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.

Ronnie Earl Brings Good News

Ronnie Earl’s latest album, Good News (Stony Plain), certainly will be good news to the guitarist’s many fans. Earl is joined once again by The Broadcasters (Lorne Entress – drums, Dave Limina – keyboards and Jim Mouradian – bass), his band of over 25 years, to create a mostly instrumental CD. Also appearing is vocalist Diane Blue and guitarists Nicholas Tabarias and Zach Zunis. 

As great a guitarist as Earl is, the presence of Blue’s vocals on several tracks certainly adds to the pleasures heard here. The Disc opens with the Memphis music inspired I Met Her on That Train, with some rockabilly tinged playing (a bit of Scotty Moore mixed with Floyd Murphy). Ms. Blue is on hand to sing Sam Cooke’s A Change Is Gonna Come, with Earls’ thoughtful playing and attention to tone very evident. His facility on the fretboard is matched by the clarity and restraint of his playing. Few can convey such deep feeling, as even evident on the jazzy Time To Remember, with Limina’s organ playing standing out. 
 

Junior Wells is the source for In the Wee Wee Hours with another fine Diane Blue vocal and some playing from Earl that might suggest Buddy Guy (but with greater restraint than Guy would display today). Zach Zunis takes the first guitar solo here. It is followed by the infectious gospel-laced title track. Blues For Henry is a low-down instrumental tribute to the late Hubert Sumlin with Limina getting greasy on the organ.  

The closing track, Running in Peace, has lyrics written by Ilana Katz, who was near the finish line of the Boston Marathon when the first bomb exploded on April 15, 2013, which Diane Blue movingly delivers with Earl and the Broadcasters providing a sober background as Earl really gets down and pulls out all the stops on the solo here. It is a moving end to another excellent recording by one of the leading guitarists in the blues.

I received my copy from the label (and/or publicist). This review appeared in the July-August Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 355) and may be downloaded as a pdf file at jazz-blues.com. Ronnie Earl will be performing at the Pennsylvania Blues Festival at Blue Mountain Ski Resort on Saturday July 26. Here is my preview of the Festival, http://inabluemood.blogspot.com/2014/03/pennsylvania-blues-festival-celebates.html. Here is a video to give a taste of Ronnie Earl performing.