Favorite Acid Jazz Bands #4 - Groove Collective

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#4 in my Favorite Acid Jazz Bands series is a great band, New York City's Groove Collective. Groove Collective formed in 1990 and, albeit with some roster turnover, are still going strong. The band was born out of open mic nights at a NYC club, a true collective of musicians with varying musical tastes, which are incorporated into the group's jazzy sound. According to Wikipedia, bassist Jonathan Maron compares Groove Collective's style to club DJ's, who mix it up, knowing exactly what varying songs will pack a dancefloor. (Fun Wikipedia fact: keyboardist Itaal Shur co-wrote Carlos Santana's #1 hit "Smooth.") Their self-titled debut reached #20 on Billboard's US Jazz Chart. "Rentstrike," that album's leadoff track, plays it pretty straight, jazz-wise, although with a danceable beat underneath. I saw Groove Collective in Boulder, Colorado. How badly did I want to see them? It's the only time I've ever went to a concert by myself. I drove from Denver to Boulder just to see them. Talk about packing a dancefloor! The entire crowd didn't stop moving during the entire show. It was one of the best acid jazz show's I've ever seen. I have a neighbor, who is an extremely talented multi-instrumentalist. She and some of her fellow Manitou musicians want to get a Groove Collective-style band going here. I hope they do. Music like this deserves to be heard.