Groove55 – Voyage
Groove 55‘s third album, Voyage, is loaded with grooves, funk, great melodies and awesome rhythm tracks.
Voyage features Smooth Jazz Chart-topping trumpeter Rick Braun and internationally renowned multi-instrumentalist Mino Cinelu on percussion (Miles Davis, Weather Report, Herbie Hancock, Sting). We think this album is a landmark on the smooth jazz scene. It is energetic with full sounding arrangements and captivating percussion grooves. No band other than Groove55 can swing the funk as well as this.
Give this album a listen at CDBaby.
The typical jazz lover doesn’t want to hear “relaxing” as a modifier for his favorite music. The word implies a certain snooze factor, and jazz isn’t about that. Still, there’s something soothing, tranquil and – yes – relaxing about the sound of the steel pans when played with skill.
Women generally are under-appreciated in jazz. And many who are recognized are vocalists. The group, Natalie Cressman and Secret Garden, is fronted by a young woman who not only sings but also composes and plays trombone. She exhibits all three skills on her recording debut, Unfolding (self-produced, 2012).
Kat Parra is one vocalist who doesn’t limit her repertoire to the standards known as the American Songbook. In fact, she reaches beyond normal boundaries with interesting arrangements of the songs she does cover.
Smooth Jazz Daily 