Smooth Sailin' is the debut release by multi-instrumentalist
Marty Grebb. Back in the mid-'60s,
Grebb was a founding member of the pop band
the Buckinghams, and was also a backup musician who played with
the Dells,
Bonnie Raitt,
Etta James, and
Willie Nelson, to name a few. On his Telarc debut,
Grebb plays piano, B-3, a bevy of saxophones, and guitar, and also handles lead vocals. He surrounds himself with high-profile guests, including
Raitt,
Taj Mahal,
Steve Cropper,
Amos Garrett, and
Rick Braun. The 13 tunes are all originals by
Grebb or are co-written by him, and range from horn-saturated soul-blues, lazy New Orleans grooves, and gospel-funk to smooth radio-ready contemporary blues. ~ Al Campbell