Groovin'

Undeniably Zachary Breaux's best album, Groovin' finds the guitarist performing live at Ronnie Scott's Club -- a London venue that many British jazz fans consider England's equivalent of New York's Village Vanguard. Some of Breaux's studio material was smothered by excessive production and didn't fully demonstrate what a talented soloist he was, but on these soul-jazz, post-bop, and pop-jazz performances, he isn't worried about fitting into oppressive commercial radio formats. So the improviser is free to stretch out and say what he needs to on material that ranges from John Coltrane's "Impressions" (which gets a funky, hip-hop-ish makeover) and Ben Tucker's "Coming Home Baby" to originals like the mellow "Lagos" and the blues number "Alice." Meanwhile, those who want to hear pop-jazz/NAC music that is soulful instead of boring, contrived, and robotic should check out Breaux's interpretation of the Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway hit "Where Is the Love." The only song on the CD that has nothing to do with jazz is "Red Black and Green," a lively funk tune that finds singer/vibist Roy Ayers joining Breaux's quartet. Groovin' falls short of being a gem, but it's satisfying and respectable -- and it's clearly the high point of Breaux's recording career. ~ Alex Henderson|