Listen to: "Springtime Blues"
An acoustic blues CD with Orville Johnson on mandolin, dobro, and washboard, and John Miller on guitar. We all sing. This is our first recording as a trio. We recorded it live, all in the same room, no headphones. We have played this music together for over ten years. It is something we dearly love.
As John writes: ".... Though this is an acoustic blues recording, we cover quite a bit of ground under the branches of that cherished tree.These are our Blues, we sing 'em as we please. We have been playing this Blues music with each other for close to ten years. Individually, we have been doing it much longer--decades. Like many players, we've attempted to hear and absorb as much as we could from the masters who preceded us. When you work in a style in which so many definitive statements have been made, though, the question arises, "What do you have to add to what's alread been said?". The music on this CD is our answer to that question."
"We've shied away from recreations of historic recordings for a number of reasons, but primarily because we're interested in seeing what there is to say in this music now, speaking in our own voices. What speaks to us in this music? A memorable lyric, a strong melody, being right there when you sing, an instrument's wordless moan. We hope that our way of singing and playing these Blues speaks to you." –John Miller, January 2006.
"Deceiving Blues " is available at CDBaby or by contacting Grant,.
Grant dedicates his solo CD, Crossing That River , to Piedmont blues legend, John Jackson who passed away in 2002. Grant calls John a "loving presence." The existence of this “loving presence" continues in Grant Dermody - in his song selections, in his musical execution, in his passion. Every ounce of his being is transformed into an immediate connection, a sound offering - to the listener, to the fine collection of players, and to the spirit. Grant describes John as having passion, power, honesty and depth of character. I find these same traits in Grant - and in his music.” ~ Gaye Adegbalola, Alligator recording artist and founding member of Safire, the Uppity Blues Women
On Crossing that River, his first solo CD, Grant has captured many of the varied musical relationships he has fostered over the last eighteen years. Grant wrote three of the tunes, three were written by friends and guest artists, and the rest are songs he has always loved. There are harmonica duets with Phil Wiggins and Joe Filisko; blues duets with John Cephas, John Miller and Orville Johnson; a jazz flavored composition with (and by) Julian Priester; and small ensemble folk, old-time, country, and blues pieces with Jim Page, Richie Stearns, Scott Law, Forrest Gibson and Dale Fanning, to name a few. Grant's soulful style ties it all together.
"Crossing That River" is available at iTunes, CDBaby or by contacting Grant.
Listen to: "I'll Get to Heaven On My Own"
Listen to: "Breakthrough"
Listen to: "I'm Cross That River of Jordan"
Listen to: "The Leeward Side"
The Improbabillies CD, featuring Grant, Forrest Gibson, Richie Stearns, June Drucker & Scott Meyer can be purchased here
"Grant has it all. Time, phrasing, great ideas, and above all a stunning tone. Totally in the tradition but with a real voice of his own. " - Wayne Horvitz.
"This is a first-rate solo album from a mature musician who really loves what he is doing, and in a world where there is a great deal of competition, this guy can certainly hold his own . " - Bob Tilling, Blues In Britain Magazine.
"Grant's harmonica playing, though virtuosic, is not the bombastic pseudo-virtuosity of the psychedelic fantasy freak-out or cold mathematical noodlerama, but an articulate poetic statement with a big evocative vocal tone the tells the song's story with a moving lyricism. " - Mark Graham.
site: Deepwood Studio
