The Way Of Groove
Origin, 2022
9/10
The esteemed trombonist Ben Patterson tips his hat to legends like The Crusaders, The Brecker Brothers and Herbie Hancock across these 10 diverse songs, where Shawn Purcell (guitar, vocals), Luis Hernandez (tenor sax), Harry Appelman (Hammond B3, piano, synth), Paul Henry (acoustic, electric bass), Todd Harrison (drums, percussion) and Evan Reiger (vocals) accompany him.
“Anniversary Patio” opens the listen with frisky drumming, soulful brass and plenty of rhythm populating the lively energy, and “Here Now” follows with playful organ and buzzing guitar adding a rock element to the thick textures.
“The Lucky One” occupies the middle spot, and flows with no shortage of laid back grooves that seem like they could soundtrack a trip to the Caribbean, while “The Way Of The Groove” moves swiftly, with dynamic horn interaction and an infectious display from the rhythm section in the album’s best.
“This And That” and “Hangin’” exit the listen, where the former showcases Patterson’s very skilled trombone prowess amid the cautious drumming and moody keys, and the latter bounces and shakes with thriving melodies and festive demeanor.
Patterson indeed has a way with grooves, and the bouts of funk, reggae, blues and Go-Go beat certainly help make The Way Of The Groove an impressive and really fun listen.
Travels well with: William Flynn- Seaside; Ben Morris- Pocket Guides