by Brian D. Holland.

David Grissom recently released 10,000 Feet on Wide Lode Records. It's the second solo album from the Texas guitarist and former member of Storyville, the Texas rock band that also included Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton of Double Trouble. Also known for his fine musicianship and studio work with the likes of John Mellencamp, Joe Ely, the Dixie Chicks, Buddy Guy, John Mayall, Bob Dylan, and the Allman Brothers Band, any release from Grissom should be anticipated with optimism. In guitar playing circles, he's known for his signature Paul Reed Smith guitar, the PRS DGT (David Grissom Trem), and for the beautiful tonal combinations he conjures from it.

10,000 Feet is a good follow-up to Loud Music, his 2005 release. So, the existence of a handful of brilliant melodies amid a few gritty yet tasteful southern influenced blues rockers is nothing substantially new. With that said, his talent to craft a good tune appears to be growing stronger. Grissom has been known for his compositional abilities since the Storyville days, wherein he created and shaped songs like "Good Day for the Blues." The song is reprised here acoustically, with Grissom at the vocal helm and Texas string master Warren Hood on the fiddle, giving it more of a country blues persona. There are a few more tunes in that tasty traditional style, too, most notably within a trio of bluesy instrumentals: "Butterbean Friday," "Sqwawk," and "Dover Soul." However, most of the other tracks are stylish and catchy rockers suitable to the general rock audience, the enthusiasm of which is intensified by amazing guitar chops and an apt singing voice.

Listen to "10,000 Feet" from 10,000 Feet

The two opening tracks on the CD, "Keep A Rollin' On" and "10,000 Feet," are incredibly appealing, and contain driving rhythms and rock solid melodies and instrumentation. Both are perfect examples of the stylish, catchy rock arrangements mentioned above. Though a country air is perceived throughout, a straightforward rock atmosphere is the overwhelming impression these songs generate. "Ain't No Game at All," "Gone and Lonesome," and "Jet Trails in the Sky" follow suit, and all work together to make the CD a superb rock effort. Adding more dimension and diversity to the collection, more capacity in songwriting strength as well, both "Take Me Back to Texas" and "Ain't No Other Way" are charming ballads. That's a Bill Collings guitar you hear making beautiful sounds all over "Take Me Back to Texas." It's the favorite acoustic of Grissom these days.

An interesting aspect of 10,000 Feet is that the music within appears to have the ability to arouse interest not only in the blues and rock audience, but in the hard-rock, country, and even the soft rock audience as well. There's a little of everything David Grissom on this CD, and it's resplendent with endearingly memorable melodies, musicianship, and storytelling lyrics.

10,000 Feet Track Listing
1. Keep A Rollin' On
2. 10,000 Feet
3. Sqwawk
4. Ain't No Game At All
5. Take Me Back To Texas
6. Butterbean Friday
7. Jet Trails In The Sky
8. Gone And Lonesome
9. Dover Soul
10. Ain't No Other Way
11. True Love Don't Work That Way
12. Good Day For The Blues

David Grissom: guitar, bass, vocals
Michael Ramos: keyboards
Warren Hood: fiddle
Scott Nelson: bass
Kenny Aronoff: drums
Chris Layton: drums
Carolyn Wonderland: background vocals

Wide Lode Records - 2009

Links:
David Grissom
10,000 Feet on Amazon