Groove Collective

Groove Collective | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 22, 1994)
• Original Release Date: March 22, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000002MPH
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #98,168 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

AUDIO CD

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars These guys are the bomb, August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Groove Collective (Audio CD)

I've seen these guys live and I have all their albums. This first album is spectacular. The first song, Rentstrike sets the stage with a quick scratchy-lp-sounding bebop swing intro which leads into a fat, flowing bass-heavy groove you can dance to. The next few songs almost blend together into one, cerebral, surreal, and heavily improvisational jam.

The sound is very hard to categorize since it defines definition and is so broad in scope. The Nerd is one of two rap-focused songs on the album which combines lyrical complexity along with a fat driving bass-line party sound with instrumental improvisation throughout.

The percussion section in the band comprising of a conga player and timbales player add a heavy layer of latin flavor and danceability which I've never heard of in any band.

The horn section, which includes a trumpet, a couple saxes, trombone and flute, gives the band a strong cohesiveness which is emphasized even further when each individual breaks out into a solo and leads the pack fluidly through the groove.These guys are so good, they could (and do) have incredibly successful solo careers.

Add the vibes player who would make Milt Jackson proud, the bassist whose creative chord phrasings and pounding bass-lines can drive a man to drink and the keyboardist who goes from Art Tatum to P-Funk without blinking-- and you've got a sound that'll knock you off your stool and onto the dance floor in no time.

In essence, this band is amazing. Although one could argue that they play best live, I think the studio work they've done captures them perfectly. In fact, I think it gives them a little leeway to be even more creative and try things that can't be done live. Buy this album and you will have turned yourself onto a band that will change the way you think about music.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars These guys kick some mad grooves..., August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Groove Collective (Audio CD)

I've seen these guys live and I have all their albums. This first album is spectacular. The first song, Rentstrike sets the stage with a quick scratchy-lp-sounding bebop swing intro which leads into a fat, flowing bass-heavy groove you can dance to. The next few songs almost blend together into one, cerebral, surreal, and heavily improvisational jam.

The sound is very hard to categorize since it defines definition and is so broad in scope. The Nerd is one of two rap-focused songs on the album which combines lyrical complexity along with a fat driving bass-line party with instrumental improvisation throughout.

The percussion section in the band comprising of a conga player and timbales player add a heavy layer of latin flavor and danceability which I've never heard of in any band.

The horn section, which includes a trumpet, a couple saxes, trombone and flute, gives the band a strong cohesiveness which is emphasized even further when each individual breaks out into a solo and leads the pack fluidly through the groove.These guys are so good, they could (and do) have incredibly sucessful solo careers.

Add the vibes player who would make Milt Jackson proud, the bassist whose creative chord phrasings and pounding bass-lines can drive a man to drink and the keyboardist who goes from Art Tatum to P-Funk without blinking-- and you've got a sound that'll knock you off your stool and onto the dance floor in no time.

In essence, this band is amazing. Although one could argue that they play best live, I think the studio work they've done captures them perfectly. In fact, I think it gives them a little leeway to be even more creative and try things that can't be done live. Buy this album and you will have turned yourself onto a band that you will not let go of...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mad Mad Acid Jazz, July 10, 2003

By 

R. Daniels Jr. "RedKat" (Houston) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Groove Collective (Audio CD)

I bought this album when it debuted a few years ago after reading an article on the band. It reminds me of Herbie Hancock and the Funky Headhunters sound minus the synths. The percussionists are diverse and lay the foundation for grooves that seem to last forever. This is definitely a must have to add to any music lover's collection. The second album, "We The People" was a disappointment, the style is totally different and leans more toward a mainstream pop/hip-hop/jazz fusion project. I sampled some of their later recordings but I have to say that this first album was and still is the best of them all, pick it up.