Greg Nagy
Fell Toward None
Big O Records/Vizztone Records 2417
2011
(44')
One could wonder how that Nagy daddy O was going to equal the accomplishment of his first album, memorable Walk That Fine Thin Line. He does better than that, he surpasses it.
Not that his previous effort suffered any kind of weakness, no. Fine Thin Line is a fantastic album that deservely was nominated for a Blues Music Award in 2010, which is remarkable. But what makes the difference with Fell Toward None is that the latter, while a confirmation, as if that was necessary, of the man's vocals and guitar skills, as well as an undeniable talent as a songwriter – with indeed some help from his friend, non less talented Jim Alfredson who also brings some fine Hammond B3 playing to the table, a job he's been having with Janiva Magness' band since last year – is that it leaves yet more room to originality. For if Fine Thin Line started quite strongly by mixing such different influences as gospel, soul, blues, funk and rock, it went on with more conventional tracks, even if highly efficient ones. Fell Toward None sees our man assert his musical personality by filling the whole album with this inspiration that, if profiously fed with those same influences, doesn't leave any room to tradition, at the benefit of originals all equally exciting.
It would be hard indeed to pick but one number rather than another in this collection with different moods, from swing to soul ballads, from blues to funk, sometimes from one track to the other, but also cleverly mixed within one song at times, but all stamped with an identity, which is the mark of the greats – impossible indeed to confuse Greg Nagy with anyone else – as each and everyone of these 11 tracks is equally noticeable. To be filed somewhere between James Hunter and Thornbjorn Risager, even if yet different.
Vizztone clever move was to sign Nagy and now distributes this little gem as soon as June, 2011. Let's hope this distribution will bring this artist a better exposure this side of the Atlantic. Who knows, maybe a promoter will notice and bring him over, so we can all check him out in the flesh ?
René Malines
www.gregnagy.com
Fell Toward None
Big O Records/Vizztone Records 2417
2011
(44')
One could wonder how that Nagy daddy O was going to equal the accomplishment of his first album, memorable Walk That Fine Thin Line. He does better than that, he surpasses it.
Not that his previous effort suffered any kind of weakness, no. Fine Thin Line is a fantastic album that deservely was nominated for a Blues Music Award in 2010, which is remarkable. But what makes the difference with Fell Toward None is that the latter, while a confirmation, as if that was necessary, of the man's vocals and guitar skills, as well as an undeniable talent as a songwriter – with indeed some help from his friend, non less talented Jim Alfredson who also brings some fine Hammond B3 playing to the table, a job he's been having with Janiva Magness' band since last year – is that it leaves yet more room to originality. For if Fine Thin Line started quite strongly by mixing such different influences as gospel, soul, blues, funk and rock, it went on with more conventional tracks, even if highly efficient ones. Fell Toward None sees our man assert his musical personality by filling the whole album with this inspiration that, if profiously fed with those same influences, doesn't leave any room to tradition, at the benefit of originals all equally exciting.
It would be hard indeed to pick but one number rather than another in this collection with different moods, from swing to soul ballads, from blues to funk, sometimes from one track to the other, but also cleverly mixed within one song at times, but all stamped with an identity, which is the mark of the greats – impossible indeed to confuse Greg Nagy with anyone else – as each and everyone of these 11 tracks is equally noticeable. To be filed somewhere between James Hunter and Thornbjorn Risager, even if yet different.
Vizztone clever move was to sign Nagy and now distributes this little gem as soon as June, 2011. Let's hope this distribution will bring this artist a better exposure this side of the Atlantic. Who knows, maybe a promoter will notice and bring him over, so we can all check him out in the flesh ?
René Malines
www.gregnagy.com
