Brighter Days

Album Review

If you've ever seen JJ Grey & Mofro, you have an idea of what to expect from this concert-length DVD and accompanying 78-minute CD. That said, since this gig, recorded in January at Atlanta's Variety Playhouse, was pre-planned with the end result being Brighter Days, maybe you don't. For starters, there's the band. For this engagement, Mofro was a sextet that included saxophonist Art Edmaiston, trumpeter Dennis Marion, organist and pianist Anthony Farrell, drummer Anthony Cole, electric and lap steel guitarist Andrew Trube, and bassist Todd Smallie. The concert footage is broken up with documentary footage of Grey — who hails from the swamps of Florida — telling stories (he's brilliant at it) and offering his observations on music, life, and various and sundry thoughts. The DVD gig contains three more songs than the CD. Musically, Mofro is excellent here. The way Grey and band combine their loosely played (not sloppy) roots meld of Southern R&B, country, blues, gospel, and muddy pop has a way of gaining in intensity, whether they are playing vintage tunes or newer ones; it's instictive, not something you can rehearse. Grey's voice is much grittier live than on records, it is a catalyst for the band to build upon and they do so whenever presented with the opportunity. The Brighter Days film was by Spookie Daly, Rovi