GRADY CHAMPION
2 Days Short of a Week (Shanachie)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

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Grady Champion's second Shanachie disc, 2 Days Short of a Week, is a strong set of original urban blues, flavored with soul, jazz, and a touch of rap. Champion started out as a rapper, but turned to the blues when rap went gangsta in the early 1990's. "Children of the Corn" is not about the Stephen King story or the gory movie: it's a plea for children to stop killing each other in school. On the sadly autobiographical "Policeman Blues," Champion turns his pen to another contemporary social issue that steals too many headlines: racial profiling. Champion's first-class studio band includes Arlen Schierbaum on the B-3 and electric Rhodes, James Intveld on bass, Lee Spath on drums, and Mike Turner and Alan Mirikitani on guitars. The Habenero Horns and Thomisene Anderson's back-up vocals help "Love is My Middle Name" soar, and Grady's harmonica makes "Honeybee" sting. Duke Robillard sits in on lead guitar on "Nothing I Can Do" and Antoine Salley helps out on percussion. Grady's treatment of "When a Woman's Fed Up" is destined to send this R.Kelly song over to the soul charts. Champion's blues mix soul, a touch of rap, and traditional blues and it's a winning combination.

Track List:

Wine and Women * Brother, Brother * Lady Luck * Honeybee * Children of the Corn * Policeman Blues * When a Woman's Fed Up * Love is My Middle Name * Nothing I Can Do * Stop Chasing Me

© 2001 - Eric Steiner