New Band Groove Legacy Launches On a Soul-Jazz Crusade!

Groove Legacy II

Groove Legacy
Groove Legacy
(Groove Legacy)

Record Reflections by A. Scott Galloway

Having been in the music industry in one role or another since the early `80s, I’ve come to know a lot of people.  So when one trusted peer from my radio and records days invites me to a gig and then I find another trusted friend from my journalist days there – and unbeknownst to each other they are both promoting this band – the chances are that I’m in for some really good music. And I was. Such was the case when I saw Groove Legacy at Studio City’s world famous Baked Potato club for the first of what will not be the last time. With a front line of sax (Paulie Cerra)  and trombone (Andrew Lippman), they, of course, sound heavily influenced by the Jazz Crusaders (confirmed by their keyboardist named Bill Steinway), with a touch more emphasis on the rock fusion side over the soul side. Refreshingly, they weren’t clones but rather stepping stones. They were tight and the grooves lubricated knee, ankle and neck joints all around the room. My only quibble is that some of the song forms were too similar to each other…chord progressions you could feel coming a mile away. But always there was that groove. This was one of the rare occasions where I saw a band before I’d heard anything on a CD so I was quite curious to hear this.

Groove Legacy is a seven-piece band helmed by one-time jazz Crusaders sideman Steinway, bassist Travis Carlton (son of west coast guitar slinger Larry Carlton) and saxophonist Cerra. Their self-titled CD is a lovingly crafted souvenir of the live experience – all live instruments, plenty of solos all around and not one stitch of dreaded “smooth jazz.” Slip this in the deck on a Saturday morning and many chores will get gleefully done. Hit replay that night and your party will get started with maximum cool. Among the tunes is “Sweetness” (a salute to football hero Walter Peyton), “Cornell” (a churchy blues tune featuring special guest Larry Carlton dedicated to the memory of New York guitar great Cornell Dupree), “The Know it All” ( a groove waltz with guest Robben Ford sitting in on guitar), the intricate guitar funk of “Moneybags” (featuring Kirk Fletcher overdubbing lead and rhythm parts), the radio-friendly ballad “Lolly’s Dream” (an affectionate nod to Joe Sample via a take on Wayne Henderson’s  “Rainbow Visions”), ditto for the lovely “My Someday Girl,” and the CD comes to a driving close with “H-Town Hipster” on which they give the drummer some (Lemar Carter – though the out-fade on this is kinda curious…)

10 songs in all, there’s not one clunker in the bunch. And though you might swear The Crusaders have reincarnated to make that full-on reunion disc we all dreamed of, instead you get something authentically next generation – picking up the pieces with respect and love, and refracting it skyward with reverence and fire.

A. Scott Galloway
Music Editor
The Urban Music Scene
March 8, 2016

MORE Music Reviews on T.U.M.S.!:

Kirk Whalum LIVE at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley - Seattle, Washington | October 26th, 2023
People Of Earth (PoE) | Self-Titled
Alex Acuña | Gifts
Tony Hightower | Legacy
Musicologist A. Scott Galloway Reflects on the Last Concert He Experienced Before the COVID-19 Crisi...
Boney James | Solid
Keyboardist Jason Miles Big-Ups Black Icons with Black Magic
Second Outing from Corea McBride & Blade Finds Trio as Virtuous and Versatile as Ever
Stern and Lorber Find Equal Footing at Level Eleven
Poncho Sanchez | Trane's Delight
Jéssica Pina | Essência
Powerful Jazz Film "Bolden" Paints a Greater Socio-Political Story
New Orleans Offers Up A Sassy Blue Angel
Keiko Matsui Sends Out a Reflection of Beauty Personified with Echo
At 85, Shorter Soars With Epic Musical/Literary Mashup Emanon
Bob James Drops First Trio CD As A Leader in Over a Decade
Ramsey Lewis, Tower of Power, Anthony Hamilton and More Help Playboy Jazz Festival Turn 40.
Piano Wonder Joey Alexander's Third Outing Proves He's On The Path to Mastery
Walter Beasley - The Best of Walter Beasley | The Affable Years, Volume 1
Dr. Lonnie Smith | All in My Mind
Dee Dee Bridgewater Returns To Birthplace For Soul Food on Memphis...Yes, I'm Ready
Quincy Jones Hollywood Bowl Tribute Soars Individually Yet Coasts Collectively
Ohio Players Set Hollywood Bowl On Fire Opening For Dave Koz and Larry Graham
Boney James | Honestly
LaBelle Tries On Jazz Hat To Troublesome Effect
Damien Escobar | Boundless
Norman Brown | Let It Go
Christian Sands | Reach
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah | Ruler Rebel
The Baylor Project | The Journey
Miles Mosley | Uprising
Bob Baldwin | The Gift of Christmas
Celebrating the Passion of 13 Y.O. Jazz Pianist Joey Alexander
Marc Antoine | Laguna Beach
Najee | Najee's Theme
Paul Jackson, Jr. | Stories From Stompin' Willie
Hide