Trumpeter Alexander Hartgers and keyboard player Raymond Kaitjily aka Atlantic Groove Society have just released the album ‘Past & Present’ which with nine original compositions and one choice cover is a cool mixture of chilled out lounge music and smooth jazz that is worthy of some attention.
In fact Hartgers from Los Angeles and Kaitjily from Holland have been musical friends for over twenty years and ‘Past & Present’ is a reflection of the music that over time has emanated from this long-standing collaboration.
Take for example the sublime ‘Cool Cats’ that builds over time to sensational effect. Indeed, with Alex and Ray playing all instruments, the interplay between them is a joy to behold and another track that has this dynamic duo front back and centre is the decidedly moody ‘Close To Me’.
Elsewhere and evocative in the extreme ‘Night Drive’, with Alex in fine form on muted trumpet, is a sumptuous slice of west coast smooth jazz and, although ‘Sahara Dream’ is tinged with eastern promise, Alex again captures the mood with the delightfully romantic ‘Just Like That’.
Later ‘Funk That’ proves to be a tune where the title tells you all you need to know about this feisty cut but when the tempo eases the result is the distinctly ethereal ‘Aimee Meets Silvana’.
The album’s only cover is a superb re-imagining of Freddie Hubbard’s jazz fusion classic ‘Happiness Is Now’ that first appeared on Hubbard’s 1979 recording ‘Skagly’. Here it benefits from a standout keyboard solo from Ray Kaitjily and talking of standouts the deliciously chilled ‘G-Force’ finds Alex and Ray at their stunningly collective best. It is right up there with the best that ‘Past & Present’ has to offer yet all things considered the Smooth Jazz Therapy top track is the vibrant ‘Happy Go Lucky’ which comes complete with a catchy hook that might well get in your head and not go away.
The complete Atlantic Groove Society line-up is
- Alexander Hartgers – Trumpet, Flugelhorn & Keyboards, Composer & Arranger
- Raymond Kaitjily - Piano & Keyboards, Composer, Arranger & Programming, Mixing & Mastering
- Mista G aka George De Graaf - Bass & Co-composer for ‘G-Force’
- George Sopacua - Guitar
- Remy Sonneville - Guitar
- Jeff Sopacua - Guitar
- Joost Zoeteman - Guitar & Bass
- Guy Nikkels - Guitar
- Rein Godefroy - Keys
- Hans Kwakkernaat - Keys
- Maurice Tahapary - Bass
- Daniel Lottersberger - Bass
- Taco Gorter - Drums
- Wim De Vries - Drums & Percussion
- Matthias Van Olst - Drums
- Florian Hoefnagels - Drums & Percussion
- Vocals - Pascale Kaitjily