Fans of grooving smooth-jazz will find much to enjoy on Greg Adams’ FireFly (215). The former Tower of Power trumpeter knows how to create a lively, horn-drenched groover and amply demonstrates that talent throughout the album, notably on the title track, “Loco Motive” and “5 North,” on which nylon-string guitar offsets the horns and the funky beat. On the ballads “After Glow” and “She Still Waits,” Adams tones down the groove and turns in a pair of gorgeous, lyrical melodies performed on rich-toned flugelhorn, while “Just Like Breathing” evokes a late-night feel with its gentle, moody melody, graceful piano and brushed drums. At just under 40 minutes, FireFly is a bit short for a contemporary recording, but Adams packs a lot of appealing music into a brief span of time.
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