You might be new to the music of a diverse jazz group called Mr. Groove, but in addition to possessing an interesting name, they've been performing at a consistently high level for two decades, often as the band behind stars like Boots Randolph and vocalist Bonnie Bramlett. They're also no strangers to the recording studio, and their newest album on the DiamonDisc label, Little Things, is now out and it proves that the band's name is no idle boast.
The Smith brothers - guitarist Roddy and bassist Tim - are the heart and soul of the group, and soul is something they have in abundance, with many of their tunes definitely bringing in the funk. But this is a musically eclectic group, and they're not afraid to tackle anything from big-band swing to modern jazz, complete with some nice improvisation.
The brothers have a rich musical heritage - among their relatives is Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith - and
their band includes drummer Donnie Marshall, Tim Gordon on sax, and two talented keyboardists, Mark Stallings and Steve Willets. Additionally, they're joined here by a few skilled sidemen and guest stars, including saxophonist Bill Evans, drummer Billy Ward, and a couple of surprise vocalists.
The mix of songs on the album reflects the diversity of the musicians, and although most of the cuts do have that driving, funky post-bop sound, there are some interesting variations here, including a new take on a Supertramp classic. That would be "Take The Long Way Home," with guest vocalist Ron Kimball taking the lead and transporting us back to the late 1970's.
In the same vein, Grand Funk Railroad alumnus Tim Cashion gives us his outstanding interpretation of "Falling Into Place," a Richard Page song. But the most unique vocal on this album is probably turned in by Darryl Johnson. He takes on the challenging task of performing the Temptations' "Papa Was A Rolling Stone," and provides a very different - but entertaining - experience for listeners.
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
Sounds like a good disk Geez. And you know that the Boyd likes him some funk!
-Glen
2 - Big Geez
If there's one thing I've learned, it's that The Boyd knows his stuff.