The Greg Sherrod Music Company is Sherrod’s band for the Connecticut singer to play out in Rhode Island. He also records with them and his new album titled Providence offers plenty of solid songs. Combing blues, R&B, and soul with the edge of rock and roll proves a winning formula for the giant sized performer.
Stomping opener “Never Give Up. Never Surrender” captures the pain of modern existence. Sherrod lets the tortured soul of this number come bounding to the surface with an empowered, rock and roll belt. Wild guitar erupts into a muscular phrasing, high pitched, emoting with a crying release. The power here just smolders until the end.
“True Believer” takes things down a notch without losing the Sherrod Music Company drive. This lets Sherrod show how well he can emit his poetic vision within briefly open spaces in a quick succession of groove. This singer feels when it’s time to emote and he does it with a flare for timing. The song packs another punch as a lead guitar torches its way forward then a third punch when Sherrod stops coloring within the lines and lets his vocal belts override the tight frame of groove.
“What’s In A Pretty Face” feels dance hall, bouncing along a mid tempo guitar line, Sherrod asks the perennial question. His voice moves smooth as a butter knife spreading that butter over toast. Vocal sustains glide with emotive soul. His soulful husk finds a good home among a springy guitar phrase and a mellow grooving rhythm section.
“Dreamworld” moves in like a cloud, soft, pretty keyboard notes shining like sunlight. Sherrod’s beauty of a voice hits high and then down lower without missing a beat. He keeps this one infused with a hovering sensation, keeping it just where he wants it with his strong musical personality. It’s a treat for the ears to his voice traveling just above Chris Mitchell’s keyboards. His voice gets an able assist from his students, The Voices, and Zachary Fenner’s lead guitar takes it higher, like into heaven when his gentle lead spiral upwards.
Written in Claude Monet’s hometown of LeHarve, France, “Monet” combines lofty drumming, thick puffy fills, with a racing accordion line, swift horn work, choral support and a lead guitar line that masters the melodic phrase that carries this. It’s uncanny how well the horns, choral singers, and Sherrod combine in a gripping chorus.
“Stand Up” is a rallying call to use people power. Sherrod’s personal oomph makes this veer perfectly into an anthem. A driving rhythm section and forceful horn work give this muscular vigor. A guitar rides the chunky groove just right, keeping the groove the main authority here, and letting everyone rock out rebelliously toward the end gives a needed eruption of energy to carry this urgent message.
Slow boiler “I’m Doing My Best” combines the deep rich resonance of Sherrod’s voice beside a sentimental piano line, a romantic R&B piano song letting Sherrod showcase how much feeling he can develop with his voice in a sparser setting. He has the listeners in the palm of his hand, right where he wants them, as he lets his tender moments speak for themselves, coos and sustains carrying much of the emotive weight.
Hard peppy percussion from Aaron Daniels makes “Frozen Moments” into a primitive vibe that perfectly suits Sherrod’s way of spreading his buttery smooth voice over all. Skittering guitar work adds another dimension to this rhythmic dandy.
Greg Sherrod And The Music Company offer a fine, punchy album with Providence. Rounding out the recording are Willie Moss, Steve Tavares, Benjamin Marcotte, Joel Caputo, Liza Fake, Zack Rosenberg, Bethany Schonning, Jim Heetman, Colin Smith, Joseph Tudino, Brian Williams, and Eric LeStrange. Produced by Greg Sherrod and Jack Gauthier at Lakewest Studios in West Greenwich, Rhode Island.
