JJ Grey & Mofro

JJ Grey is one of the brightest new stars to emerge in American soul/blues in the past decade, and this disc will further cement that reputation. This is the eighth album in 12 years from one hard-working mofo. As with earlier releases, This River is a seamless mix of Southern soul, rock, funk and blues. Grey's ace six-piece band, Mofro, include two horn players, and they add full and funky musical meat to the bones of Grey's well-crafted songs and convincingly soulful vocals. He never overreaches vocally, unlike so many white soul singers, and on some of the Southern rock-slanted songs, like "Standing on the Edge," you may be reminded of the great Wet Willie, or a less frantic Black Crowes. Boosted by organ and horns, "99 Days Of Crazy" will sound great cranked at your backyard BBQ, while Grey digs deep vocally on the closing title cut. It's fitting that Heartbreaker Stan Lynch guests on the album, as Grey may be the best rocker to come out of Florida since Tom Petty.