Groove Collective - Its All In Your Mind (2001)

Nearly ten years after their formation in the early-'90s New York soul-jazz scene, Groove Collective has developed into a tightly knit orchestra of highly skilled musicians full of life and danceable spirit. It's All in Your Mind is a good representation of their artistic development and, as is with any progression, Groove Collective has upped the ante just enough to ensure further progress on future records. It's All in Your Mind experiments with jazzy and spacy elements, but never veers too far to the left or right. Though the first cut, "Time Pilot," is a slow and gentle groove that initially sounds like Hooverphonic or Portishead, the band jumps right back to their rootsy Afro-beat comforts with the second track, the Fela Kuti-esque "Ransome." They dance around in techno-influenced space on "Dance With You" and even rock out on "Skye." Though it may seem as though GC bounces around a lot, they maintain their focus beautifully, drifting seamlessly from genre to genre. As well, It's All in Your Mind tests the band's technical boundaries as electronics are more prevalent than on previous records. It's All in Your Mind illustrates an evolution of sorts for the collective from their meager hip-hop/jazz beginnings to a full-on ensemble. What's more is that the Collective plays like a jazz combo, giving each player enough room to show off his considerable individual talents. There are numerous standouts on the record, but Chucho Valdes' appearance on "Stargazer" is likely the most memorable as it elevates the record to new sonic heights. Generally, It's All in Your Mind is a bit more mellow than previous recordings but a wonderful record nonetheless. -- Ken Taylor ~