Shareef Keyes and the Groove-Cooking Something: Album Review

Brooklyn raised singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, Shareef Keyes, unites a collective sound of funk, hip-hop, and alternative Rhythm and Blues with the help of a twelve-piece band of New York City’s finest young artists hailing from Juilliard, The New School, and Berklee College of Music, ultimately creating Shareef Keyes & The Groove. Inspired by Parliament-Funkadelic, James Brown, and Wu-Tang. The band has played memorable performances for crowds at Harlem Arts Festival, Pianos, Bowery Electric, Public Factory, Bronx Museum of the Arts, and Webster Hall. In February 2017, Shareef Keyes & The Groove opened for jazz-funk pioneer and musical legend Roy Ayers in front of a sold-out crowd at Brooklyn’s BRIC House. On January 24, 2018, Keyes & The Groove released their new LP, “Cooking Something.”  Over a four year period, Keyes and his older brother, Glo’ whipped up 11 tracks of 70s jazz-Funk and Hip-hop laced music. The LP features tracks, “Potato Salad,” “Macaroni and Cheese,” “Cornbread,” Spaghetti Fettuccine” featuring Ghostface Killah of Wu-Tang. Digging deeper as a few of the songs deserve more attention, I’ll now wax poetic on a couple of my personal favorites. “Cupcake,” a slow jam with sultry bass, piano, rhodes and modernized doo-wop sytled vocals, is a real highlight followed by “Cornbread,” a deep cut that rocks the hip hop tip with masterful vocal deliveries, whistles, cool beats and a sax bit. What comes to mind with this collection of songs is the first time hearing Michael Franti and Spearhead’s debut album, which is in my opinion, a compliment. It was so unique and infectious. Similairly, Keyes and company has a fresh new album that fits in that same category of impression. “Cooking Something” brightly shines the spotlight, not only on songwriting and composition, but also on the high performance level of the live band members. So, kudos to all behind the making of “Cooking Something.” Respectfully, very high marks need to be thrown out there acknowledging Keyes’ high regard and reverence of nostalgic music. It appears and is evident in each track. You’ll hear soulful jazzy licks coming from a live swinging band consisting of guitar, a hot rhythm section (keys, bass and drums) and blazing horns, delivering funked up beats and R&B flavored hip-hop nuggets. The flow of music and styles shows Keyes carefully chose sounds from the ‘70s to emulate. And his infusing of modern influences guarantees there’s definitely something here for all—jazz heads, hip-hop enthusiasts, and R&B fans alike.

—Catherine Strickland

Shareef Keyes

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