Mike LeDonne's Groover Quartet: Turn It Up!: Live at the Sidedoor

For over twenty-five years, Mike LeDonne's Groover Quartet has been a shining example of consistency and authenticity in the organ-jazz scene. The latest double-disc release, Turn It Up!: Live at the Sidedoor, captures the group at two different moments in time: 2024 at the Sidedoor Jazz Club in Old Lyme, Connecticut, and 2004 at Vancouver's Cellar Jazz Club. These two recordings offer an intriguing glimpse into a band that has never aimed to reinvent itself, only to refine its sound, providing music rooted in groove, soul, and swing, with a strong respect for melody.

LeDonne's longtime colleagues, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, guitarist Peter Bernstein, and drummer Joe Farnsworth, form a tight-knit unit whose musical communication has grown over years of live shows. The Groover Quartet's aim, as LeDonne has highlighted, is to "play for the people," delivering music that is rich in depth and integrity, yet accessible to all. These two sessions show that such an approach can produce music that is both deeply fulfilling and genuinely human.

Disc One -The Sidedoor Sessions (2024). "Slow Freight" opens the 2024 sessions with the power of a well-oiled locomotive. Ray Bryant's tune, long a favourite of organists, is transformed into a blues- soaked opener full of grit and drive. The band is locked in forward motion, with LeDonne's foot pedal bass lines powering the rhythm as Alexander's muscular playing rises from the groove. Bernstein's guitar lines dance above the earthy tones of the B3, as Fransworth provides crisp timing. The band shifts towards R&B territory with The Spinners' "Love Don't Love Nobody" and turns the tune into a genuine swinger. Alexander's expressive tenor runs through the changes with boisterous precision, while LeDonne's two-handed sermons keep the B3 preaching. The legendary songwriting duo Gamble & Huff wrote "I Love Music," which became a hit in 1975 for The O'Jays. The band takes this "Philly Sound" number and wraps it in an up-tempo vibe far from its roots. In this full-frontal attack, Alexander stretches out with spirited improvisations, driven along by Farnsworth's dynamic drum work. LeDonne covers the keyboard with rhythmic flair, and Bernstein demonstrates breakneck speed over the fretboard.

The closer is a Milt Jackson masterpiece titled "Blues for Edith," handled with reverence and authority. LeDonne conjures the blues spirit with some down-home runs, and Bernstein has a solo filled with crystalline phrasing. Alexander is on point with his tenor, evoking both blues and benediction.

Disc Two: The Cellar Sessions (2004). The Cellar Sessions (2004) captures the Groover Quartet in its vibrant early stage. "After the Love Has Gone" opens the set with Earth, Wind, and Fire's iconic ballad, reinterpreted through jazz. Starting with Farnsworth's swinging tempo, Alexander's warm tone thoroughly explores the theme over LeDonne's shining harmonies. Bernstein's solo showcases his precise technique and curious spirit. J.J. Johnson's "Lament" highlights the group's lyrical sensitivities. Bernstein's minimalist approach provides just the right amount of colour, keeping the emotional contour simple and direct. Alexander's interpretation is calm and deeply emotional, supported by LeDonne's organ-choir symmetry.

Ray Noble's "Cherokee" drives the quartet to a fast tempo, making the performance exciting. Farnsworth's tireless drumming pushes the number forward as Alexander's technical skill is impressive, leaving no detail untouched. LeDonne keeps the pace as he joyfully cavorts over the keyboard. Bernstein is active as he stretches the tune's linear structure in an upbeat romp. Although not the final track, the piece captures the band's essence: earthy, lively, and rhythmically compelling.