Charlie Hunter – Right Now Move (Ropeadope)

Not sure what a groove band is? How about a funk band, having trouble defining that one, too? That’s why labels obscure some seriously good music and keep it off radio programmers' radars. Right Now Move, Charlie Hunter’s ninth recorded album, represents a new Milestone for Bay Area native. He invented his current 8-string guitar that allows him to play the bass lines as well as chordal harmonies and melodies of a guitar. Charlie began creating some wonderful music on the West Coast that has been difficult to classify, but a joy to hear.  Charlie Hunter has some of that Béla Fleck mystique happening in his music that conveys a sense of having a happiness within the band and creation of an exhilarating experience for the audience.

The vitality of Right Now Move has a lot to do with the five musicians who play on it. Charlie's tandem in the rhythm section is drummer and fellow Bay Area native, Derek Philips, whose array of grooves and percussive colors ignite the band. In the unique horn lineup, trombonist Curtis Fowlkes anchors the section with magnificent musicality. John Ellis, on tenor saxophone and bass clarinet, plays both instruments with resolute elegance. Darting and dancing on top of it all is the chromatic harmonica playing of Gregoire Maret. Charlie hand-picked these musicians because of their individual musical talents and the unique textures they are able to create against his own singular 8-string sound. Some funk, some Latin. Some fun!