Detroit radio formed the soundtrack of Emm’s life and career and her brand new record is a celebration of that music. From Motown, jazz and pop, to Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac and the Doobie Brothers, her new album ‘Business & Pleasure’ is infused with the sunshine soul and stellar playing of the late 70s and early 80s.
To give her new songs, which she wrote together with poet Michael Holmes, an authentic sound, none other than the American-Canadian star producer and Juno Award winner Fred Mollin, who has already produced records for Jimmy Webb, Johnny Mathis, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lamont Dozier and America, took a seat in the producer’s chair.
Emm Gryner also showed an expert hand in choosing her studio musicians. With the support of drummer Shannon Forrest (Toto), keyboardist Pat Coil (Michael McDonald), bassist Larry Paxton (Alison Krauss) and guitarists Tom Bukovac (Taylor Swift) and Pat Buchanan (Hall & Oates, Dolly Parton) she manages to realise the sophisticated arrangements with joy and skill.
These songs will win over yacht rock apologists and contemporary adult pop lovers alike – especially as they are arguably in the tradition of the Californian sound of the early 80s, but clearly grounded in the here and now. It’s hardly surprising that Emm Gryner’s new album is docked in the harbour of Légère Recordings. After all, the Hamburg label stands for modern West Coast AOR with artists such as Young Gun Silver Fox and Dawn Patrol.
With her 23rd solo album ‘Business & Pleasure’, Gryner succeeds in creating a fine modern yacht rock album in which the listener’s ‘pleasure’ is clearly in the foreground.
About Emm Gryner
Emm Gryner is an award winning singer, songwriter, actor and best-selling author. Emm sang and played keyboards in David Bowie’s band, and appears on numerous recordings, including his landmark 1999 SNL appearance, Bowie at The Beeb and Toy. Bowie’s acclaimed Glastonbury 2000 documents her performance in front of more than 100,000 fans at Worthy Farm. With Trapper she shared arena stages with Def Leppard, and she also helped bring the first music video recorded in outer space to the world.
