East Bay Soul’s self-titled current album opens with the song “Survival Of The Hippest,” featuring the sweetest horn section this side of the…well this side of the universe. Who needs landmarks when you are listening to an other worldly group that is this great?  Greg Adams (trumpet), Lee Thornburg (trumpet / trombone), Michael Paulo (alto sax), Johnnie Bamont (tenor sax) and Greg Vail (tenor / baritone sax) comprise the horn section. Now I am the first to admit that I am not a fan of rap music, mostly, because it does not hold any appeal for me, however Tom Bowes rap on “Survival Of The Hippest,” has given me home that I might yet be transformed, as the combination of music and the upbeat rap (no pun intended) kept me moving my hips, swaying my body, and clapping my hands as Joey Navarro played the Hammond B3 organ, James Wirrick (guitar) and bassist Brian Allen lay down the funky licks. Evan Stone keeps the beat on drums, however it is the outstanding percussion of Johnny Sandoval that rocked my boat on this song.

If I thought for a moment that I could sing, I would tie Tom Bowes up and hide him in someone’s basement the next time East Bay Soul, records an album, because this cat has the sweetest gig singing with these talented and very funky musicians on songs like “Reading Lips.” Then again there is always Sean Holt, whose vocals on “Jump, Shout and Holler,” make this song work oh so well. Greg Adams, Tom Bowes, Carmen Grillo and Lee Thornburg backup Holt on vocals. Now I am on the fourth song from this booty shaking album and I still have not stopped dancing.  Listen for the alto and tenor sax solos by Johnnie Bamont, as he gets his instruments to sing. Adams and Thornburg are sensational with their trumpets.

East Bay Soul’s album is not all about just jumping and moving to the music however, as the pretty “What’s It Gonna Be?” demonstrates as Greg Adams takes center stage with his muted trumpet and Evan Stone’s drumming combines with Johnny Sandoval’s percussion to elevate this song. This is the kind of song that you picture in one of those movies, where it is nighttime and the streets are deserted, perhaps a solitaire figure walks down the street, maybe even in a trench coat.

As we get into the later stages of the East Bay Soul album, the old school sounding “Stop,” rolls out with Lee Thornburg’s earthy, soulful vocals that complete with wails. Hey this is the best old school vocal performance I have heard since I was at a James Hunter concert in San Juan Capistrano at the Coach House a few years back.

In recent years, I have come to appreciate the flugelhorn, because of the warm and mellow colors that it brings to a song and on the second last song from this album, “Five To Eleven,” we hear Greg Adams play both the flugelhorn and the trumpet. The song is contemplative and the melody meanders quietly, like a slow moving brook.  Several musicians play on this song, however, it belongs to Greg Adams and James Wirrick who is elegant on piano and guitar. 

Tom Bowes closes out East Bay Soul, as he poses the painful question, “Am I losing you to someone new?” I like the musical choices that were made for this song, with Brian Allen’s cello, Stevie Blacke’s violin and viola, as well as the flugelhorn solo by Lee Thornburg.

As much as East Bay Soul gets you moving with great old school funk, soul and R & B, they do an equally good job of ensuring that this record does not become one dimensional, by weaving in softer, gentler songs along the way. Is East Bay Soul’s music worth investing in? If you do not know the answer to that question, you have not been paying attention. Of course it is. This is an album that belongs in your digital library or your CD collection.