Customer Reviews

Livin Large

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Euge Groove is a progressive jazz sax man who is beginning to make a name for himself. He plays a funkified saxophone that is very ear catching to say the least. Songs like "Too Cool" and "Slam Dunk", from his prior CD are Jazz funk instrumentals, designed to make the listener get up and groove. Euge Groove is currently the SAX player in the Joe Cocker band which is currently touring the world for Cocker's "HEART AND SOUL TOUR". Euge is also the opening act, and has received great reviews for his work on the tour. Check him out if you can.

This guy can blow! Saw him live on a cruise in January and he blew the house away. We got a taste of Livin Large, which was great, and the CD lives up to the performance. Get the CD and see him in person. You won't forget it, he's that amazing!

Since his 2000 debut, i've been an instant fan. I have never been disappointed by his releases or his performances. I saw him live at the Birchmere in Virginia, and while I love his CD's, his live performances are EXCELLENT.
This album delivers. He has become my absolute favorite jazz performer.
I always expect musical greatness from this man, and I always get it.

When his debut album in 2000 self titled "Euge Groove" hit the airwaves with "Vinyl" the first release, I was hooked and instantly fell in love with him. "Play Date" his second CD is just as wonderful, but "Livin Large" is a total Masterpiece. I had the chance to sample it in a Barnes & Noble book store and when I heard the first cut "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" (So Sensuous), I didn't even listen to anymore because I knew I wanted it and would be satisfied and totally satisfied I am. I can't say enough about the CD because every single song is so good and the variety is awesome. The producer Paul Brown has done his thing again! And I would like to say that "Too Cool" track number 7 is so "Smooth" and Too Cool and I simply enjoy listening to my man Euge. Keep doing it baby and I'll be right there supporting you. I'm pleased 150%. I haven't been able to stop playing the CD since I got it and it will probably be a while before I let it take a break. You should get this CD and his other 2 CD's if you do not already have them. I

I haven't taken this out of my cd player in a year. I can't help it. I just need to know that it's going to pop up and funk me out.

I play it at every party I throw. I play it when I'm cleaning the house or doing the garden.

I play it.

I listen to my local jazz station (and am probably the only 17 year old within brodcast radius to claim this title) every day and love most everything I hear. I heard Euge Groove's XXL played and found this cd. XXL is still an absolutely awsome track. The other tracks, however, somewhat fail to seperate themselves from the rest of the smooth jazz played on the station (which is why the album gets only a four of five). I do like all of them, they are just not unique. The exceptions are XXL and Thank You with JBS (and the instrumental version as well), which is odd to say the least, but very interesting. I can't say I've ever heard jazzfunk crossed with rap before, but the sound is pretty neat...

Wow, this Saxophonist can play. Euge's opening song "Don't Let Me Lonely Tonight" is a fantastic cover followed by the awe-inspiring single, Livin' Large, which is pure, signature Euge Groove.

The song "Thank You" blew me away, and I can't wait to hear him play it LIVE the next time he's in Philly. No ones does better ballads than Euge and "The Gift" exemplifies his transcendent ability to connect on such a personal level. Thank you Euge - you're an amazing saxman.

This cd is great! Euge has such a wonderful sound on that Soprano sax on "Don't Let Me Be Lonly Tonight". And "Liv'in Large" I have to say is my favorite. But the whole cd is great. I think you should at least try it.

This cd is great! Euge has such a wonderful sound on that Soprano sax on "Don't Let Me Be Lonly Tonight". And "Liv'in Large" I have to say is my favorite. But the whole cd is great. I think you should at least try it.

This music caught my attention while listening to online smooth jazz radio. I had never heard of Euge Groove before, but when I found myself tapping my feet and swaying to the music, I realized that this was something worth investigating so I bought the CD. Frankly, I was a little disappointed when I heard it begin with "Don't let me be lonely tonight". Making this the first track on the CD was a huge mistake. If you've got captivating and original material, why launch a wonderful CD with a cover song of somebody else's recognizeable work? So many musicians include cover material these days when they should be focusing on their own stuff! "Don't let me" is a wonderful song played with a lot of feeling and a lot of soul but it doesn't even come CLOSE to the rest of the CD. "Livin' Large" was great, "XXL" was even better and "Take you Higher" was even better than that! These three tunes have almost become musical mantras for me: they are PERFECT smooth jazz sax songs that you can absolutely lose yourself in. When they're playing, you find yourself in a trance. When they end, you feel disappointed and want to play it again right away. That's the mark of great music. Now, having said that, the CD segues into "Thank You" (a remake of the Sly and the Family Stone cult classic tune) which left me shaking my head. Why establish a perfect groove, and then change directions and screw it up with something that's 180-degrees opposite from where your music has been? Very confusing. The interpreation of the song itself isn't bad, it's just such a jarring change of pace I couldn't help wondering what the heck Euge Groove was thinking when he recorded it and what the heck his producers were thinking when they put this on the CD. "Oh, this is really cool and it will hook a lot of people." ?????? If hip-hop lyrics and smack-down vocals appeal to you, you'll like this. If you've been hypnotized by the first four songs, this will come as a rude awakening. I was also surprised that an "instrumental" version of the same song was included as the eleventh (and last) cut on the CD. Buyer beware: this isn't really "instrumental." There are still vocals on this track, although some of the previous vocals are missing from this track. I would much rather have seen some more of Euge's powerful, soulful sax than a remix of some tepid tunes from earlier in the CD. Still though, I'm hooked on this guy's music and will listen to his earlier recordings. You gotta love a guy named "Euge Groove" (is it "Eugene?") and who allows himself to be photographed for the CD's cover artwork wearing a blank expression, a black suit and a red tie!!!!!