The intention of Marlon Saunders’ new album A Groove So Deep is similar to the one of N’Dambi’s second album Tunin Up & Cosignin, i.e. presenting songs from your debut album (Enter My Mind) in new raw live-like context together with new songs. Unlike most live albums the songs weren’t recorded live in a performance at a venue but live in a studio on West 27th Street in NYC in January 2005 in front of an invited crowd.
“I wanted to capture some of the special moments that happen in rehearsals,” says Marlon, “when it’s just us and the music. We get to stretch out a bit; the music can be improvisational, free, jazzy, funky - whatever we’re feeling.”
And that just perfectly describes this recording by Marlon and his band Mood Control. We get new versions of songs from Enter My Mind like Afro Blue My Mind, The Beginning Of Never, Inspiration or Keep Doin’ What You’re Doing that adds a new dimension to the songs and a kind of raw energy that you may have missed in the songs’ original versions. Marlon also re-did the wonderful Love Philosophy, that appeared on the album Circle Of The Sun by Jazzhole, the album that first introduced me to Marlon.
The perfect summer tune Coolin’ gets remarkable revamped too with Monet on flute and Moods Control’s background vocalist Tricia Angus (who also impressed on Angela Johnson’s Early Bird) with a great scatting/vocal part.
Like on Enter My Mind all songs were written or co-written by Marlon except for one cover version. On his debut album Marlon covered a Stevie Wonder tune (If It’s Magic). This time he adds his magic to Norman Whitfield’s/Rose Royce’s I Wanna Get Next To You (from the Car Wash soundtrack). There are simple cover versions and there are cover version where a musician really adopts a song and makes it his own. And that’s what Marlon did with I Wanna Get next To You.
Then there are the new songs like the earthy funk of A Groove So Deep, that borrows slightly from Diana Ross’ Love Hangover with its sweetest hangover chorus, or the terrific love poem/ballad Declaring Love.
Enter My Mind proved that Marlon Saunders can record a timeless studio album, the highly recommendable A Groove So Deep shows that he also is a great musician in an improvisational surrounding.

A Groove So Deep The Live Sessions will be availalble this summer.

Tracklisting of A Groove So Deep The Live Sessions: 1. Afro Blue My Mind/ 2. I Wanna Get Next To You/ 3. The Beginning Of Never/ 4. A Groove So Deep/ 5. Love’s Interlude/ 6. Love Philosophy/ 7. Declaring Love/ 8. Inspiration/ 9. Groove…Something’ Takin’ Over/ 10. Keep Doin’ What Ya Do/ 11. Pay It To The People (Keepers Of The Gate)/ 12. Coolin’/ 13. Groove…Even Deeper | released 2005 by Black HoneyRecords

For more infos visit marlonsaunders.com and cdbaby.com.

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