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BLUES MATTERS
United Kingdom
Issue 16
October 2003
USA - GRAY
GREGSON: "Live from Austin" Double CD playing 55.34 [13 tracks] and
[9 tracks]
Where to start? No notes and no info on sleeve other than track
titles and list of musicians. I can tell you that this has
played a few times and is a mighty fine recording of varied Blues
and textures. Gray is in fine voice throughout both CDs and
plays: piano, Hammond organ, clavinet, tower of horns & the 'mothership'.
Vinnie Bean Garbonzo plays guitar on all tracks and there are some
very fine moments in here indeed. Fine keyboard skills
displayed and with this band behind him Gray should be heard an
awful lot more cause this is one hell of a fine album, the big stage
beckons I feel. 14 of the 22 tracks are originals and there is
a lot of stand up stuff here, great composition, lyrics an'all.
The second of the CD's features some guests including Donna
Hightower, Debbi Walton, Rusty Wier and Bobby Boyd. "Baby What
You Want Me To Do" has fine guitar/Hammond moments. "I'm In
Love With You" was written and is sung by Debbi Walton here,
she has a fine voice and has written a fine song to match.
"Life Is Hard" is a song I love by Fred James [known from our own
Mo'Indigo when they tour with him] here features Jeff 'El Jefe'
Anderson on guitar, this is just such a great song. There's a
glorious version of Amazing Grace at the end of CD2 playing 5.55 and
varies from plaintive to gospel styles. I love this CD to
bits, one real fine album indeed, with the right promotion this
could be a surprise of the year album. I must admit that I
preferred the parts with more guitar and less horn but overall this
is a fine collection indeed.
-- Ponch |
