Greg Nagy Stranded

Greg Nagy
Stranded
Big O Records

This writer first became aware of singer-guitarist-songwriter Greg Nagy as part of the soul-blues group Root Doctor, when they appeared at the Pocono Blues Festival. Shortly after that appearance, Nagy focused on a solo career. About his last recording “Fell Toward None,” I observed that it was "an intelligently produced and performed recording that is full of soulful vocals, superior fretwork and focused accompaniments."

Nagy's latest recording, "Stranded" (Big O Records), reunites him with his frequent collaborator, Jim Alfredson who handles the keyboards and produced this with Nagy. Alfredson may be best known as keyboard player with the terrific vocalist Janiva Magness, but is an outstanding keyboard player and has produced several strong organ jazz recordings. Zach Zunis guests and solos on one of the tracks which are mostly Nagy originals (with several choice covers).

At the time of recording "Stranded", Nagy's 24 year old marriage was in dissolution and the pain from that colors these performances. This tone for the album is set with the title track (by Rick Whitfield and Jeff Paris) where he sings about being "stranded in the sea of tears in an island of broken hearts." The passion of his vocal is matched by his short guitar lines, and that is characteristic of the performances here where the focus is on the singing, not on his guitar chops. On Alfredson's "Walk Out That Door," Nagy tells this lady that he can tell she's lying and things won't be the same anymore. There is a strong solo break by Alfredson here.

Noteworthy is the rearrangement of a Bobby Bland classic "Ain't No Love In The Heart of the City" which is given a reggae groove as Nagy sings strongly. Perhaps no song covers the heartache Nagy was going through as "I Won't Give Up," with a compelling lyric of a scared heart and not giving up or give in, and with the lean, tight backing it is a commanding performance. Another striking performance is "Long Way To Memphis" with its stark, insistent groove, while "Been Such a Long Time," with Nagy singing "its been such a long since you gave her love away" and holding her heart apart, has a funky groove that certainly will get folks up and dancing.

If the tone of many songs here are of broken hearts and relationships, Nagy sings that all he wants to hear his woman say is "welcome home, welcome home" on the closing "Welcome Home," a ballad by Kevin McKendree that closes out this album. "Stranded" is a another excellent recording by Greg Nagy that brings together solid playing, strong, soulful material and vocals that are full of heart and conviction.

I received my review copy from a  publicist. This review originally appeared in the May-June 2025 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 360). Here Greg performs "Born Under A Bad Sign" from 2013.

Walking a Fine Line Greg Nagy Falls Towards None

This writer first was introduced to singer-guitarist when he was guitarist with the excellent blues and soul band Root Doctor at the Pocono Blues Festival a few years ago. Shortly afterwards, he left that fine band and embarked on his own career as a leader. I missed his debut album Walk That Fine Line, which was highly praised, but have been enjoying his latest recording, Fell Toward None (Vizztone/Big O Records) that displays his mix of classic and modern blues with a strong soul-R&B tinge with some rock accents.

It's an album that features Nagy and a band that includes Jim Shaneberger on bass, Kevin DePree on drums and percussion, on keyboards withGlenn Brown adding percussion on one track and the Motor City horns on three selections. With the exception of the opening Pack it Up, the songs are originals by Nagy and his band members. The strong modern urban soul-blues base of the music is evident from the brassy opening track with tight band work, strong singing by Nagy and fluid stinging guitar. As a vocalist he comes across as an equal to say Tad Robinson, Darrell Nulisch or Delbert McClinton (in his bluesier side) to mention a couple of similar strong blues-eyed singers in the vein.

When he kicks off the rocking shuffle Wishing Well, with some guitar effects, his nuanced use of such effects distinguishes this from the average heavy-handed blues-rock rendition of such material. And those rockers likely could not convincingly deliver a soulful tune like “Be With You,” which is enhanced by the Motor City Horns’ punchy brass. A similar mood follows on “I’ll Know I’m Ready,” a bluesy lament with a warm, relaxed vocal and an effective understated accompaniment creating the mood on a delightful performance.

The rest of the album exhibits variety in material and accompaniments that showcase Nagy’s considerable vocal and guitar capabilities along with that of his strong band. There is exciting guitar work on “Can’t Take It No More,” the tight funk of “Let It Roll,” the country-soul feel of “Still Means The World to Me, “ the atmospheric title track, and the witty lyrics inspired by today’s social media, “Facebook Mama,” (which is set to a Texas shuffle groove with his guitar sounding like he is playing through a Leslie speaker such as Buddy Guy played through on the Junior Wells’ Delmark recording of “Hoodoo Man Blues”).

“Fell Toward None” is an intelligently produced and performed recording that is full of soulful vocals, superior fretwork and focused accompaniments. Greg Nagy and band certainly are growing their reputation with this outstanding recording. Greg’s website is www.gregnagy.com and Big O Records is www.big-O-records.com.

I received my review copy from the performer. Here is Greg in performance doing Willie Brown's M&O Blues.