Australian Blues & Roots Airplay Charts

With his connection to The Allman Brothers Band, it's a given that Scott Sharrard - Gregg Allman's guitarist and musical director - knows a thing or three about Southern rock, some of which you'll be hearing on "Saving Grace,” his fifth solo release.  On the other hand, you'll also be hearing some soul, blues and R&B - with the keyword there being soul - and the influence of that Southern sound will be quite evident in them all.

 "Saving Grace" contains eleven tracks with nine being Scott Sharrard originals, another being the last known composition from Gregg Allman and the other being the disc's only cover. 

On the project, Scott Sharrard - on vocals, electric and acoustic guitars and claps - is joined by just under my listing limit of thirty musicians; so instead of just referring to them as a "talented bunch of recognizable names", it is my pleasure to mention each and every one.  They are: Howard Grimes, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, Steve Potts and Chad Gamble on drums; Leroy Hodges, Brett Bass and David Hood on bass; Charles Hodges, Alan Gamble and Pete Levin on B-3 organ; Eric Finland on Wurlitzer & electric piano and B-3 organ; Spooner Oldham on Wurlitzer piano; Moses Patrou on percussion, backing vocals and claps; Mark Franklin on trumpet; Art Edmaiston on tenor sax; Kirk Smothers on baritone sax; Jesse Munson, Yennifer Correia and Wen Yih Yu on violin; Jennifer Puckett on viola; Jonathan Kirkscey on cello; Susan Marshall and Pie on backing vocals; Charles A. Martinez, Jesse Guglielmo and the disc's co-producer Scott Bomar on claps; and special guest Taj Mahal on vocals.

"Saving Grace" is one of those albums where I could just go straight down the list of excellent tracks and make positive comments on each and every one but since I just made my point, I'll keep it to a few.

One of the several soft and relaxed tracks is a love song titled "Faith To Arise" (T. Reid).  It's a beautifully sung song about a weary traveler looking forward to returning home to his loved ones.  With some silky-smooth help from Susan, Scott's not only nailing it on the heartfelt lead vocals, he's doing it on the slide and acoustic guitars as well.

 With deep regrets, Scott emotionally and soulfully laments over the loss of the woman who always picked him up when he was down.  She knew exactly how to get him through those tough times and bouts with low self-esteem. She was indeed, his "Saving Grace".  This, the title track, is the only one on the album that features just the nucleus of the band and in spite of the lack of added horns, and extra percussion, it's still a musical powerhouse. Chad (drums), David (bass) and Eric (B-3 and piano) have the rhythm at a high level of intensity and Scott's laying down some of the disc's most serious blues licks on the guitar.      

"Everything A Good Man Needs" is said to be the last song written by the late and great Gregg Allman.  Until now, the song had never been recorded and the honor of doing justice to it with the vocal performance it warrants was given to the legendary Taj Mahal.  Teaming up for their only appearance on the disc, Bernard Purdie and Brett Bass are putting out the tight rhythm; Also, on his only appearance, Pete Levin - one of the disc's four B-3 players - and Eric Finland on the piano, are totally killing it on the keys.

 An obvious common denominator on so many of these songs is how beautiful they all sound and "Words Can't Say" is the cream of that crop.   The combination of the majestic strings, the heavenly horns, the pulse of the B-3 and Scott's exquisitely smooth and soulful voice all give this ballad a hymnal feel.

Like a flame thrower, "Sweet Compromise" starts off hot and never lets up.  The guitar's smokin', the rhythm's rocking, the horns are howlin' and on an album that has so many monster organ players, I'm going out on a limb and saying Eric's pounding out some of the disc's best B-3 work.  If this smoker doesn't get you moving, you've spent way too much time listening to music in a elevator, or worse than that - your pulse may have stopped.    

 Other tracks on the outstanding release include: "High Cost Of Loving You," "Angeline," "She Can't Say," "Tell The Truth," "Keep Me In Your Heart,"  and "Sentimental Fool."

Review by Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © August 2018