Augustans searching for a funky, soulful and colorful musical experience need look no farther than The Brownstown Gritty, a trio of Travis Shaw on bass, T.J. Barnes on keyboard and Christian Thornton on drums.
The Brownstown Gritty formed two years ago and made its debut at the Soul Bar in downtown Augusta, a frequent visit for many of Augusta University’s music students. All three members are former students of Augusta University’s music program.
“I am a huge fan of the jazz trio,” explained Shaw, “and since I had this tradition of being able to get gigs at the Soul Bar, I asked T. J. and Christian to come play with me as a trio.”
Following their first performance as a trio, the musicians continued playing at the Soul Bar, developing their sound, chemistry and identity as a band.
In early 2022, The Brownstown Gritty found themselves as the house band for Vibes and Vines, a jazz listening room in Beech Island, S.C. While the trio performed here regularly, they quickly found it to be a rigorous test of their professionalism and musicianship, given that it was their first time playing in front of a fully listening audience.
“Musically, we were able to elevate our game through that tough environment,” said Thornton.
It was during this time that the band began writing its own music, which deviated from the straight-ahead jazz repertoire they normally played during their time at Vibes and Vines.
They released “In Walked Jade” and “Raccoon Canoe” as singles, providing a sneak peek into the sound of their eventual EP, which was prompted by the positive reception and a heavy accumulation of original material.
“I don’t think it was ever said out loud or discussed,” added Barnes about the EP. “I think we were just looking for something to exist.”
Among their frequent performances and recording sessions, The Brownstown Gritty had a serious turning point in September 2022 when the band opened for the Delvon Lamar Organ Trio at Grantski Records in downtown Augusta, which followed the release of their first EP titled “Funk City, Vol. 1.”
“There was something about playing with Delvon Lamar and releasing the first album that was really significant,” explained Barnes. “Some of our originals were speaking to people, and they were excited for a local artist to come out with an album.”
“Funk City, Vol. 1” is an entirely original album, which the band recorded and mixed from Shaw’s home studio. Each track places a powerful emphasis on the groove, accompanied by a silky electronic sound reminiscent of Herbie Hancock’s jazz fusion of the 1970s. Many of the tracks, such as “Brinner” and “Bubblegum,” are also filled with cheeky rhythmic surprises, catching anyone off guard when they begin to tap their feet and sway their body to the groove
“It has been a trio effort,” said Shaw when explaining the development of their sound. “The music T. J., Christian and I listened to began to thread together.”
Since the release of “Funk City Vol. 1,” the The Brownstown Gritty has performed and recorded with saxophonist and Augusta University music professor Rob Foster and the SoulTown Horns, a trio of Foster, trumpeter Fabio Mann and trombonist Steve Pruitt.
They have done several live recordings of original compositions, such as “Red Cheese (Over Blue Cheese)” and “Sailin,”‘ both of which had significant reception on YouTube. The trio has also spent time recording in a professional studio, having completed its second studio album that is set to be released in the near future.
“‘Funk City Vol. 1’ is really indie and has a four-track kind of sound, which is cool,” said Shaw. “But the new record is clean, and the production is pretty professional. It’s so lovely to hear yourself well-mixed.”
Thornton added, “I would say it’s more evolved and matured, and I am really excited about getting it out to the world.”
On top of the eventual release of their second album, The Brownstown Gritty plan to expand and connect with their fanbase by putting more content on their YouTube channel and playing more shows in and out of Augusta.
“I think more communication with our fans and the release of this album can catapult us beyond Augusta and help us grow in a significant way,” said Shaw.
“I want to make a big shout-out to all the people who came out to our shows, listened to us, and downloaded the EP,” Thornton said. “We wouldn’t have come such a long way without their support.”
The three musicians also plan to further develop the sound and identity of The Brownstown Gritty.
“The goal right now is to really sit in our band and focus more on our own music,” said Barnes. “I think what shapes us a lot is just hanging out once a week and having another level of who we are outside of being a band.”
Anyone looking to experience the funky sensation of the The Brownstown Gritty can find them at the SolFood Kitchen on Aug. 24 at 7:30 pm.
They will also be playing on the first Tuesday of every month at the Soul Bar at 8:30 pm.
Their EP “Funk City Vol. 1” can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube music. It can also be purchased directly from their website thebrownstowngritty.com.
Trevor Percario is a jazz multi-instrumentalist and composer from Chatham, Va. He seeks to share his passion for music with audiences around the world. Reach him at music@trevorpercario.com
