Read our interview with Florida’s soul singer JJ Grey
JJ Grey – Photo by Todd Cooper
Hi. Do your friends call you JJ or by your real name – is it John?
It’s John and people call by both. JJ was short for Jon Jon which is what my
family calls me.
—
I read somewhere that the term Mofro was originally a nickname bestowed
on you by a co-worker? Does it mean anything or is it just made up.
Yeah a buddy of mine called me that but not all the time. I thought I’d use it
for a musical name since it sounded southern but didn’t mean anything in
specific.
—
I saw you and the band in Columbia Missouri at the roots n blues n BBQ
festival last year. I sort of knew what to expect musically from your albums,
but what struck me was the obvious fun you were having on stage with the
ensemble. You guys must have a tight bond? Has the band been in much
the same configuration in the past few years?
This group has been together for a couple of years now. I love hearing them
play and everybody enjoys jamming and hanging together. I can’t say enough
how much these guys rock! It’s a pleasure every show to hear them make my
musical dreams come true!
—
The other highlight for me that day was your heartfelt dialogue and honesty
about the ups and downs of life? It was a little evangelical to my mind? Is
there any gospel or religious influences in what you present?
I was definitely influenced by all of that. I grew up in it and I’m sure it
comes out whether I realize it or not. I just want to share an honest
moment with anyone. It never feels to me as if there is an audience there.
It always feels like we’re playing to one person at the time even if there are
50 or 5000 of them standing there together listening.
—
The new album Ol’ Glory has just been released world-wide and is about
your sixth studio release I calculate. It’s a terrific album and stands among
the best work you have done. How long was the gestation period?
It’s actually the 7th. Most of the album started happening right after
finishing This River. The song Turn Loose is a lot older. It was one of those
older songs that I had not finished all the lyrics for. I finally got it down on
this session. I had about 15 songs ready when we hit the studio and I had the
band familiar with maybe 10 of them at that point. From there the album
just sort of made itself.
—
I can’t stop listening to “Brave Lil’ Fighter” from the new album. It’s an epic
and I love the way it escalates well into its length with some passionate and
uplifting trumpet out front. Can you tell me a little about the song and its
derivation?
The song is about a good friend of mine and a fatally bad decision he made.
I demoed it in my studio at home by myself and then the band just jammed
with the demo. I kept hearing in my head a Sergio Leone type ending on the
song so I hummed the outro line of the trumpet solo to Marcus (who played
trumpet on the album). He started his solo with it then took it to a whole
other level. I am extremely fortunate and grateful to get to play with the
people I get to play with. They bring it to life.
—
Your Australian tour in April is your first visit to these shores?
I stayed in on the north shore in Sydney with my wife’s family for a month
back in the early 90’s. I loved it so much down there that it inspired me to
get off my ass back home and get a little more serious about my music. We
also played at Bluesfest 6 years ago. We’re all chomping at the bit to come
back and play there again.
—
You have two sets I think at Bluesfest and one other show in
Sydney. I am shattered that you won’t be playing in Melbourne! Is that a
reflection of the economics of moving such a large outfit around pretty
large distances?
A little of that but more of the fact that I won’t stay away from my family
for more than 3 weeks. I made that promise to myself a while back. I came
home from a long tour and my daughter had grown an inch taller. I vowed
then that, that wouldn’t happen again. We’re only in Australia for a week
this time, if we were there longer I would’ve brought the family down. BUT!
We will be back a lot sooner than last time and we will play in Melbourne.
I’ve always wanted to play in Melbourne plus my brother-in-laws brother has
a cafe there and I want to check it out too.
—
Thanks for your time. Congratulations on the album and I am sure that the
Bluesfest crowd will be blown away.
Thank you! We’re really looking forward to it!
JJ Grey & Mofro will be at Byron Bay’s Bluesfest between 2 and 5 April 2015 and at The Basement in Sydney on April 6.
Read our interview with Florida’s soul singer JJ Grey
***
