JJ Grey & Mofro
JJ Grey's musical career is admirable - he's worked his way up from playing covers when he was employed in a lumber yard in west Jacksonville, Florida, to sold-out gigs in large venues and music festivals around the world. Already his debut album Blackwater from 2001 brought what is characteristic of JJ Grey's music - songs based on southern rock with a mixture of funk and soul. At the time, he was still performing under the moniker Mofro, the name that Gray used to describe his music and sound. After some time, he named his band composed of professional musicians with the same name. He released five albums on Alligator Records before switching to the Provogue label. JJ Gray & Mofro performed at many festivals including Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Wakarusa, Austin City Limits Festival, Byron Bay Blues Festival in Australia, Montreal Jazz Festival or Fuji Rock in Japan. He has shared the stage with such musicians as Lenny Kravitz, B.B. King, The Allman Brothers Band, The Black Crowes, Los Lobos, Jeff Beck, Ben Harper, Booker T. Jones, Mavis Staples and many more. His songs appeared in films and television projects such as House of Cards, Criminal Minds, Crash, The Gray Man or Flashpoint. Gray is a passionate fisherman, artist, surfer and an active environmentalist by the sea coast.
The album Olustee was created after eight years and was produced by Gray himself for the first time. He sings on it their personal stories with universal themes of redemption, rebirth, bad luck and inner peace. In his music, Gray also celebrates good times with friends, often mixing carnality and sensuality with considerations. Grey's gruff baritone brims with honest passion with almost preachy fervor. With Olustee, JJ Gray once again pushed the boundaries of his own creative musical, lyrical and singing talents. The result is songs that have become instant classics. Many of them are steeped in Southern myths from his ancestral home in Florida and filled with characters from JJ's life. The songs are told through the poet's eyes and sung with pure, unadorned soul. Grey's message is simple and powerful - respect nature and always try to live in the present.
"Passionate vocals, southern rock based on sharp guitar riffs, cold-blooded funk and Memphis soul . Their full-blooded funky blues celebrates life's most basic joys. Gray is a singer-songwriter with natural talent and deep feeling," wrote The New York Times about the American band JJ Gray & Mofro.