Gareth Lockrane's Grooveyard

Bio:

BUY CDS FROM http://www.jazzcds.co.uk/artist_id_751 Winner of the Best European Jazz Group award in the 2003 Granada Jazz Festival, GARETH LOCKRANE'S GROOVEYARD is the result of a collaboration between 2008 Downbeat Rising Star on Flute GARETH LOCKRANE and tenor saxophonist ALEX GARNETT, fusing an explosive blend of contemporary jazz, funk,gospel,rock and hard bop to create a true 21st century hammond combo! The band plays all original material composed by Gareth. The rest of the band comprises some of the Uk jazz scene's top musicians - MIKE OUTRAM on guitar,ROSS STANLEY on Hammond organ and NICK SMALLEY on drums. Between them the band have recorded and performed with; Bheki Mseleku, Incognito, Carleen Anderson, Cinematic Orchestra, Heritage Orchestra, Natalie Williams, Martin Taylor, The Bays, Steve Howe, Herbie Mann, The James Taylor Quartet, Gwilym Simcock, Jim Mullen and many others. Grooveyard's well received 2 cds "Put The Cat Out" and "Roots" are soon to be followed up with a soon-to-be-completed new album in 2009, which will be their best yet. JAZZWISE MAGAZINE REVIEW FOR "PUT THE CAT OUT" **** From the opening rapid-fire tenor sax/flute octave doublings of the title track it's immediately apparent that this recording is something very special indeed. Winner of the 'Best Jazz Group of Europe' award at the 2003 Granada Jazz Festival, there is a deliciously dark and grainy quality to Grooveyard's music, much of it down to the alchemical reaction of (original organist) Pete Whittaker's Hammond organ against Outram's guitar. Lockrane's flute work is exceptional, combining a relaxed fluidity on the one hand with an acute adventurousness on the other. Garnett's big tone, rich timbre and rhythmic incisiveness (and great soloing on Lock-Up!) invariably serves to send the band into overdrive. Outram's performance gives yet another indication as to why he is in such demand at the moment, whether it's his rock-solid time and on-the-money comping, versatility across a range of settings, or his subtly expressive soloing. (4 stars)
Peter Quinn - Jazzwise Magazine "the formidable Lockrane...a stunning display of sharp-accented runs, earthy whoops and constantly refreshed melodic ideas" John Fordham,The Guardian "Lockrane is an exceptional soloist with an improvisatory confidence that's quite startling” Peter Vacher,Jazzwise "...the flute, an instrument which has still not achieved a firm foothold in jazz. If the brilliant playing of Gareth Lockrane is anything to go by, that state of affairs may change...” Dave Gelly,The Observer WATCH STUTTERFUNK! http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=264XtuXpKRQ Personnel note - On Stutterfunk,LockUp&Stick It - Pete Whittaker(hammond organ) Tom Gordon - drums, Matt Home - drums on Stick It ILLUSTRATIONS BY BILL BRAGG,PHOTOS BY ROD SHONE

Member Since:

January 20, 2009

Members:

Gareth Lockrane (flutes), Alex Garnett (tenor sax), Mike Outram (guitar), Ross Stanley (hammond organ), Nick Smalley (drums)

Influences:

John Scofield, Eddie Harris, Bheki Mseleku, Cannonball Adderley, Oliver Nelson, Walt Weiskopf, The Bloomdaddies, Ray Charles, Kenny Wheeler, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Heath, Joe Henderson, Ennio Morricone, Joe Zawinul, Stone Alliance, John Coltrane, Stanley Turrentine, Jeremy Steig, James Clay, Joe Farrell, Maceo Parker, Gary Moore, Living Colour, Funkadelic, Cedar Walton, Larry Goldings and many many more