Eric Valentine - Velvet Groove (2018)

The explosive style of drummer Eric Valentine has been the soulful energizer for some of the biggest stars of the smooth jazz galaxy and now, stepping very much center stage, he is making his very own tilt for stardom with ‘Velvet Groove’, his first CD for fifteen years. It features a stunning line-up of contemporary jazz glitterati and, with ten of Valentine’s original compositions plus one excellent cover, is a recording that warrants some serious attention.

Made more special by the fact that a full smooth jazz album from a drummer doesn’t come along every day (the 2005 project ‘Time To Suttledown’ from Jeffery B Suttles is another rare exception) this collection of soul-soaked urban grooves is very much the real deal and perfectly summed up by the opening track, the joyously mid tempo ‘Back To The Groove’ that features sax from Keith McKelley as well as contributions from the incomparable Brian Simpson on keys and guitarist Adam Hawley who, with ‘Just The Beginning’, is currently making his own tilt at solo stardom.

Hawley is again around to lend a hand with the stunningly good ‘That Guy’ that, with great sax from Elan Trotman, is on the cutting edge of urban jazz at its street-wise finest yet when sax duties pass to the wonderful Gerald Albright the result is ‘Tis So Sweet’, Valentines very own tribute to the late great Wayman Tisdale.

The title cut (and first single to be serviced to radio) finds those old sparring partners Rick Braun and Richard Elliot combining with ‘go to’ bass player Andre Berry for a tune that is sure to play and play while later the decidedly feel good ‘Back In The Day’ is led off by the smoky vocals of Eric’s wife, B Valentine, who lays a soulful path to outstanding sax from Kirk Whalum. Both bass-player Nate Philips and guitarist Darrell Crooks also play a part whilst the album’s only cover is a fresh take on the Stevie Wonder song ‘Joy Inside My Tears’ for which Andre DePriest does a nice job on vocals.

Flute from Jamel Brown provides a jazzy veneer to the easy grooving ‘Mr Z’ and much the same can be said of his input to the complex yet accessible ‘Sixth Sense’ that reverberates with cello from Nicole Pinnell. Elsewhere, ‘E Love (Everlasting Love)’ glides along on a delightful Latin vibe. Greg Manning really hits the spot with a cool synth solo while Valentine gets the opportunity to demonstrate his prowess on keys. Another number to lift the spirits is the superb ‘Mi Sol’ that has the added benefits of guitar from Kay-ta-Matsuno, percussion from the redoubtable Ramon Yslas and bass from Darryl Williams but in the final analysis ‘Velvet Groove’ is more than an album, it is a concept that Valentine has created.

It brings together a musical community drawn from some of the finest artists the genre has to offer to record, as far as is practically possible, all in the same place and at the same time. In so doing they collectively deliver music that will both inspire and uplift.