Fo/Mo/Deep

Some Past Festival Organizer Comments: Mike Stratton, Lansing Jazz Festival 2012: The crowd was eating you guys up. I thought it was very cool: rare to see such good players who are also entertainers. Great show. Joe Mallory, Project ArtReach (Jazz in the Park Festival): “I thank you sincerely for all you have done to help our organization and the amazing performance fo/mo/deep gave for 2 hours at our 10th Anniversary! ……you guys are Gold in my book! Outstanding Job…” Project Artreach, (Jazz in the Park Festival): “Good morning, Ron! You guys were fantastic! I had the opportunity to hear some of your set – in between running around on the cart

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Some Past Festival Organizer Comments: Mike Stratton, Lansing Jazz Festival 2012: The crowd was eating you guys up. I thought it was very cool: rare to see such good players who are also entertainers. Great show. Joe Mallory, Project ArtReach (Jazz in the Park Festival): “I thank you sincerely for all you have done to help our organization and the amazing performance fo/mo/deep gave for 2 hours at our 10th Anniversary! ……you guys are Gold in my book! Outstanding Job…” Project Artreach, (Jazz in the Park Festival): “Good morning, Ron! You guys were fantastic! I had the opportunity to hear some of your set – in between running around on the cart. However, the comments from the crowd were extremely positive. Thank you again for being so gracious with your support of Project ArtReach; ya’ll ROCK!” Gail Burkholder, (Comfest): “As someone who’s seen them from their first show on, I highly recommend this CD. I’ve used their music as a bed when hosting Jazz Sunday on WCBE and headlined them on the Jazz Stage at Comfest. As someone with lots of choices of bands, I keep returning to fo/mo/deep when I need to get my groove on. Festival/club bookers, they will get your crowd dancing!” Jay Snyder, (Riverfront Arts Festival): “Ron and the rest of Fo/Mo/Deep are as good as it gets. They know how to light an audience on fire, bringing a whole musical toolkit and the skills to fix your flats. They were regulars at the Riverfront Art Festival when I was there – just mention their name and people get excited around here. They have a well deserved reputation as Columbus’s preferred soundtrack. I hope I have the excuse to hire them again!” - Press, CD Reviews Summaries: Rob Young, @ The Vertical Spin …. “Like so many music enthusiast I eagerly anticipate the arrival of new and refreshing sounds, especially by jazz artists. Perhaps more than anything, I’m truly enlightened by the symmetry, lyricism and hidden elements revealed through the canvas of these recordings. With that said Columbus, OH native composer/bassist Ron “FatKat” Holmes returns with his band fo/mo/deep to enhance their distinctive mark on another riveting contemporary jazz offering titled “theGroovyGoodness.” From the outset, their enticing brand of jazz artfully envelopes a gumbo of mesmerizing flavors…..” Markus Michel @ Smooth Jazz Daily…. “Music in our times is often described with a certain kind of label like Jazz, Rock, Fusion etc.. But the musical concept of fo/mo/deep is different from that. They don’t seem to care for labels; they put different styles together, just as they like it. The result can -once again- be enjoyed on their new record The Groovy Goodness. The Groovy Goodness takes the listener on a journey into the groovy and funky sounds of the seventies and the eighties of the last century. Musical eclecticism is often used as a negative term, just to describe music, which contains nothing unique. But The Groovy Goodness shows, that ‘eclecticism’ can also be understood as ‘music without boundaries’.” Brent Black,@CriticalJazz ….”A release as deep and rich as the cover art, I’m hooked… The development of a major label artist or act is rare. Sign the deal and your job is to now write for radio and play what sells. With all the baggage that comes with an independent artist that one shiny star is artistic integrity. Fo/Mo/Deep is back with an eclectic groove that pulls from a myriad of influences yet with the skills necessary to keep it tight and moving. Diversity is indeed a righteous groove. I don’t venture into the contemporary jazz waters often but in keeping with my commitment to the independent artist, Fo/Mo/Deep makes it a pleasure and they make it easy. ………” Rob Young, @ The UrbanFlux …“A Beautiful Bang” embodies an assorted boutique of thirteen jams for the discerning ears of contemporary, urban, soul and smooth jazz lovers to taste, stir and savor with each spin. Out of the box, the groove begins with a tune pen by the dynamic duo Holmes and Newton on the uniquely titled “Jawjacka’.” This chart poppin’ groove opens with funky bass licks supplied by the versatile Ron Holmes, accompanied by the ensemble they pound away relentlessly too reinforce the upbeat rhythms accentuate their accessible and distinct sound……” Ronald Jackson, @ The Smooth Jazz Ride…”A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of reviewing a very eclectic mix of jazz, funk, and world jams from a group called fo/mo/deep in its debut release appropriately titled Eclecticism. It was packed with body and powerful grooves that made this sophomore release, A Beautiful Bang, almost inevitable. Full of the same style of smooth yet funky jazz and even more world vibes with smart phrasing and timing, sharp keys playing, plenty of floor shakin’ bottom, and crisp sax work, this new project should be received as well, if not better, than its predecessor.” Chris Mann, @ smoothjazzdaily…”In the years that I’ve been writing about music, it’s always been a pleasure to hear the latest release from my favorite artists. It’s a real joy though to hear music this good from a band I just discovered. The writing, performing and producing talent on display here is really dazzling, but what I like most is the honest, funky nature of a band that knows where its roots lay, what it does well and what its audiences are going to love.” S. Victor Aaron, @ somethingelsereviews…”fo/mo/deep also serves to remind us that, yes, there are still a few bands out there making that soul-soothing, butt-swaying, feel-good blend of jazz and funk. And at least one of them, out of the middle of Ohio, is doing it about as well as it can be done.” Brent Black,@CriticalJazz…”I see nothing mentioning a major label deal but if there are indeed exceptions to a rule then fo/mo/deep may indeed be the Independent band to start with as A Beautiful Bang is as good as any major label contemporary release I’ve heard this year. Why? There are no production crutches used to wake those from the sonic coma some contemporary records seem to magically induce or to aid the rhythmically challenged. A real working band. Cats that can play, play well and pull from a variety of influences and make their own sound that smashes barriers including the musical glass ceiling that most contemporary acts can not come close to crashing. Jazz/Funk/World – call it anything you want. A Beautiful Bang kills on every possible level.” Smooth Jazz Therapy, Denis Pool:…. “Those of you who enjoy your contemporary jazz on the dangerous side could do worse than to check out the CD Eclecticism from the interestingly named fo/mo/deep. This rhythmic roller coaster from a band who describe themselves as an eclectic, groove orientated and funky jazz collective has its share of outstanding tracks. Indeed original compositions by the bands leader and bass player Ron Holmes Jr. sit very tidily with material from Lonnie Liston Smith, Charlie Hunter, John Coltrane and Nat Adderley. As a consequence the entire collection drips with 70s style nostalgia but in doing so never sounds out of date……”

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