Photo Credit: Teri Anderson
Okay…so it’s Saturday morning and all is peaceful (for once!). I was browsing through the magazine in-tray and came across this one, scanned the press release and read “ “She and BO DIDDLEY jammed between takes while filming “ROCKULA” (“One of her career highlights is playing his guitar”).” Reading that, I had to grab the review as I comer the blues here so, dude- it’s Bo Diddley. Part of me immediately wants to chat about the Bo Diddley beat or his friendship with BB King, but I will restrain myself, share the press release and then review the single – I’m being good!
The press release:
Kathryn Grimm is an award winning singer / songwriter / multi instrumentalist based in the NW who has written, recorded and/or performed with some of the best in the biz. Friend / fellow guitarist Jeff Buckley backed her up in her original band Group Therapy. She and Bo Diddley jammed between takes while filming “Rockula” (“One of her career highlights is playing his guitar”). After hearing her version of “Spanish Castle Magic”, Al Hendrix contacted her to give his blessing (“A true honor…”). She’s the featured guitarist in Michael Bolton’s video “Dance With Me”;. Her many albums include – “No Cash Blues”, her latest, produced by Dennis Moody (Diana Ross, Missy Elliot…) with some scorching guitar work and an impressive roster of players; “Blues Tools” includes a rare track showcasing Mr. Buckley’s stellar slide playing; The Electric Blues “Grimm Again” (Burnside Distribution) received top reviews globally.
Kathryn stays busy with her many projects including The Kathryn Grimm Band (KGB), The Jazz Rockets, Hippie Love Slave, Babes in Portland; and hosts a quarterly Blues/Jazz Jam. She also offers her skills as a player backing up select artists on guitar, bass, piano, vocals (Mekong River Band) and as a writer (several of her songs are featured in playwright Alan Alexander III’s award winning “Homeless, The Musical”). Academically she holds degrees at The Guitar Institute (Hollywood CA) and Cal State, L.A. (BA / MA – Jazz Studies / Commercial Music).
My review:
Before listening to the new single I had a little dip into the sound of Kathryn and listened to “Turn Him Loose” which introduced me to her. I found an interesting track that blended a touch of country swagger with some bluesy guitar and keys. It had a dance feel in there and you do bob around a bit to it!
But, to the new single, “Say Goodbye to the Blues” was released February 1 and is out on all platforms now. It is certainly a jolly track (I haven’t used the word jolly for so long!). It has a jaunty spring time step and it is “floating on a cloud of love” as Kathryn sings of love and feeling happy in that sentiment. It is entirely enjoyable, a cheerful earful! Look, let’s face it, the news etc is so bleak at the moment there is nothing at all wrong with spring cleaning those blues and feeling blessed on a personal level. Don’t wake me up!
“Say Goodbye to the Blues” isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel or drag you through some smoky, soul-wringing lament — it’s a feel-good strut with a grin on its face. Kathryn Grimm knows her craft inside out, and here she lets the sunshine do the talking. It’s light on its feet, warm in tone, and just the sort of track you stick on when the world’s a bit much and you fancy three minutes of musical optimism. No doomscroll soundtrack here just groove, glide, and a gentle reminder that not every blues song has to be blue.
Give it a stream and let it lift you a notch!
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Stream music from Kathryn Grimm here
By Stevie Ritson