Shane Theriot - 2003 "The Grease Factor"

The Grease Factor is the second studio album by guitarist Shane Theriot. It was released in 2003.

A heavy hitting dose of modern rock/jazz compositions mixed with equal doses of New Orleans funk. One of Shane’s more “guitar intensive” records that is a favorite among musicians and groove-lovers alike. Featuring some of the funkiest musicians on the planet- including Victor Wooten, Russell Batiste (The Funky Meters), Jeff Sipe (Apt Q-258), Johnny Vidacovich, Jeff Coffin (Bela Fleck), Kirk Joseph (Dirty Dozen), Johnny Neel (Gov’t Mule) and others…

Here we have the second solo album from New Orleans native Shane Theriot pronounced "Terry O" for those of you who don't know. This album is a collection of eleven original compositions written by guitarist Theriot. If I had to label the music on "Grease Factor" I'd call it funk/rock fusion with strong connections to the second line New Orleans street beat grooves of his native city "The Big Easy".

Shane employés some high profile musicians on this collection of funky ditties, 6 string monster Adam Nitti shows how well he can lay back & groove with the drummer on one of my personal favorite tunes track 6 "Mr Longhair" a medium tempo funk workout that features a hip multi layered harmonized guitar melody set against some burbling greasy B3 organ played by Johnny Neel.

Track 4 "Shrimp Boots" brings the New Orleans vibe with founding member of The Dirty Dozen Brass Band Tuba & Sousaphone master Kirk Joseph laying down the bass & boy does he lay it down! Shane employes several masters of New Orleans style funk drumming such as Russell Batiste, David Northup, Jeff Sipe, Doug Belote. "Shrimp Boots" features the legendary John Vidacovich of the band "Astral Project" covers the beat as well as a short but sweet drum solo.

Track 7 "The Apartment" features living bass god Victor Wooten playing fretless 5 string. The best way for me to describe this tune would be mellow intensity if that makes any sense because the groove is a driving fusion groove with Shane dialing in a more processed wet tone sort of like a cross between Pat Metheny's tone with his Metheny Group & Steve Morse with his Dixie Dreggs. Wooten lays down melodic fretless grooves that support the song they don't dominate it, I think it's nice to hear Wooten on fretless rather than his usual four string fretted bass. Shane takes a ripping solo over Wooten's delft accompaniment.

Track 10 "Zydefaux" is pure Zydeco with accordion & the type of driving up tempo groove that makes Zydeco music so much fun to dance too.

Well there you have it, I hope you've found my review informative & I highly recommend this or Theriot's other two albums "Hywy 90" & "Dirty Power". In my opinion this music is just all around awesome! If you appreciate top self musicianship especially in the guitar department & funky bass & drums with that Big Easy grease factor than pick this up now!

The obvious points of reference when discussing Shane Theriot are Brian Stoltz and June Yamagishi. Like Stoltz and Yamagishi, Theriot is a hot shot New Orleans funk guitarist who plays with various bands associated with people named Neville. While Stoltz and Yamagishi worship at the alter of Hendrix, though, Theriot seems to have more of a thing for John Scofield, and his music has more of a jazz-rock fusion influence. Occasionally, it even sounds almost metal, like the work Shawn Lane did with bass phenom Jonas Hellborg. However, also like Lane and Hellborg, Theriot never loses sight of the fusion-funk groove, so he never goes into full metal mode. If find this album a bit more satisfying than Highway 90, mostly because there are a few moments on Highway 90 where Theriot's fusion gets a bit too smooth for my taste, but The Grease Factor is, well, a bit greasier. That suits me just fine.

Track listing:

Little Hat (4:50)
Swish (5:12)
Zodiac (4:08)
Shrimp Boots (3:40)
Dublin (5:43)
Mr. Longhair (5:57)
The Apartment (5:45)
Slow (5:42)
Woody (5:17)
Zydefaux (3:52)
Dear Ellen (1:15)

Personnel:

Shane Theriot - composer, producer, electric/acoustic guitars, programming
Johnny Vidacovich - drums
Russell Batiste - drums
Victor Wooten - bass
Adam Nitti- bass
Doug Belote- drums
David Northrup- drums
Johnny Neel - Hammond B-3, keys
Kiyoshi Tamai - voice
Steve Conn - accordion