“Rich, funky swamp grooves...Grey is a singer-songwriter [who] celebrates life’s most fundamental joys with unforced talent and deep feeling.” –New York Times

Down-home roots, rock and soul artist JJ Grey and his band Mofro, touring in support of their latest CD, ORANGE BLOSSOMS, will perform in St. Louis on February 19, 2009. ORANGE BLOSSOMS features 11 original JJ Grey compositions (and one cover) that come right out of the Southern musical tradition. Following up on the major success of Grey’s last Alligator album, COUNTRY GHETTO (and the reissue of the band’s first two releases, 2001’s BLACKWATER and 2004’s LOCHLOOSA), ORANGE BLOSSOMS is a groove-driven, soulful masterpiece. ORANGE BLOSSOMS is Amazon's #5 Rock Record of 2008 (rounding out the top 5: Kings of Leon, Metallica, Coldplay and R.E.M.), and also landed at #44 in Amazon's Best of 2008 Top 100 Editors' Picks. Concert information is below:

Thursday, February 19th
The Pageant
6161 Delmar Blvd.
St. Louis, MO
314.726.6161
www.thepageant.com
8:00 p.m.
$20.00 Adv. / $23.00 Day of show
$25.00 Reserved Balcony Seating

*Appearing with Galactic

Like Florida’s state flower, the orange blossom, songwriter/vocalist/multi-instrumentalist JJ Grey’s songs are fascinating, beautiful, and complex. Both are products of the same ground: the rich, fertile and ancient soil of the Sunshine State. Born and raised just outside of Jacksonville, Florida, Grey comes from a long tradition of Southern musical storytellers and, like the best of the great Southern writers, he fills his songs with details that are at once vivid and personal, political and universal. His multi-textured music overflows with dynamic rhythms and thought-provoking lyrics. From raw funk to deep soul, blues and rock, JJ and his band Mofro deliver devastating live and recorded performances. Blues Revue says the band plays “irresistible North Florida roots, soul and blues....Joyous, funky grooves and gritty, mesmerizing lyrics.”

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 fueled by JJ’s gritty, smoldering vocals and intense, funk-infused guitar and keyboard work. Relix raved, saying, “Grey and Mofro fuse rock with plenty of soul and groove-heavy blues, and dirty, infectious funk. The deep and introspective lyrics are a breath of fresh air.”

Debuting in 2001 with BLACKWATER, following up in 2004 with LOCHLOOSA, Grey steadily built an intensely loyal following through constant touring. In 2007, with his first Alligator release, COUNTRY GHETTO, Grey reached an even larger audience, doubling both his album sales and his concert attendance. Now, with his new album, ORANGE BLOSSOMS, JJ Grey takes another giant step forward.