Talking With Greg Adams – August 18, 2025

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Grammy and Emmy-nominated trumpeter and arranger Greg Adams joins the conversation ahead of his August 22nd performance with East Bay Soul in Myron’s Cabaret at The Smith Center. From picking up the trumpet at an early age to taking over his high school band, Greg shares how his self-taught arranging skills led him to become a founding member of Tower of Power. He takes us behind the scenes of iconic moments—joining Elton John for the legendary Caribou sessions, working in the storied Capitol Records building, arranging with Quincy Jones, collaborating with George Martin, and why Linda Ronstadt holds a special place in his heart. Greg opens up about his “chameleon” approach to arranging—blending seamlessly with a singer’s voice, knowing when less is more, and drawing inspiration from greats like Nelson Riddle. He reflects on “Back to Oakland” as his favorite Tower of Power album, his ability to balance the energy of live performance with the precision of studio work, and the joy of creating his latest album, “The Real,” with East Bay Soul,. Plus, he hints at why Las Vegas might just become a regular stop on his musical journey. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)