Soon after I placed, West Coast singer-songwriter Steven Graves’ latest album onto my player I was captivated by the style, and general ambiance of his work. His true to life ability as a storyteller especially impressive, for not only do you have the descriptive lyrics but his warm vocals and sympathetic accompaniment. That range from guitar to drums, percussion, bass, electric and acoustic, and on selected tracks accordion, pedal steel guitar, fiddle, sax, tambourine, organ and wurlitzer. In Alysha Antonio, Dayan Kai (lead, rhythm guitar, mandolin, piano, organ, tambourine and percussion) and Keith Greeninger (rhythm guitar) he has three superb acts lend harmony vocal support, and when called upon first-class lead.
Graves pretty much has it all covered, fine chemistry with the above noted vocalists to go with his relaxed lead, plus carefully selected subject matter. He performs in a simple, uncomplicated manner that is not to say his music is narrow gauged, because it isn’t as he combines singer-songwriter, swing, jazz and soul. Plus you have a gospel flavoured mandolin doused “For It Is Not My Time” and country rock fuelled “It’ll All Be Fine” and with Charlie Wallace's pedal steel guitar all over it “Message” is one of those essential battered road movie like soundtrack songs.
As for Graves and Antonio’s sparkling, sax doused (Armen Boyd) version of the Johnny (Cash) and June (Carter Cash) favourite “Jackson” it is one of the best I have ever heard, head and shoulders above not only those from lesser knows but also from country music icons.
Although after promising start he does slip away mid-way through the record (although during which period he serves up innovative r&b piece “Love If Here” and a particular finely woven “Lucky Ones”) only to come back strong as he rounds off another well thought out and performed selection of work with the excellent “Heart Won’t Run”.
Maurice Hope