Paul Flores-Alto Saxophone & Vocals
Sparky LaPlante-Tenor Saxophone & Vocals
Jay Barron-Trumpet & Vocals
Brook Gannon-Guitar & Vocals
Danny McCollim-Keyboards
Dru Heller-Drumset
Josh Simon-Bass
Jimmie Denny-Sound
Influences
Galactic, Soulive, Sun Ra, Miles Davis, Albino!, Antibalas, Brooklyn Funk Essentials, Dave Douglas, James Pants, Kool & The Gang, Fela Kuti, James Brown, and anything and everything else.
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In the face of an industry and culture that is dominated by image driven hype, The Groove Patrol has been establishing itself for over 9 years as a true, working band. Just real, honest, dedication to the art form of music. Deeply steeped in the rich traditions of funk, rock, jazz, salsa, Afro beat, and many other forms of world music, this is a band that can truly take the music anywhere.
The Groove Patrol grew out of an informal Thursday night jazz session at a small hotel bar in the college town of Moscow, ID. Running successfully for over 5 years at that location before moving to Spokane, WA, it was a fertile training ground for a number of the musicians who would make up the Groove Patrol.
Once in Spokane, playing every Thursday at Brooklyn Nights, the band evolved from it's jazz format to become an all improvised band, with a rotating drummer each week. More than 25 local drummers answered the call, and three months of the year-and-a-half experiment were recorded, culminating in the "Live at Brooklyn Nights" CD released in November of 2008. The project turned out to be wildly popular, and the band's musicianship grew by leaps and bounds with each over capacity night. When Spokane wunderkind DJ James Pants got the opportunity to tour with his own band, it was to the Groove Patrol that he turned, recruiting three of the members for two European tours, as well as extensive US touring, including a set at Sasquatch.
Back in Spokane, the band moved it's weekly run to the newer, bigger Zola's in March of 2009. After nine succesful months there, the members decided that perhaps the weekly gig had run it's course. Turning their energy inward, they replaced a weekly gigging schedule with weekly rehearsals and basketball games, writing new tunes, rotating players around, committing to a steady drummer, finding a different voice. The result is a powerful new sound; a tight band already comfortable with itself, now flexing it's musical muscle over interesting, progressive material.
This Saturday, August 15; NoCal Hardcore Legends Verbal Abuse and the return
of MDC to The Cretin Hop advance tickets
still available for $10! $12 at the door .
You are all amazing musicians and beautiful people that have given to much to all of us through your music and friendship. Peace be with you and may blessings follow you all the days of your lives. See you tonight.
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