Wayne Buttery and The Groove Project: Live at Twisters (indie)

We reviewed the first album by this Southern Ontario band of veterans last issue and we were anticipating covering this live set thanks to the Groove Project’s rep. for being a total live party band experience. They are a well-oiled machine that conveys the “let’s have some fun…” credo with mucho aplomb and one has to sit back and give these guys repeat listenings as the level of talent/energy combined is actually quite startling. One would guess they have a lot of house gigs sewn up in their territory for their ability to get audiences worked up and letting go which usually translates into major beer sales. The horn section of Russ Strathdee (tenor/baritone), Paul Robillard (trumpet), John Shand (alto) is very punchy, tight and impressive and I could see these guys offering out their services a la White Trash Horns. I see lead vocals are portioned out between Buttery (guitar), Charlie Hinkel (bass) and Shand (sax/guitar) and I can’t tell who is who, but all tracks sound better than fine. Buttery’s guitar work, as usual, is old school and tasteful playing just the right stuff in a strong support role, propelling each tune onward. “My Baby Got the Love” and “I’d Rather Drink Muddy Water” are two great tunes and “Life is Like That” is perhaps the best with tough slide from Buttery. It’s mainly fun, funky material for a

Friday night/Saturday afternoon party. “Walkin’ the Dog” is always appropriate and “Congo Square” has everyone up and at it. Wayne Buttery and The Groove Project are obviously one of the best live Canadian Blues party bands and if you want to have an instant bash or a souvenir of one this disc delivers a truckload of good time energy performed tight and funky. 4 bottles for a treat and a testament from Wayne and The Boys. By the time you read this they’ll have picked up a few thousand more “fans-for-life” at various festivals. September Issue 2004

Wayne Buttery & The Groove Project: Waiting Indie 0001

Another in the 'pleasant surprise' category, this is the debut CD from a group of veteran small town Ontario (Elmvale) musicians who've been playing for pleasure for some years before deciding to embark on a recording foray. It's because of there long term experience, camaraderie and love of the music that this disc comes out so well and as Elmvale is just a hop and a skip from big ol' Toronto the musicians involved have had their share of influences and experiences over the past three decades (most are 40 something). You will however see/hear well-known contributors such as Simon Wallis, a very talented horn man (alto, tenor, baritone sax), the exceptional Aboriginal blues man, Ronnie Douglas, who contributes dobro on one track and Paul Robillard (trumpet one tune) and with Wayne Buttery (lead vocals, guitar), Charlie Hinkel (lead vocals, bass. Bob Federer (keyboards), Dennis King (lead vocals, drums) and with these three guys

handling the singing you get some real variety but 9 of the tunes feature Buttery's vocals (surprise! No Instrumentals which is unusual for a Blues band). 13 tunes in total with 11 being originals and interestingly enough the 2 covers are both Milton Campbell numbers which are perfectly suited to Buttery's voice which is the epitome of Bar room Blues voice; big, rough 'n ready and verging on a bear growl (in a good way!) Each band usually has a distinctive strength / talent that makes them unique and with The Groove Project it's Bob Federer's knack for dressing up every song with perfect keyboard support which actually embellishes each vocal. I've heard it said that great musicians have a knack for making those around them sound great and Federer is a real pro at that. "Life Is Like That" the Little Milton tune, is the opening track and it's done up superfine with excellent Hammond, funky bass, great harp solo (courtesy Steve Thomas) and a superb baritone sax solo from the dependable (and then some! Simon Wallis. It's a perfect opening track; one must always make a great first impression on a CD. "I Said, She Said" is a strong original again with great contributions from several players combining to give a fine end result. "Waiting" is a slow blues with plenty of atmosphere and character. "Are You Doing It Alone" is my favourite track and I believe if you did a 'blindfold test", 9-out-of-IO would think this was a track off an album from Georgia / Alabama band. "No way that's Canadian Blues... it's too down-home and too damn cool I", would be the typical response. It smokes and it's a natural groove that'll have you cranking up the volume. Song-writing doesn't come easy and when 1 listen to Wayne Buttery's classy "It's Enough To Break Your Heart", I'm impressed by his knack for putting together all the right parts from words to arrangements and almost all his compositions click big-time. This is a very fine Canadian Blues band and a CD that easily makes it into the top 10 of Canadian Blues releases. 4 bottles for an impressive debut disc from a great band (and friends) -AG HM November Issue 2003