Featured Artist: Jan Korinek and Groove

CD Title: Groovin' For Little V

Year: 2007

Record Label: Hard Bop Records

Style: Blues

Review:

Only in the wide world of jazz can one get the kind of rich, free, diverse, and stylish tunes such as that found on this Hammond-rich, blues-deep trio’s project, Groovin’ For Little V. So incredibly laden with shadows of Jimmy Smith and Jimmy McGriff, one would never guess that this is a Czech group and that this album is considered to be the first Czech soul-jazz production, according to the artists’ promo material. Now, how’s that for originality?

Jan Korinek, the head of this talented trio, has such a feel for the blues that you’ll feel quite justified in envisioning the band jamming at a chilled-out New Orleans blues club or bar with Korinek proudly perched in front of his Hammond B3 under blue lights and quite comfortable with himself and the setting.

Here is simple, yet tightly woven Hammond blues/soul jazz in the finest of traditions. Nothing too complex, nothing too heady, nothing too cerebral or lofty. Nope, just great, soul-wrenching, soul-searching, powerfully satisfying “gut” music. You sit, you sip, you listen, you experience.  Cuts like Turrentine’s “The Hustler” and Ray Charles’ “A Fool For You” just beg for that type of setting. The smoothness, the fluidity, the intensity all grab at you effectively.  This band knows how to get at the nitty-gritty of this music.  Jiri Nokes’s guitar is light and expressive and converses nicely with Korinek’s organ, as does Martin Kopriva's funky and supportive drum work and what appears to be a synthesized (and powerfully present) bass.  This is all good foot-tapping stuff. Way to keep the blues old-liners engaged.

Record Label Website: http://www.hardboprecords.com

Artist's Website: http://www.jankorinek.com

Reviewed by: Ronald Jackson

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