" From the opening rapid-fire tenor sax/flute octave doublings of the title track it's immediately apparent that this recording is something very special indeed.
Winner of the 'Best Jazz Group of Europe' award at the 2003 Granada Jazz Festival, there is a deliciously dark and grainy quality to Grooveyard's music, much of it down to the alchemical reaction of Whittaker's Hammond organ against Outram's guitar. Providing the backbeats, Gordan proves what an incredibly neat and disciplined player he is - 'Stutterfunk' and 'Grooverider' being prime examples - locking in tight with the two harmony players while managing to resist the kind of over-elaboration that only clouds the groove.
"Put the Cat Out is a burning set by Grooveyard, a group of young veterans of British jazz led by flautist Gareth Lockrane and saxophonist Alex Garnett. As the name suggests, this is a hard-swinging band who know how to get low-down and funky when required.
The accomplished and articulate playing of Lockrane reveals why many feel he is a new star on his instrument. Tenor saxophonist Garnett, who also doubles here on baritone, is developing an interesting and individual voice, and guitarist Mike Outram is in blistering form throughout.
The repertoire of the band varies from original compositions drawing on jazz, soul, funk and gospel influences to rearrangemens of tunes by such legendary jazz composer/instrumentalists as Horace Silver, Pepper Adams and Thad Jones. The rest of the band comprises of MIKE OUTRAM on guitar, the REVEREND PETE WHITTAKER on Hammond organ and MATT HOME on drums, a tightly cohesive trio in its own right and one which can switch remarkably easily between genres without ever sacrificing their unique sound and identity.
Between them they have recorded and performed with; Herbie Mann, The James Taylor Quartet, Jim Mullen, Ray Gelato's Giants, Dave O'Higgins, Stacey Kent, The Wonder Stuff, Echoes of Ellington, Bobby Wellins and many more...
The new CD on Gailforce records is entitled PUT THE CAT OUT, the debut recording of the band (and featuring original member Tom Gordon on drums). It comprises five original compositions from the pen of Gareth Lockrane, (PUT THE CAT OUT, STUTTER FUNK, LOCK-UP!, GROOVERIDER, SLOW BURNER) which show the versatility of the band as a genre-crossing unit and which also showcase the individual improvisatory talents of each player.
GROOVEYARD EUROPEAN SUCCESS STORY!
Since recording the CD the band has gone on to win the highly coveted Best European Jazz Group Award in the 2003 Granada Jazz Festival (Spain), with part of the prize being the recording of a brand new album (currently in production) to be distributed in the summer of 2004 throughout Europe and America and limited-editions in the UK WATCH THIS SPACE! |
Lockrane's flute work is exceptional, combining a relaxed fluidity on the one hand with an acute adventurousness on the other. Garnett's big tone, rich timbre and rhytmic incisiveness (and great soloing on Lock-Up!) invariably serves to send the band into overdrive. Outram's performance gives yet another indication as to why he is in such demand at the moment, whether it's his rock-solid time and on-the-money comping, versatility across a range of settings, or his subtly expressive soloing". (4 stars) |
