Denon presents an exclusive interview with Greg Adams, a Grammy and Emmy nominated trumpet player, composer, songwriter, and arranger.
For almost four decades, Greg Adams has been considered a driving force in San Francisco Bay Area’s music scene. He is known for a musical style that transcends musical genres, making Greg Adams an artist that can be appreciated by almost anyone. It is because of this that he’s been able to keep in sync with an ever-changing musical industry, bringing him success as a performer, composer, producer and more. He has gone to many worldwide tours and has contributed to some of the most important musical pieces in modern pop culture.
In addition to his own compositions, Greg has played on over five hundred recordings, collaborating with many famous artists and being featured in many different films. He is a founding member of Tower of Power, which is famous for its amazing horn arrangements, making it one of the most enduring musical entities today. Greg’s musical arrangements for the horn section of Tower of Power became sought after on its own, making him arrange for artists such as Santana, Elton John, Chaka Kahn, The Eurythmics, Rod Stewart, Quincy Jones, The Rolling Stones, and more.
His current project is East Bay Soul, an assembly of artists that combines instrumental soul, funk jazz, and R&B vocals that aims to discover new musical achievements. East Bay Soul has recently released a self-identifying CD produced by Greg, showcasing a selection of urbane, soulful, and lush recordings that feature the full strength of the rhythm and horn section through his arrangements. East Bay Soul is also set to perform live in numerous venues, where fans can get their heart’s worth of some of the best music from Greg Adams.
Tell us about yourself: What’s your profession, where did you grow up, and where do you live?
I’m an arranger, composer, songwriter and trumpet player. I’m an original member of Tower of Power and was with the band from 1970 to 1995. During that time, between touring and recording the band’s own albums, the horn section, under my direction, recorded and performed with some of the biggest artists in pop music history, and left an imprint on over 500 recordings. I am honored to be both an Emmy and Grammy nominee. Upon leaving TOP in ’95,
I was offered a solo contract with Epic Records and did my first CD, Hidden Agenda. It stayed at # 1 for 5 weeks on R&R magazine. The single, my cover of Sade’s Smooth Operator, stayed # 1 for that many weeks also. I’m now promoting and touring my latest and 5th CD East Bay Soul. EBS is a 10-piece ensemble, a combination of contemporary instrumental jazz funk and R&B vocals. When I left TOP, I took my sound with me. With this latest outing I’ve gone back to my roots without going back in time, so to say.
I was born in Billings, MT, but basically grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area.
I now reside in Los Angeles with my wife Andrea.
When did you first decide to become a musician, & what inspired you?
I picked up a cornet when I was about 5 years old. Basically dragged it around for 5 years before I really started to get a decent sound out of it. My parents were officers in The Salvation Army and would be Camp Directors for SA summer camps. There was band camp every summer where I was immersed in music and theory training for a 10-day period. I was starting to become proficient on the trumpet by the age of 14, but really started to have aspirations of being a professional when I got to high school. I joined the union at 16 and played my first gig on New Years Eve in 1968. I wrote for my HS jazz band and won many competitions with the band playing my compositions. So when Tower called me to join them, we did the first album, East Bay Grease. And the rest is…well, you know…
When did you first fall in love with music?
I have fallen in love with music several times, actually. The first time I heard the Beach Boys “In My Room”, hearing Dvorak’s New World Symphony, Rhapsody In Blue, Ferde Grofe’s Grand Canyon Suite. The Beatles without a doubt! I’d come home after school and put all kinds of music on the phonograph. (We had a stereo!) before my folks would come home from work. I was alone and it was my sanctuary until about 5 in the afternoon. I’d practice my horn and piano and play the stereo.
Describe your perfect listening experience?
For me the perfect listening experience is when I listen to a mixed and mastered recording and you can hear all the instruments perfectly balanced. The brass is even with the reeds. Also, the warmth of the strings gets the lushness they deserve. 5.1 doesn’t hurt either.
What is your idea of SOUND Bliss?
A Sound Bliss experience is to be on a session with multiple instruments and be able to hear a perfect balance between all of us when we play live together. Los Angeles is the home to so many world-class musicians. When you’re on a sound stage with an 85-piece orchestra recording a movie sound track with these players, it can be magical.
What was your first connection to Denon?
I’m sure the first time I came in contact with DENON equipment was in recording studios. I work at some of the top studios here in L.A. Capitol, OceanWay, Henson just to name a few. They all have DENON gear.
Have you ever owned a piece of DENON equipment?
I have own several stereo components, right now I have an Am/ Fm Stereo receiver DRA 275R.
Tell us about your most memorable DENON moment?
I was at a friend’s house and he had the Dolby Pro Logic Home Theater System. Talk about being there. The sound was INCREDIBLE!
Who are your favorite artists today?
This question is almost unanswerable for me. I have so many that I’m afraid I might offend if their name was left out. Everybody will mention the obvious, right?
I’m going to go with some behind the scene studio musicians that I like, and like to work with. Trumpeter Rick Baptist (Dancing With The Stars house orchestra).
Big Band composer Gordon Goodwin. And unequivocally, recording engineer Al Schmitt. I’ve worked with Al on several projects over the years. What is it now? 19 Grammies?
Who is doing work today that really inspires you?
Gustav Dudamel, conductor Los Angeles Philharmonic.
What are your favorite 5-10 songs that we would find on your music play list?
- Brecker Brothers -Skunk Funk
- Miles Davis – Sketches In Spain
- Katy Perry – Teenage Dream (Killer Track)
- Lady Gaga – Paparazzi
- Miwa Yoshida – Beauty and Harmony
- East Bay Soul – Always Take Two
- Dvorak – New World Symphony (Cleveland Orchestra)
- George Gershwin – Rhapsody In Blue
What do you think the future of music holds in store for us?
I hope horn bands come back, and quick. I have a pretty good one these days.
The future of the full CD is a question? With the impact of the iPod and digital downloads affecting the way music is purchased and listened to. You don’t have to buy the whole album anymore to get your favorite song. For me the compressed sound of the mp3 does not always deliver the best quality listening experience, but that is changing too.
Digital downloads represent a larger percentage of revenue for me, although the fans at the live shows still like to buy the physical CD and have it autographed afterward. It is the impulse and that feeling you get from live music that motivates your audience to buy your music. I’ve also been talking to people about recording a show and selling it immediately after down loaded to USB port in the form of a wrist bracelet, I see a future in that. Take the show home with you!
The “record company” has practically become a thing of the past for most jazz artists. The lack of artist development, tour support and dwindling budgets has led its way to you really having to wear a lot of hats. More artists own their mastered music, produce, promote and distribute it them selves. So I ask where will be major record companies be in 50 years? They didn’t see the future 20, or even 10 years ago!
It’s hard to look into a crystal ball and predict what will be the future of music in the years to come. I just hope that the discipline of learning to play your instrument proficiently will still be in the forefront.
If you could own a piece of sound equipment that would enhance your music or home theater experience, what would that be?
A really good pair of Studio Recording Headphones, I lost a pair not long ago and for fun an Turntable. I have a lot of vinyl that I can’t play because I don’t have one.
Check out East Bay Soul, composed of Greg Adams, Darryl Walker, Lee Thornburg, Johnnie Bamont, Michael Paulo, James Wirrick, Brian Allen, Joey Navarro, Johnny Sandoval and Herman Matthews, and their new CD and touring schedules.
Greg is also in the process of writing a book of short stories about his musical journey, recording sessions, experiences traveling, food and famous people he met and worked with over the last forty years. Last year he wrote a little blurb about meeting Michael Jackson back when he was still in the Jackson 5, which is the story that started what would be known as “Sunday Short Stories”. After the encouragement of so many on Facebook, these stories will now be in book form, with the title “Sunday Short Stories, Arranged by Greg Adams”. Watch out for this book very soon!
For more on Greg Adams go to http://www.gregadamsmusic.com/
