Orange Blossoms

JJ Grey

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 26, 2008)
• Original Release Date: August 26, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Alligator Records
• ASIN: B001BWQA5A
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,337 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

There are no shortage of retro-soul outfits, but few with the 70s-style swampy swagger of this rural Florida-based act. Orange Blossoms,’ title cut might remind some folks of Jerry Garcia's work with Merle Saunders; with its thick Booker T soul groove and jam band feel. Some of the album’s tracks bring to mind the Allman Brothers, Delanie and Bonny, Dr. John, or the Black Crowes. Grey and Mofro’s earnest songs seem to come from a pre-ironic era before digital production and ringtones. Orange Blossoms is what most bar bands in the world think they sound like; but don’t. It’s down home, in the best sense, performed flawlessly, with an admirable disregard for fashion. --Mike McGonigal

Product Description

ORANGE BLOSSOMS, produced by long-time cohort Dan Prothero and Grey, was recorded in north Florida and boasts some of Grey's most profound and moving music to date. The album features 12 songs (including 11 Grey originals) inspired by Grey's life experiences and visionary observations. With long-time friend and guitarist Daryl Hance, bassist/organist Adam Scone, drummer Anthony Cole, and the Hercules Horns of saxophonist Art Edmaiston and trumpeter Dennis Marion, Grey moves effortlessly from gospel-tent fervor to Southern-fried rockers to deeply emotional soul. ORANGE BLOSSOMS is a groove-driven masterpiece fueled by JJ's gritty, smoldering vocals and intense, funk-infused guitar and keyboard work.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Damn!, August 29, 2008

By	J. Riggins (Springfield, MO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

JJ Grey & Mofro have done it again. I own all four of their CD's and they are all outstanding. When you play a Mofro CD you can see the Spanish moss, pine trees, and kudzu in your mind. You can smell the steaming hot cornbread and black eyed peas and feel the humidity of the deep South. From laying outside in the grass watching fire flies to heading to Ybor City to find a woman to love you "out yo mind" Mofro takes you there with more authentic funk and soul than anyone else. On "Orange Blossoms" JJ Grey works in horns, strings, and background singers to augment the soulful slide of Daryl Hance, the "in the pocket" drumming of Anthony Cole and the funky keyboard of Adam Scone. The musicianship is extraordinary and the production rivals anything Stax or Muscle Shoals has produced.

Buy this CD and get your tickets to see them live. Mofro tours relentlessly and they will be appearing somewhere close to you. Don't miss out.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but not one of their better outings, November 11, 2008

By	R. C. Schmults "rob0" (Brookline, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

These guys are a great band with a range of musical styles. One of the reasons I wasn't blown away by this outing is it is mostly a "blue-eyed soul"/R&B set, unlike their other stuff which is more wide ranging. I love the inspirations behind this sound: the late 60's early 70's sound that had a fat horn sound, background singers who step in to hit chorus with a wavering note, organ lead-ins, and funkified twangy guitar. But in a lot of places he moves past that period to something closer to the later 70's where it was losing its edge. Think of the difference between early Sly Stone, Dobie Grey, or Al Green and their later stuff -- it became over produced, the horns became trite vs insipired, the background vocals headed toward soft rock. On this dics you get the gamut. You have tunes that hit the mark like "Everything Good is Bad" (could be a great Sly Stone tune), "On Fire" (a raw funky number), and "I Believe" (which has the build of a classic R&B ballad). But others that don't seem up to J.J Grey's previous high standard like "Orange Blossoms" (seems like an attempt to craft the Gulf Coast answer to Seger's "Night Moves"), "The Truth" and "Dew Drops" (cheesy strings), and Move it On (intended to be a sexy groove, instead borders on Broadway). If you are a J.J. Grey fan, there's enough here to like to make it worth buying (or cherry pick the tunes you want via download). If you are new to J.J. Grey, go with the albumn Country Ghetto instead -- better introduction to the tremendous talent this guy has.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars thanks again to mofro, August 30, 2008

By	julia ann chandler (charlotte nc) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm a long time fan of Mofro (i have no problem with the name change, though i know many do...they changed labels -thats it) and i listened to this album at least 4 times through by now. each album is amazing, and this one is no different. but it is different! there are less references to florida and more mention of the seductive ladies...hmm...i hope the road isn't getting to them! however, that aside, i am blown away by jj's voice on this album. he goes from that smokey gritty swamp sound then to a smooth high tone on 'she don't know' and everywhere in between. they are continuing to evolve but maintaining their mofro sound. Mofro will be present in charlotte in october and i'm counting the days to hear this album live. right on!