsals, but it was brutal. I was sure earning my money that day. After the run throughs we just hung around in our dressing room watching TV.

Also on the show was a girl who at the time was one of the cast of a game show I can’t remember the name of. Howie Mandel was the host and there were all these babes with silver Halliburton briefcases walking down stairs in unison. Anyone out there remember that show? Anyway, this girl, Anja was her name, was a ravishing blonde. I’m sure she still is. She was hired to be in a skit during the show, and she really didn’t have a dressing room so she hung with us. After introducing myself, I told her that my trumpet was a Monette AJNA. Anja. Ajna. Get it? She didn’t. Showtime is finally here! By now the girls are starting to freak out about the the hair and makeup thing. Hell, all of us were. All these hours in this get up and we are only on stage for about 2 minutes. We lip synched something to play the good Dr. to the desk with Jimmy. When we were finished, you never saw 5 people run to a dressing room so fast in your life. You don’t want to see someone changing? Turn your back. So, here were 5 people pulling wigs, facial hair and clothes off in record time. By the time everyone turned around, we were all dressed. Up to makeup to get cleaned up and to the shuttle to get the you know what out of there…

Fast forward to about 6 months ago. I sat in with Huey Lewis And The News at the Club Nokia here in LA. Kimmel, who hangs with Huey and the guys when they are in town, was there to introduce them for the show. Huey introduced me and I related the story of that show to him. He remembered all too we…ll. “That was brutal for you guys, huh?” he said. “Yeah.” I said, ” But you can call me back anytime. Just as long as it’s not Dr. Phil”.”

For more on Greg Adams go to his web site at http://www.gregadamsmusic.com/ or http://www.eastbaysoul.com/.  If your on Facebook you can find these stories as they are originally writtn at www.facebook.com/pages/East-Bay-Soul/89889972722?ref=ts