Australian blues musician Ash Grunwald was the first person I interviewed for Will Not Fade, back in 2015. It was just before his upcoming NZ tour. During our talk he mentioned plans for his upcoming record, including some people he was hoping to collaborate with. Fast forward four years, and he has just dropped said album, Mojo. I asked Ash if he would like to give us a guide to who he collaborated with on Mojo, touching on the process of working with them, and his favourite songs by some of the respective musicians.
Terry Evans (featured on tracks “Hammer” and “Whipping Boy”)
One of my favourite singers ever, big tall African American man from Mississippi, work that he did with Ry Cooder in the late 80s was very influential on me and I LOVE his song “Down in Mississippi”. Recording in LA with him was one of the best days of musical life.
Joe Bonamassa (featured on the track “Waiting Around To Die”)
Was a massive honour to have Joe Bonamassa on “Waiting Round To Die”. Although he’s probably known as the most impressive, flashing blues, rock guitarist on the planet he treated this song with a real subtlety and restraint. I mixed his performance with Ian Collard who in my opinion is one of the best blues harmonica players in the world and I get a kick out of hearing them trade blues licks.
My favourite song of his version of his is ‘I’d Rather Go Blind’ with Beth Hart. You hear the soul in all the notes he plays in that song.
The Teskey Brothers (featured on the track “Ain’t My Problem, with Josh also playing on “Waiting Around To Die”)
A huge honour to have the boys play on “Ain’t My Problem” the band have a real dedication to their craft and recorded the tracks in their old school analogue tape based studio, in that real Motown style that they’re known for. Josh Teskey has the best voice in blues and roots in Australia in my view and I’ve had the opportunity since that track to do some more collaborating with him including some more . It’s been really good getting to know the guys better and in discovered they used to come watch me when they were little kids (10) before I even had a professional music career which is pretty funny.
Favourite song: “So Caught Up”
Kasey Chambers (featured on the track “Whispering Voice”)
Yet another huge honour to have Kasey who was rightfully honoured in the ARIA Hall of Fame. A national treasure, she’s the same age as me and for her to have mainstream success back in the day showed you didn’t need to be a pop musician to have success.
Fav song: Ain’t No Little Girl’
Harry James Angus (featured on the track “Human”)
Harry is one of the most proficient musicians I know. Famous for his work as the co-frontman for The Cat Empire, he comes round to my place and I never play guitar, I let him play as he knows a million chords and can pay any song from memory including the solo, and he’s a trumpet player. He recently played me some new tracks from his solo album (not out yet) and they completely floored me and I would probably call it modern, jazzy, cross over pop. I want him to produce/record do something with me.
Mahalia Barnes (featured on tracks “Human”, “Trouble’s Door” and “Mountain”)
Mahalia has an absolutely huge voice. I love what she’s done on this album (three tracks) – she’s got the whole Aretha thing going on with just a little bit of the old man rockiness chucked in there. She also tours the world singing with Joe Bonamassa most of the time so she’s no stranger to wailing guitars. I love her Live At the Basement album.
Kim Wilson (featured track “Goin’ Out West”)
Along with Charlie Musselwhite probably the most renowned harmonica player in the world and most famous for playing with Jimmy Vaughan in the fabulous Thunderbirds. I used to cover one of his songs in my first blues band I played in called ‘She’s Tough’.
Ian Collard (featured on the tracks “3AM” and “How Many More Years”)
Ian is a mentor and a friend and also a huge influence on me, His first album ‘Collard Greens + Gravy’ in particular is an AU seminal blues album in my opinion. My favourite EVER Australian blues album.
Fun fact, his parts were recorded by Jeff Lang (on that album), Jeff is probably Australia’s seminal roots artist.
Eddy Clearwater (featured on track “How Many More Years”)
Eddy ‘The Chief’ Clearwater. He sang on the Howlin Wolf song and was great on it. A real genuine blues man, the real deal but sadly is no longer with us. He passed away in June 2018.
ASH GRUNWALD LINKS:
Website: www.ashgrunwald.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AshGrunwald
Twitter: twitter.com/AshGrunwald
YouTube: www.youtube.com/ashgrunwald
Bandcamp: ashgrunwald.bandcamp.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ashgrunwald/
Buy/stream Mojo: http://smarturl.it/agmojo
ASH GRUNWALD
MOJO TOUR
NEW ZEALAND
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019
With special guest Swamp Thing
Thursday 28 November
Anthology Lounge | Auckland
ticketmaster.co.nz | 0800 111 999
Friday 29 November
Yot Club | Raglan
ticketmaster.co.nz | 0800 111 999
Saturday 30 November
Totara Street | Mount Maunganui
ticketmaster.co.nz | 0800 111 999
Sunday 1 December
Leigh Sawmill | Leigh
ticketmaster.co.nz | 0800 111 999