CHENNAI: I ncorporating influences from traditional African music, Latin American rhythms and Jamaican reggae, the jazz-funk band Groove#3 is back in town this weekend with a new performance.
Created in January 2010, it has been six years since the band evolved from a trio to a complete six-piece. Initially comprising a line-up of Naveen Samson on lead guitars, David Joseph on the drums and Divyan Ahimaz on the bass — hence the number ‘3’ — Divyan was eventually replaced by Napier Naveen Kumar, with the group further reinforced with the addition of keyboardist Leon James and eclectic percussionist Allwyn Jeya Paul. Of course, Benny Dayal joined in 2011 and since then the band has toured and played in music festivals across the country.
So with such burgeoning numbers, why wasn’t the number ‘3’ changed from the band’s name? “Groove #3 is known for its sound. Even though the line-up has changed, or rather, extended, we eventually end up sounding like Groove #3 music. So we didn’t see the need to change the name,” the band says.
They have also started producing music under Groove#3 Productions. “We believe that the market for independent music is very limited, and also it takes a lot of effort to search and reach out for valuable music. So we decided to record small ideas and concepts and release them,” explains guitarist Naveen. “That is happening and the production is collaborating with a lot a good artists as well.”
With no regrets so far in their six-year association, the band talks about their music. “Funk and jazz are genres that have always been commercially and creatively more viable in the southern half of the country. It has less to do with stereotyping and more to do with the general prevalence of similar strains of ethnic arts,” says the band, whose favourite track is Nowhere to Run.
Their line-up changes, and they hardly rehearse (when they do, it’s at their drummer David’s house); but despite this their music gets most of the audiences at their shows wild and every gig is remembered.
Talking about the upcoming show, Naveen adds, “We are featuring two guest artists, vocalist Shilvi Sharon, and Keba Jeremiah will be joining us on the guitar. We will be performing a lot of pop. We mainly want people to dance and enjoy.”
Groove to their music at Phoenix MarketCity on October 9. For details call 30016818