To that end when Williams and Adams first began putting together the concept of East Bay Soul, they were determined that this was not going to be a Tower Of Power tribute, but there would instead be a focus on Williams’ solo repertoire, Adams’ repertoire and the development of new material unique to East Bay Soul.
A press release was sent out on January 8th of this year announcing the formation of East Bay Soul and within the first two weeks eight gigs had already been booked. Since that time, the band has already received requests for bookings well into 2009.
East Bay Soul’s website describes the band’s music as, “a combination of instrumental soul funk and rhythm and blues vocals built on a design to discover new achievements rather than extend the past.”
What exactly is the East Bay sound? Williams says that it is a combination of many ethnic influences including a strong Afro American middle class influence that has its origins in the middle of the twentieth century, combined with a heavily concentrated Hispanic population, white southern elements, and the Haight-Ashbury hippie movement in the sixties.
“You had all of these different cultures blending together, and so the music that came out of this was dynamic,” says Williams.
To which Adams adds, “You said it right there, it is a melting pot. I couldn’t say it any better. Oakland is gritty, and it is a thing that you either get or you don’t. You just have to see where it comes from. It is like when you get a joke, because you realize where it is coming from.”
Williams says that his music has always been heavily influenced by, “what we saw and what we felt. People like Greg, and I, Sly Stone, and Carlos Santana, were writing about what we saw when we were growing up. That to me is the essence of the East Bay sound, and it includes San Francisco, even though it is on the west side.”
One might suspect with this many talented artists in East Bay Soul that eventually egos will clash and get in the way of the creative process. Adams doesn’t think that is going to happen.
“This is going to be a ten-piece band (counting vocals), so in essence, Lenny will have a nine piece orchestra. The cats in the band are consummate pros and they know how to lift up somebody who is the forefront, and just carry him along. That’s the beauty of this band. When I am out there the band just carries me along, and they make me better. That’s the whole thing, everybody makes everybody better. When it is their turn to shine, everybody is there for them.”
You many want to check out East Bay Soul’s website to see when they are going to be performing at a venue near you. I know I can hardly wait until they come to Seattle. I already have those dates circled on my calendar.
March 2008
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