Jimbo Ross gives classic jazz repertoire an appealing string-centered mode on Beyond The Groove, a spirited collection that pairs the warmth of his five-string electric viola/violin with the rhythmic drive of bebop and hard bop. Ross moves comfortably between agile, sharply accented phrases and more expansive melodic passages, making his instrument the voice for this […]
Jimbo Ross gives classic jazz repertoire an appealing string-centered mode on Beyond The Groove, a spirited collection that pairs the warmth of his five-string electric viola/violin with the rhythmic drive of bebop and hard bop. Ross moves comfortably between agile, sharply accented phrases and more expansive melodic passages, making his instrument the voice for this production. Joining Ross are Joe Gaeta on guitar, Stuart Elster on piano, Peter Marshall on upright bass, and Ron Wagner on drums. The set draws from compositions by Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, Bill Evans, John Lewis, Benny Golson, Scott LaFaro, and Miles Davis, with arrangements that bring variety and personality to familiar territory. Brisk swing, blues feeling, Latin accents, and gentler moments give the session a satisfying range. It’s an engaging recording that demonstrates how naturally the viola can express the vitality and lyrical possibilities of the jazz tradition.
