- By Guy Krogh
- Entertainment
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If you have not clued into the sound of JJ Grey & Mofro, you simply will not understand the gushing nature of this review of their most recent release – their first ever live album. My first exposure to these artists was the Country Ghetto album - then strongly recommended by Jamie Osterhout (bass player of the Melon Brothers, among other bands), who recounted that he clued in on a live performance when down south and thought this was one of the best live performances he had ever seen. High praise from such and accomplished and traveled musician, so I bought the CD and quickly thereafter consumed everything JJ Grey & Mofro have ever released.Yes, they are that good. Thanks Jamie!
Hailing from the Jacksonville, Florida area, this band imbues strong local Florida influences into many of their songs and performances, with strong messages about the unique ecology and traditions of the South Georgia-North Florida region (with a special emphasis on preserving the swamps, wetlands, shorelines, and Lochloosa River basin). Grey has performed with B.B. King, Lenny Kravitz, Booker T. Jones, The Allman Brothers Band, The Black Crowes, Los Lobos, Jeff Beck, and many others. He even has a signature contribution to Buckwheat Zydeco’s Grammy awarded album Lay Your Burden Down. Their music has appeared in many film and TV programs, including House, the Deadliest Catch, Crash, Flashpoint, and The Good Soldier. So while many have heard the music, few know the source.
JJ Grey & Mofro is producing a funk-soul-blues-rock-swamp boogie fusion of music that is unique - nobody sounds like this! They are among the few musician-songwriters (other than in classical music, and some jazz performers) who very well understand that open spaces create musical texture and depth. The net effect is a strong groove, smack dab in the pocket, and a wondering listener who tries to figure out how, with only one or two instruments playing, such a strong melody and beat get through to the listener’s soul.
JJ Grey & MOFRO is JJ Grey (vocals, guitar, piano & harmonica), Andrew Trube (electric and slide guitar), Anthony Farrell (Hammond Organ), Anthony Cole (drums), Todd Smallie (bass), and the Hercules Horns section of Dennis Marion (trumpet), Art Edmaiston (tenor sax). This band splashed onto the scene with their first release entitled Blackwater in 2001. This was followed by a masterpiece named Lochloosa, and the even better Country Ghetto (2004 and 2007, respectively). In 2009 a vinyl-only “best of” release occurred, but critical acclaim came in 2008 with their release of Orange Blossoms and again with 2010’s Georgia Warhorse. In 2011, Brighter Days was recorded and released later in the year. This live album, which features a DVD with live footage, videos of the beloved landscapes of their home-base region, and band interviews, draws from this discography.
Brighter Days opens with the soulful, blues-based poignant song Country Ghetto, featuring understated harmonica blasts and a killer back-beat. This song stirs up the coming southern-based storm of lightning strikes that accentuate the funk-based rhythms, the ultra cool delivery, and the softer soulful southern songs that the band is acclaimed for. This opening number is followed by a New Orleans-Memphis horn-based fusion song that is reminiscent of the Neville Brothers named “A Woman.” The third track is the title track “Brighter Days,” and, from the opening organ runs to the internal message of the lyrics, if you cannot feel anything in this song go see your cardiologist. Few vocalists pour more of their soul out on the stage, whether live or in a recording studio, and the vocal styles are thus reminiscent of Janis or Jonny Lang because of that unique quality. The style is almost gospel-like in its fervor and the method by which it preaches its personal message.
Following is a swingy, foggy, misty number entitled “Air.” This is followed by a rock-driven song called “War.” Borrowing a strong Skynyrd style, electric guitars open a song steeped with strong funk influences. What follows is one of my personal favorites – “Lochloosa.” Again, if you cannot feel this song you have probably suffered brain damage or are deceased. The vocals scream the message amid a backdrop of tasty organs and horns and, literally, once you understand the message this song can send chills across your skin. A guitar solo punctuates the later part of the song and makes this one of the feature songs in the performance. The guitar style is decidedly southern and invokes images of Honeytribe or Little Feat.
“Dirtfloorcracker” is the next song on the playlist and fronts upon a killer beat accentuated by great guitar and drum work that send the listener into a hand-slapping, foot tapping swing, or into all out dance. You just gotta move to this song. It swings with a swamp-boogie melody that hits you straight in the face (while styled differently, it does bring a “Katie Webster flavor” to mind). This is a great song, with great musical and instrumental runs that trade off within the structure of a classic hard-edged funk and rock-chop beat.
“Orange Blossoms” follows next, and this is one of the songs that put the band on the national scene. This song has a quicker beat set amid an organic warmth that reminisces about teen love. A horn solo was added to the live version that ends the run and leads into the next song “Ho Cake” - another quick paced song fused with pure southern style and a guitar picking solo with strong country influences, all while funk-based horns punch through the background. This song features many solo performances fused into a manifesto about southern food, culture and cooking.
“The Sweetest Thing” steps the tone back down and was written about the birth of Grey’s daughter. You can hear the tenderness and love in the vocals; and this song does not lack in soul or style; a style reminiscent of Otis Redding. “The Sun is Shining Down” follows and is a slow soulful instrumental with a positive vibe and message, set amid a backdrop of muted trumpets with a gospel refrain.
Another of my favorites closes this set - “On Fire.” While I prefer the clean drive and beat of the studio version, the punched up rhythms and solos punctuating this closing number are well worth a solid listen. I also love the line “light ‘em up and smoke ‘em, she’s on fire.” In context, it is just a great line delivered spot on time. …A fitting ending to a great live performance.
Overall, this live performance takes blues-based swamp music and simple truths and tells stories with a style that invokes the listener to actually think. Funky soul is this band’s roots, blues is their palette, and the great southern storytelling tradition is the vehicle by which the melodies are infused with personal thoughts and style. This CD captures the dynamic range and power of Grey as a singer and songwriter, and the pure talent of the band Mofro. If you don’t hear the old school blues and soulful blue collar wisdom in their music, then you need to just keep listening. You can even hear the strains of old southern juke joints (think Route 61), yet this music just never grows old.
JJ Grey & Mofro recorded this CD at Atlanta’s Variety Playhouse in 2011, and it is a sampling of the variety of their styles and songwriting prowess. Many of my studio favorites do not appear on this live CD, but if this album is any portent I can only await with vigor the next live release. I just ordered 3 new copies to dole out as gifts to friends both young and old.
Yes - it is that good. Buy it now!
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