Search - James 'PJ' Spraggins :: The Light of Day

Smoothjazz.com Review

Sandy Shore | Monterey, CA | 03/16/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's my pleasure to introduce you to James "PJ" Spraggins... drummer, keyboardist, composer, and producer from Birmingham, Alabama. He's been playing music since he was a youngster in nearby Bessemer, attended Alabama State on a music scholarship, and has played with a host of headliners, among them Ronnie Laws, Eric Essix, and the Smooth Jazz group Tekneek. THE LIGHT OF DAY is PJ's debut solo project, and it's a good one. In fact, you may have heard it recently on the Weather Channel's "Local on the 8's" segments. The album, as PJ puts it, "is a collection of songs written from a drummer's perspective... just simple songs with simple melodies. It's my way of reminding people not to forget about the little things that make life worth living." In addition to drums and drum programming, he plays the keys beautifully on all nine originals. Eric Essix contributes some exceptional guitar work to both "Excited" and the succulent "Autumn Breeze," which are two of my faves on the disc. I love PJ's concept and his new album... a lot. Simple, memorable melodies have been the basis for some of our most popular hits... the ones we love to listen to over and over again, year after year. It takes pure talent to compose that kind of music, and James "PJ" Spraggins has definitely been blessed with plenty of that. THE LIGHT OF DAY is a collection of gentle, lyrical tunes that will, indeed, help you connect to the joy in life! ~SCOTT O'BRIEN"