It's been a while since Robert Plant stood bare-chested onstage alongside Jimmy Page, holding forth about black dogs and golden staircases. After Led Zeppelin broke up in 1980, the two stars reunited off-and-on through the 1980s and ’90s, but in the 21st century, Plant has bounced back — and around the musical spectrum — with his own groups and solo projects. In 2007, he had a breakthrough with Alison Krauss on Raising Sand, and the two rejoined for 2021's Raise the Roof. His current group, Saving Grace, began in 2019, featuring vocalist Suzi Dian, drummer Oli Jefferson, cellist Barney Morse-Brown, guitarist Tony Kelsey, and banjo/strings player Matt Worle.
Plant and company's latest outing, named for the group itself, has similarities to the Appalachian stylings of his work with Krauss, but with a bit more Middle Eastern and African flavors. Plant credits Krauss for teaching him how to harmonize; his duets with Dian, including highlights like “Soul of a Man” and “Too Far From You,” sound as close as family vocalizing.
