Gravel & Grace - Bringing The Blues (2020) [CD Rip]

Ava Grace and Earl Matthews share the vocals as they lead their rollicking band through some gritty blues rockers. The team of guitarists Issac Lewis & Ricky Galvan, tenor saxist William Melendez, bassist Joshua Broom and drummer Raymond Vazira join with Grace at the keyboards when she sings bold and brazen 70s rockers like “Scares Me” or doo wops with the band on the fun 50s “Love On The Brain.” Her piano work is impressive as she pleads with a chorus on “Wash My Blues” and she rides over the snapping drums on the Phil Spector sounding “Pennies”. Matthews has a rich gravel to his voice that works well on the Doobie Brothers inspired “Next Move” and growls like Dr. John on the boogie-ing “Picture Perfect”. Melendez’s tenor is strong and tough, and the guitars can take you from Chicago to New Orleans at the flick of a wrist. They’d be fun to see at a gig; any tours on the horizon? ~George W. Harris