For over a decade, native Philadelphian Griz has been sowing the seeds of his musical talents. The fruits of these labors are now revealed with the release of his new album, The Secret in the Garden. Recorded and produced at The Record Lounge with Andrew Lipke, Griz says the thirteen song anthology “has something for everyone. The styles range from gentle folk to reggae to genuine rock and roll, representing the various influences I have drawn from over the years.” Griz’ rustic exterior is embedded with thoughtful honesty and raw affection; his repertoire is a unique collection of songs crafted with an untamed scrutiny of the human experience. “One of the challenges we faced was maintaining cohesiveness while mixing so many different styles on one project. I feel we pulled it off by allowing the lyrical content to tie it together. The songs present recurring themes dealing with the struggles of relationships, growing gardens, and politics.” says Griz. Although the subject matter can be dark and brooding, the music remains lighthearted, accessible and fresh, leaving listeners with a sense of hope and camaraderie. The title track muses about the problems of the world, yet still evokes images of dancing fairies and growth.
If the company Griz keeps as a professional artist (Hezekiah Jones, The Spinning Leaves, Ryan Tennis) weren’t indication enough of his reputation as a beloved member of the “new folk”community, the guest performances on this album certainly speak volumes about his prowess as a songwriter. Andrew Keenan and Fred Berman of Amos Lee, Susan Rosetti of Slo-Mo/ Stargazer Lily and Dean Gorfti of Hezekiah Jones all lend their talents and make appearances on the recordings.
"Chris's music seems to effortlessly cross genres while still maintaining his unique, playful and unassumingly powerful voice...and his instrumental abilities make him a veritable one man band. I was thrilled at the opportunity to work with him in my studio." Andrew Lipke (The Record Lounge)
"But with his brand-new album, The Secret in the Garden, on the way, Griz's own tender voice and fleet-finger guitar style should turn some heads in his direction. In fact, it already has: His island-tinged mandolin blues song "Already Been Down This Road Before" just won him a top spot in a Philadelphia Songwriters Project contest and $5,000 worth of recording at Turtle Studios. Unlike his first album, 2001's home-recorded Plant Life, The Secret in the Garden is a full-on studio endeavor produced by Lipke. "Company Man" has a waltzing tempo, a sliding guitar solo and a warm Simon & Garfunkel vibe. Strings swirl behind a catchy, doomy rocker called "Waiting for the End." Whether it's a folk, rock, country or reggae song, the acoustic guitar is prominent throughout." Pat Rapa (Philadelphia City Paper)
Chris Grunwald - lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, piano, mandolin, bass, percussion; Andrew Keenan - pedal steel (1,6,8); Steven (Lu) Ciannavei - bass (1,6,8,9,13); Stu Bullen - bass (7); Dean Gorfti - drums (1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9,11); Fred Berman - drums (4,10); Andrew Lipke - chuck guitar, backing vocals (9); Susan Rosetti - vocals (8)
© 2011 Chris Grunwald (BMI). All songs written by Chris Grunwald except "The Song No One Wants to Hear" by Daniel R. Migliore (BMI). All songs recorded and produced at the Record Lounge (Phila, PA) by Andrew Lipke and Chris Grunwald. Mastered by Paul Hammond and Paul Sinclair at Fat City Studios (Blue Bell, PA).
Cover Photo © Keith Sharp Photography; disc image by Amy Bird; inside photo by N.J. Grunwald; all other artwork by Joy Grunwald.
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