Festival: RAMI Award Ceremony, 2016
The Groove Hotel sprang from the roots of the Dean Moriarty Jazz Band, whose work ranged from the standard jazz repertoire of Miles, Monk, Mingus, and Coltrane, to an evening-long recasting of rock music standards called “Woodstock: Long Time Gone” which premiered at the Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center in 2005. Dean alums Dan Kasten, Jeff Layng, and Phil Pilcher teamed up with Bob Rub and Dave Timmcke to form Groove Hotel, with the idea of adding guest musicians on a regular basis. When guests check in to the Groove Hotel they enjoy a comfy bed of rhythm, fine musical cuisine, and silky sheets of sound.
The band's continually evolving repertoire emphasizes rhythmic variety. You'll hear swing, bossa nova, funk, rock, samba, gospel, and Cuban son; sometimes several of these appear in the same tune. Compositions from the jazz canon by Miles Davis, Horace Silver, or Herbie Hancock share the spotlight with songs by George Harrison, King Crimson, Steely Dan, and Eric Clapton, to name just a few. Audiences may also be treated to a world premiere of one of the band's original compositions.
Groove Hotel has been honored with several Rockford Area Music Industry (RAMI) awards, and has played to appreciative crowds at Anderson Japanese Garden, Mendelssohn PAC, Concerts on the Creek, Klehm Arboretum, Lino's Restaurant, Northwest Arts Festival, The Art Institute of Chicago, Sinnissippi Bandshell, Rotary Gardens in Janesville, Wisconsin, and the Phoenix Park Bandshell in Delavan, Wisconsin.
Friends who check into the Groove Hotel:
Johnse Holt - guitar & vocals
Chris Hyatt - piano
Clyde Cole - guitar & vocals
Tito Cevallos - percussion
Gina Meeks - vocals
Paul Rehfeldt - trombone
Evon Sams - saxes
Larry Anderson - guitar
Ed Bogdonas - drums
Larry Nordstrom - bass
Dave Ross - piano
Bob Werntz - trumpet