Dave Gonzalez & Susanna Van Tassel - Grits 'N Gravy Vol. 1 (CD)

Dave Gonzalez of the Paladins and Hacienda Brothers, is embarking on a new phase of his career as owner and operator of his very own recording studio, RattleShack Analog in Driftwood,Texas. This follows the lead of his music partner in the Paladins, Thomas Yearsley, who has operated Thunderbird Analog in Oceanside California for 25 years. His new release, Grits ‘N Gravy Vol. 1, it marks the first album that was recorded by Gonzalez at his new studio. It is also the second collaboration with his wife, the fabulous singer, Susanna Van Tassel. The first album was a great country record, this album has taken a different direction. It is a collection of 60’s styled Soul Duets, Jazz and Funk instrumentals, plus a little Blues and Swamp Pop thrown in for good measure. Eight out of the eleven songs are originals by Gonzalez. Two of the cover songs are pure Memphis Soul: William Bell and Judy Clay’s “Private Number” and Ann Peebles’ “Until You Came Into My Life.” But what may be the highlight of the album is an obscure Dan Penn/Spooner Oldham original titled “Do Something” which is reminiscent of a band that Dan Penn produced called the Box Tops. Penn has been a huge mentor for Gonazlez ever since they worked together on the three studio albums of the Hacienda Brothers. Gonazlez absorbed everything that Dann Penn was doing in the studio as a producer and engineer. Their friendship and working relationship was the main inspiration for creating RattleShack Analog. Vintage gear and an approach to recording that harkens back to the days of Muscle Shoals, it’s the sound of his new studio and it is a sound clearly represented here on Grits ‘N Gravy Vol 1.

Other great musicians featured on Grits ‘N Gravy Vol. 1 are : Kullen Fox – piano, organ, trumpet, vocals, percussion Damien Llanes – drums, conga Dillon Fernandez – bass, guitar, percussion, vocals Kevin Smith – upright bass, electric bass, assistant engineer Glen Earl Brown Jr – acoustic guitar, bass Brad Houser – tenor sax, baritone sax Marti Brom – vocals Ted Roddy – harmonica Chris Gilson – drums Hector Munoz – conga John Grayum – conga Dave Biller – steel guitar Executive Producers : Dave Gonzalez, Jeb Schoonover, Thomas Yearsley Mastered by Jerry Tubb Produced, Recorded, Engineered, Mixed by Dave Gonzalez and Dillon Fernandez for Double D Productions Recorded at RattleShack Analog Studios in Driftwood, TX USA