We Want Groove

Does the band get into the groove? Do they have funk? Are the recording, production, and levels of high quality? To these questions, which are critical components to any good album, the answer is definitely YES! So what is the problem. The tracks are not really songs, in the sense they have no beginning, bridge, or end. All are fine groove rhythms, with some funky flourishes, and they go on and on - then fade out. James Brown, the Godfather of Funk and Groove, could go on and on ( sometimes way too long ), but knew how to wrap a song up to a satisfying conclusion. That does not happen here, nor on Rock Candy Funk Party's other album either. This is too bad, for there is real talent here, and some really tasty groove, but it makes the album hard to enjoy. Each cut is like they are saying, "Okay now, here is another funky groove!" Some of the cuts almost feel like the listener is joining the jam while in progress, and the engineer turned down the levels after five minutes. A lot of potential here, but mostly to be sampled or thrown on to a mix CD, not to be enjoyed in its entirety. I really had my hopes up, because the world needs to groove to some good new funk!

You just never know where Joe Bonamassa will turn up next. Here it's in a world class supergroup of like-minded musicians culling a funky groove into nine songs that defy genre but are amazing to listen to regardless of your normal musical preferences. Along with Joe, Renato Neto (keyboards), Mike Merritt (bass), Ron DeJesus (guitar), and Tal Bergman (drummer for Bonamassa and others) join in the fracas to make one of the most interesting rhythm-driven albums in recent memory. It's an album that's impossible to precisely pigeonhole, but if you want a preview find the "Octopus-e" video, or just watch it on the enclosed bonus DVD, which also features some interesting behind the scenes stuff fans will be sure to enjoy.While "We Want O Groove" is impossible to precisely classify as it crosses so many genre barriers in the last expected ways imaginable, it's a great effort and well worth adding to your collection.

I cannot tell you how good this is in this little review box. You can't box in Bonamassa! If you like Guitar Driven Rock, Blues, Blues Rock, Jazz - all from a very young guy who not only writes his lyrics but also his music and it's actually good - you want this.This guy is the most under-rated musician you have never heard of. When you hear this (hopefully through real speakers - not amped up bass boosters from hell) you will hear music - like it's the first time. I accidentally found him and bought 2 CDs.Then I went to a used CD shop and bought the rest of his entire catalog (new & unopened) including the 2 CDs with Beth Hart and his first rock band's CD and his other pet project Rock Candy Funk Party. Then I found the DVD concerts and then the blu rays concerts. I'm tellin' you "Get up off-a that thing".........and buy ALL OF IT. You WILL thank me.....

Wow do I ever like this release!As a percussionist brought up on hair metal in high school who became friends with two different funk drummers, I really, really, really appreciate this CD. It's a nice blend of many musical worlds, and it constantly has me tapping along with the funky grooves.Lately, I've seen Joe Bonamassa in my hometown of Detroit... then traveled to see his band in Indianapolis... and then many months later in Toledo, Ohio... with the latter two shows showing glimpses of the Rock Candy Funk Party groove. It was a pleasant surprise. Even nicer was when I attended the Toledo JB show in November of 2012, and afterwards, expecting to hear ZZ Top's "Cheap Sunglasses" coda, we were treated to RCFP instead. Hearing this "new" groove caused me to ask the soundman about the song. He responded: "Rock Candy Funk Party... with their release coming out in late January 2013."So I pre-ordered here on Amazon... and was delighted when the CD/DVD package arrived.It starts out strong... and then gets into some "cooler" night-time grooves.With the last song being intriguing for its 3 minute use of silence.It's not your usual Joe Bonamassa blues-rock blend at all.Instead, it's synergistic school for the oh-so-cool!Funkus Maximus indeed!! Two thumbs way up!!!Brian ShellAuthor, Artist, Musician

I preordered this cd as a Valentine's Day gift for my husband. We love Joe Bonamassa and have ordered his cd's through Amazon in the past. I had received an e-mail from Amazon telling me that this was his newest cd being released and I could preorder for the best price. I was very pleased with the low price guarantee through Amazon and the cd did come during the expected time it was promised. The reason for my 4-star rating is that we were disappointed that the cd contains many artists and not a lot of Joe Bonamassa. I knew there were other artists on the cd and we've purchased another cd where he collaborated with Beth Hart and found we LOVE her so I wasn't scared off by other artists being featured. This cd just didn't resonate as well with my husband as other cds have. If you are looking for Joe Bonamassa's music, there are better cds to purchase, in my opinion.

This is an awesome album that casts the light on a really talented set of musicians. This jazz-funk record is full tight rhythms and melodies. For those who are less than happy that it does not feature Joe Bonamassa in his traditional role of monster of rock blues, the guitar work here is subtle, technical and fitting to the funk genre. With Ron DeJesus and JB on guitar, there is plenty of wizardry. I know there is a ton of 70's funk influences, but to me it seems Joe is channeling Jeff Beck's fusion work. I love the keyboards, bass and drumming. My only criticism is the 4 minute gap on track 9 between New York song and Mr. Clean.

A brilliant Jazz Funk album, has a rather 70’s kinda groove with a modern twist, I just seem to love every Project that Joe Bonamassa is involved in. Nice 180g double album, very well mastered and a good pressing with wide dynamic range. By the way side 4 has an extra track not mentioned on the album sleeve, to play, you physically have to move the stylus to the beginning of the track, and it a great track.

As described and prompt

It is true the instrumental guitar jazz funk album from Prince I have always wanted is here - It just has blues rock guitar hero Joe Bonnamassa on guitar instead who shows his incredible versatility. I am not sure this will be for you if you are a Bonamassa fan unless you are big jazz funk guitar fan as this is very like Prince or the jazz funk of the 70s 80s but I like it and have listened to it in the car and it blows the cobwebs away like any other Bonamassa live album .,just differently. The bottom line is have listen or just take a chance you might just be in for a pleasant suprise.

A rare piece of new music that takes you back to the seventies and Jeff Beck 'Starcycle' style of music. If you only like Bonomassa blues stuff you may want to check it out first before buying.

This is a great vinyl record. It is nicely pressed on 2 LPs, and sounds great, really punchy and crisp. The funky grooves sound great on vinyl.

I bought this as a result of being impressed with one of the tracks, played on Radio 2. I think it's the best track on the album, but they're all good. I've not given it 5 stars because though I will listen to it again many times, I wouldn't be too deflated if I didn't hear it ever again.

Great album and the vinyl sounds really nice as well. Its 2 heavy grade LPs that have plenty of bass and good fidelity sounds. If you like 70's jazz-funk-groove then you'll enjoy this.

To smooth lift music no influenced by Jo Bonamassa

They groove allright. Got cramp myfoot tapped so much

Excellent sound production and technically great performances. While I enjoy this release, I feel the project lacks both dynamics in the arrangements and imagination in its composition. Not that the compositions are bad - it's that they don't live up to the production or the stellar abilities of the individual players. That said, the compostitions' derivative nature is more a purposeful nod to fusion heros like Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, etc. than anything else - and to the project's credit, all in the name of fun. The best examples are found in the title track and in the spacey mood of "The Best Ten Minutes of Your Life". Taken at face value, it's an unapologetic retro fusion homage ...and it certainly grooves.

Dans le courant des supers groupes voici Rock Candy Funk Party, formation qui regroupe le fabuleux batteur Tal Bergman (Joe Zawinul, Chaka Khan...) qui est aussi producteur de l'album, le bassiste Mike Merritt, spécialiste en jazz rock mais qui a, un temps, accompagné le bluesman Johnny Copeland, le guitariste Ron DeJesus spécialiste de la fusion jazz-rock, Renato Neto claviériste connu pour avoir fait partie du groupe de Prince et Joe Bonamassa guitariste de blues-rock qu'on ne présente plus et qui évolue avec talent dans un registre qu'il n'a pas l'habitude de maitriser. Ces cinq excellents musiciens se sont réunis pour nous pondre, en 10 jours, cet album instrumental au groove imparable. Une jam session de haute volée, ça pulse comme c'est pas possible, on y retrouve des influences diverses mixées façon jazz-rock funky. Chaque musicien nous surprend par sa virtuosité, l'ensemble est d'une précision implacable, la prestation est explosive comme le percutant « Animal» ou « We Want groove » le morceau titre. Et cette débauche de rythmes groovy traversés par des solos de guitare travaillés à la pédale d'effets, se termine par un titre lancinant lorgnant vers Weather Report « New York Song ». Un album funk-rock qui décoiffe accompagné d'un DVD composé de séquences où l'on voit le groupe travailler à l'enregistrement le l'album.(CD / 9 titres / 1h07 - DVD / 30mn).

Ob Herr Bonamassa nun jedes Genre beackern muss sei dahingestellt,aber für ein Fun Projekt und mehr soll diese Scheibe wohl auch nicht sein,ist es ok-sehr ok sogar. Natürlich macht ein Mr.Mouzon oder Mr. Cobham als auch ein Mr. Beck mehr daraus,aber es groovt und funkt trotzdem gewaltig. Ich mag es. Gute Musiker haben Spass und jammen so rum.Seht Euch mal die Youtube Videos eines Konzertes dieser Band an. Es groovt.

Va ascoltato per quello che è: divertimento allo stato puro. Non è sicuramente un disco memorabile da un punto di vista compositivo, e probabilmente non doveva esserlo nemmeno nelle intenzioni dei musicisti. Ma se vi piace il funk strumentale, allora è un disco da avere. La presenza di Joe Bonamassa è un plus, ma sicuramente non fa la differenza. A me personalmente piace di più il secondo chitarrista, che è molto più funzionale al genere. Grandi suoni. Da ascoltare a volume altissimo...

If you're thinking about this album as a result of looking up 'Joe Bonamassa', that's where I started. I have been a fan of Joe since his early days and have almost everything he's released, including his other collaborations with Beth Hart and as part of Black Country Communion, so I investigated this strange looking album as part of my wish not to miss something. I nearly dismissed it because of the cover picture and the name of the group. I'm glad I did not.Now, funk is not my usual choice of music, although I do recall the 70s and I always liked the bass line on Sly and the Family Stone's 'If You Want Me To Stay' (assuming that is 'funk'), and I'm really a blues and blues-rock person, so I wondered whether to part with my money. As others have said, the musicianship from all 5 band members is first class and the concept of 'evolved, jamming music' works well. I particularly enjoy the bass lines and the drumming. As for Joe, well, he's on top form but for this type of music his real importance is his ability to contribute to the mix, to make his suggestions and to blend with the others, which he does well. The added DVD contains 4 short films which help put the album in context ~ just a shame that there are a few repeated segments (once is enough for hearing Joe talk about not having to wear sunglasses and a suit).So, if you love everything about Joe and you want to be a 'completist' like me, the album should not disappoint - it contains some interesting tracks and is also great as background music when that's what you need. If you love funk or you follow any of the other band members, then apologies to you because I can only review from my own perspective, and that is Joe-based and as a blues lover.

Like many of the other reviewers I have always rated Joe's playing and choice of material highly. This time I have found it very difficult assess. Firstly, I am sure that the playing and general musicianship of all those involved on this CD is top notch however they are playing material which is in a 70's funk style - a style I do not like. Having played the CD at home it did nothing for me. I have since played it in the car where I was a captive audience for an hour or so but with the same results. I cannot even think of anyone to give it to.I do not think that Joe shines very well with his playing as it is not particularly the dominant instrument. I thought that the bass playing, where it was the dominant was interesting and the drumming was crisp and quite inventive considering the style of music. The main sound seems to be produced by keys of some sort.I don't like giving this only 2 stars as it is obviously not the style of music for me and therefore I am perhaps unqualified to judge it. I prefer Joe playing with any of his other rock/blues bands showing me what a virtuoso he really is on his chosen instrument.