Greg Adams - Firefly (2004)

Happily, the sax-dominated smooth jazz genre now has three established trumpet greats, all with unique and varied sensibilities -- Rick Braun, Chris Botti, and now Greg Adams, legendary for his performances and horn arrangements with Tower of Power. While he hit the charts in 1995 with the number one album Hidden Agenda (which spawned the still popular cover of "Smooth Operator"), his busy TOP schedule precluded a second disc until 2002. Now that he's a full-fledged solo artist, he can concentrate on the kind of magic he creates on Firefly, easily one of the most eclectic and exciting genre discs of 2004. Anyone concerned that he'd endure a tough transition into solo stardom need worry no longer. Tracks like the romantic "Once Upon a Time" capture the slow-burning seduction of the Sade hit, but the real joys here are the feisty tunes that sport the kinds of scorching horn charts Adams is famous for. The best of these are the peppy and percussive, retro-soul-spiced title track; a moody and atmospheric ride up the "5 North"; the rolling-with-the-top-down, Herb Alpert-like "Time Is of the Essence" (with Mark Hollingsworth's alto blending into a lush harmony with Adams' horn); the gentle, swaying "Not So Long Ago"; and the all-out party-hearty whirlwind "Loco Motive," which out-TOPs TOP, if that's possible. Great melodies and extreme pop hooks abound, but traditional jazz fans will also enjoy the late-night closing track, "Just Like Breathing," with its subtle synth bass, brooding piano, and slight drum brushes.