Euge Groove – Groove On! (2017) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

For over 15 years saxophonist Euge Groove has been a consistent best-seller on the Contemporary Jazz charts, scoring hit after hit at Smooth Jazz radio, including more than half a dozen #1 hits, and hitting #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart; in short, Euge Groove is one of the genre’s stars. “Groove On!” delivers Euge Groove’s trademark funk/jazz grooves on a wide-ranging set including potential radio hits as well as feel-good album tracks. Highlights include a sparkling guest vocal from new Contemporary Jazz vocal sensation Lindsey Webster and fellow Smooth Jazz star, guitarist Peter White.

Euge Groove’s anticipated eleventh solo recording. Titled ‘Groove On’ it is an exhilarating collection of original material and the latest chapter in a musical story that began in 2000 with his eponymous debut and progressed with a sequence of chart busting albums including ‘Livin Large’, ‘Just Feels Right’, ‘S7ven Large’ and ‘House Of Groove’ all of which produced number one hits. ‘Got 2 Be Groovin’ came in 2014 and 2016 saw the release of ‘Still Euge’ that featured cameo vocals from both Oleta Adams and Rahsaan Patterson.

This time around the guests include both Peter White and Lindsey Webster and it is White that comes up trumps with his contribution to the sublimely melodic ‘Euge One – Oh- One’. Elsewhere the high-octane title cut (and also the first track to be serviced to radio) is textbook Euge Groove and when he eases down the tempo for the serene and blues-tinged ‘Free Time’ the result is just as good. The melancholy ‘The Healing’ is a ballad of the highest order that benefits from the collective magic of Lenny Castro on percussion and Phillipe Saisse on keys while later Groove brings down the house with the soul-drenched ‘Last Call’ where interplay with guitarist Jabu Smith is something to savour. ‘Round And Round’ proves to be another Euge Groove classic and with ‘Saturday Night’ he comes up with a steppers beat that is guaranteed to get any party started. For the collection’s only vocal number, ‘Always Love You’, Euge calls upon rising star Lindsey Webster to sensational effect and for the free flowing ‘Sonnet X1’ he switches seamlessly between soprano sax and Hammond B3, an instrument Euge first started playing in the 90’s while touring with Joe Cocker. ‘Groove On’ is a splendid recording that maintains the incredibly high standard at which Euge Groove has performed over the past seventeen years. With a backbone provided by regular collaborators Tracy Carter on keys, bassist Cornelius Mims and drummers Trevor Lawrence Jr. and Dan Needham it is a highlight of the smooth jazz year.

Tracklist:

1-1. Euge Groove – Sonnet Xl (05:20)
1-2. Euge Groove – Groove On (04:42)
1-3. Euge Groove – Free Time (05:04)
1-4. Euge Groove – The Healing (05:58)
1-5. Euge Groove – Round and Round (04:53)
1-6. Euge Groove – Euge One-Oh-One (05:30)
1-7. Euge Groove – Last Call (05:44)
1-8. Euge Groove – Saturday Afternoon (04:48)
1-9. Euge Groove – Always Love You (feat. Lindsey Webster) (06:55)
1-10. Euge Groove – Groove On (reprise) (01:07)
1-11. Euge Groove – The Healing (cinema) (05:57)