Ropeadope
Crank It Up
by Otis Grove
Crank It Up
by Otis Grove
RELEASE DATE: 2008-08-19
ZERO to 60 in 2 seconds flat. Otis Grove just takes you there…..QUICK.
It’s a jazz trio turned rock trio turned groove trio that’s now an “all of the above” trio. There’s the inevitable comparisons to Soulive (b/c of the identical line up - Hammond B3, Guitar and Drums); sometimes to Medeski Martin and Wood and even the Meters, but we need to say that these three Berklee College of Music grads got their own thing (way!) and that’s precisely why ropeadope signed them up to the old digital label. We feel like we stole ‘em, just like Tom Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the 6th round? Not sure how the rest of the industry slept on Otis Grove until we remembered that there is no longer a music industry! Back in the day there would have been a good old fashioned bidding war.
Describe Otis Groove in Spanish in 3 words or less: FUGEGO, FUGEGO, FUEGO. These guys are so hot that they will rip a new place into the space formerly known as the hole of your ass. NOT A DAMN JAMBAND, this is a collective experiment in crossing the traditional jazz sound, with funk and Hip-Hop rhythms with a sound based in groove, free in improvisation, yet rooted in songwriting, and soulful melodies. Oh really? Yes really. And wait til you seem them live (fuego, fuego, fuego).
It’s a jazz trio turned rock trio turned groove trio that’s now an “all of the above” trio. There’s the inevitable comparisons to Soulive (b/c of the identical line up - Hammond B3, Guitar and Drums); sometimes to Medeski Martin and Wood and even the Meters, but we need to say that these three Berklee College of Music grads got their own thing (way!) and that’s precisely why ropeadope signed them up to the old digital label. We feel like we stole ‘em, just like Tom Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the 6th round? Not sure how the rest of the industry slept on Otis Grove until we remembered that there is no longer a music industry! Back in the day there would have been a good old fashioned bidding war.
Describe Otis Groove in Spanish in 3 words or less: FUGEGO, FUGEGO, FUEGO. These guys are so hot that they will rip a new place into the space formerly known as the hole of your ass. NOT A DAMN JAMBAND, this is a collective experiment in crossing the traditional jazz sound, with funk and Hip-Hop rhythms with a sound based in groove, free in improvisation, yet rooted in songwriting, and soulful melodies. Oh really? Yes really. And wait til you seem them live (fuego, fuego, fuego).
Track Listing
- 1. Pimp Juice - 5:23
- 2. Pure Luck - 4:34
- 3. Meet me at the Rendezvous - 3:15
- 4. Chimichanga - 5:42
- 5. Notorious Victorious 5:55
- 6. Check It - 4:39
- 7. Buckfish - 4:22
- 8. The Effing Song - 6:14
About the Artist
There’s a new sound taking over the town known as Boston. If you’re by the banks of the Charles River as the moon glows over the muddy waters you
very well may hear some thick, groovy beats banging out a trail for raw guitar licks and a soul-drenched Hammond organ. Yes indeed, ladies and
gentleman who are down with the funk, it's time to get rocked by your new favorite band: Otis Grove.
Otis Grove began as a collective experiment in crossing the traditional
organ jazz sound with funk, hip-hop, and rock tones. It was the beginning of a sonic realization based in groove, free in improvisation, yet rooted in songwriting and melodic structure. In early 2004, on the heels of their self-titled debut album, the band began spreading their sound to clubs around the New England area. The music, which has since evolved into a unique blend of aggressive rock n' roll and high-intensity organ funk (some fans have started calling it 'The Runk'), pays tribute to the masters while consistently pushing itself in new directions. It's as if jazz organ legend Jimmy Smith had
been the fifth member of Led Zeppelin, or if the Meters had joined forces with Black Sabbath. Performer Magazine writer Sam Merrick described it best as "a monstrous funk groove that probably would have sent Godzilla running had he been in the neighborhood."
Six years and over 500 shows later, Otis Grove has shared the stage with musicians and bands John Medeski, Billy Martin, Charlie Hunter, DJ Logic, Eric Krasno of Soulive, The New Mastersounds, the Jerry Garcia Band, The Brew, Spiritual Rez, Trombone Shorty, and many more. With a few national and European tours under their belt, Otis Grove is hitting it harder then ever, having played venues from the Paradise Rock club and House of Blues in Boston to Sullivan Hall and the famous Blue Note jazz club in New York City.
very well may hear some thick, groovy beats banging out a trail for raw guitar licks and a soul-drenched Hammond organ. Yes indeed, ladies and
gentleman who are down with the funk, it's time to get rocked by your new favorite band: Otis Grove.
Otis Grove began as a collective experiment in crossing the traditional
organ jazz sound with funk, hip-hop, and rock tones. It was the beginning of a sonic realization based in groove, free in improvisation, yet rooted in songwriting and melodic structure. In early 2004, on the heels of their self-titled debut album, the band began spreading their sound to clubs around the New England area. The music, which has since evolved into a unique blend of aggressive rock n' roll and high-intensity organ funk (some fans have started calling it 'The Runk'), pays tribute to the masters while consistently pushing itself in new directions. It's as if jazz organ legend Jimmy Smith had
been the fifth member of Led Zeppelin, or if the Meters had joined forces with Black Sabbath. Performer Magazine writer Sam Merrick described it best as "a monstrous funk groove that probably would have sent Godzilla running had he been in the neighborhood."
Six years and over 500 shows later, Otis Grove has shared the stage with musicians and bands John Medeski, Billy Martin, Charlie Hunter, DJ Logic, Eric Krasno of Soulive, The New Mastersounds, the Jerry Garcia Band, The Brew, Spiritual Rez, Trombone Shorty, and many more. With a few national and European tours under their belt, Otis Grove is hitting it harder then ever, having played venues from the Paradise Rock club and House of Blues in Boston to Sullivan Hall and the famous Blue Note jazz club in New York City.