Gary Gray with Funky Blues
Total fans: 11
Review of Beautiful Evil
ItÕs pretty darn hard for me to have a favorite album, or to latch on to one that is hard to put away. I have a complicated taste in music in that I can and do like various styles. Blues, rock and roll, jazz and funk.
Beautiful Evil is so different from mainstream anything, that it immediately captured my attention. While there isnÕt any rock and roll to be found on this album, it is full of jazz, blues and pure funkiness.
The vocals on Beautiful Evil are a treat. ItÕs not often I have found a jazz guitarist who sings as Gary does on this album. His smooth, easy going vocals capture you and pull you into the song. The backing vocals are nothing short of incredible. I canÕt think of any other group who has a style as unique as this.
This is not a safe album. Personally, I think Gary and his group took many chances to make Beautiful Evil the masterpiece it is.
Blending different styles so flagrantly, utilizing smooth vocals, contrasted with hip back up vocals are a perfect example. It is obvious all the musicians talents were utilized to great effect.
Gary smooth comping and leads are there alright, but it seems he holds back some in order to let the uniqueness of this album come alive. Truly, if he had made himself the absolute focal point, I think we would have just another jazzy album.
So I have to give a great kudos to him for his production of the album as well. If you are tired of the same old thing these days, do yourself a favor and immediately run out and get yourself a copy of this 5 star album.
Marsh Bruehl
Old Fox Trail Music Gazette
