If you like melodic guitar-based jazz, Guitar Groove
is not to be missed.
It is [according to allaboutjazz.com] an astoundingly
lyrical effort from a guitarist in his prime. It should appeal equally to fans
of mainstream jazz and fusion, and to anyone who appreciates superior jazz
musicianship.
“Belgian guitarist
Catherine has had an erratic recording career, bouncing between fusion, rock,
and jazz, but his enormous talent has never been in question. This CD probably
brings his abilities into clearer focus than previous ones, buoyed by keyboardist
Jim Beard, electric bass guitarist Alphonso Johnson, and drummer Rodney Holmes.
Catherine wrote all but one of these thirteen cuts, a nice take of the classic
ballad "Stardust" with Black on Fender Rhodes. The best tracks are in
the front half of the recording. "Merci Afrique" has a groovy beat
with ultra-bright chords from Catherine's spare guitar and piano and is a great
tune. A chord laden melody on "Sunset Shuffle" is a swing-rock
amalgam. Inventive bass/guitar unison on the easy swing of the title track with
Wes Montgomery-like chords and a darker ballad, "For Wayne and Joe,"
are dedicated to Messrs. Shorter & Zawinul, big influences on Catherine in
the '70s and through the '90s. As a matter of fact, this rhythm section is
Shorter's. There are four sambas; moody, introspective, heavy unison staccato
accents inform "Good Morning Bill," while deliberate but breezy
dynamics center guitar and piano crisscrossing during "Hello George."
A reverential poppish mode sets up "To My Sister," and "Blue
Bells" is slow but highly melodic. Four others are pretty tunes. The
Rhodes-driven "Chinese Lamp" is Christmasy, "Here and Now"
is meditational, and, on acoustic guitar, "Nuances" (not Django
Reinhardt's) is a power ballad, while "Simply" is stated sweetly with
distinction. Some day Catherine will release the out-and-out jazz recording the
world knows he is capable of. This one comes very close.” [allmusic.com – review by Michael G. Nastos]
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