Biography
After World War II, large jazz ensembles did not vanish entirely, yet they shifted from the prevailing format to infrequent exceptions. Financial realities drove the change, as the expense of employing fifteen or eighteen musicians far exceeded the cost of five or six. Nevertheless, significant big bands continued to appear in the twenty-first century, including the Groove Troopers, a Dutch group directed by composer, producer, and pianist Martin Fondse.
Whereas most Dutch big bands concentrate on straight-ahead or avant-garde acoustic jazz, the Groove Troopers adopt a jazz-funk and crossover jazz perspective and incorporate electric instruments such as keyboards and electric bass. Their influences extend beyond the Buddy Rich and Count Basie models to encompass post-1960s Herbie Hancock, electric Miles Davis, Creed Taylor’s CTI Records catalog, and, on vocal selections, Sade.
Sade operates chiefly as an urban contemporary vocalist with jazz inflections, akin to Anita Baker, Samantha Siva, or Erykah Badu. Vera Westera’s contributions with the Groove Troopers reverse this balance, presenting jazz singing shaped by a pronounced R&B sensibility. Fondse deploys Westera selectively, much as Count Basie featured Joe Williams and Jimmy Rushing or Duke Ellington showcased Ivie Anderson. The result mixes vocal numbers with numerous instrumentals that allow band members extended solo space, enabling Fondse to spotlight either a horn player or the singer in the manner of Basie, Ellington, and Benny Goodman during the swing era.
Fondse launched the Groove Troopers in 2000 after an established Dutch career that included leading his own Martin Fondse Oktemble, an octet formed in 1992, and composing for cellist Ernst Reijseger, trumpeter Eric Vloeimans, and the Metropole Orchestra, one of Holland’s leading big bands. Alongside Fondse and vocalist Westera, the lineup has featured Maurits Fondse on acoustic piano, electric keyboards, and organ, Angelo Verploegen and Rink Swinkels on trumpet, Mete Erker on tenor sax, Miguel Boelens on alto and baritone sax, Guido Nijs on tenor sax, Louk Boudenteijn and Jeroen Rol on trombone, Eric van der Westen on acoustic and electric bass, Sander Hop on electric guitar, Jan Stavenuiter on drums and percussion, and Makki van Engelen on drums.
In late 2002 and early 2003 the ensemble recorded its debut album, Zoom Zoo, issued on JJ-Tracks, a label created in 2003 by Holland’s Challenge Records to explore territory beyond straight-ahead jazz.
Whereas most Dutch big bands concentrate on straight-ahead or avant-garde acoustic jazz, the Groove Troopers adopt a jazz-funk and crossover jazz perspective and incorporate electric instruments such as keyboards and electric bass. Their influences extend beyond the Buddy Rich and Count Basie models to encompass post-1960s Herbie Hancock, electric Miles Davis, Creed Taylor’s CTI Records catalog, and, on vocal selections, Sade.
Sade operates chiefly as an urban contemporary vocalist with jazz inflections, akin to Anita Baker, Samantha Siva, or Erykah Badu. Vera Westera’s contributions with the Groove Troopers reverse this balance, presenting jazz singing shaped by a pronounced R&B sensibility. Fondse deploys Westera selectively, much as Count Basie featured Joe Williams and Jimmy Rushing or Duke Ellington showcased Ivie Anderson. The result mixes vocal numbers with numerous instrumentals that allow band members extended solo space, enabling Fondse to spotlight either a horn player or the singer in the manner of Basie, Ellington, and Benny Goodman during the swing era.
Fondse launched the Groove Troopers in 2000 after an established Dutch career that included leading his own Martin Fondse Oktemble, an octet formed in 1992, and composing for cellist Ernst Reijseger, trumpeter Eric Vloeimans, and the Metropole Orchestra, one of Holland’s leading big bands. Alongside Fondse and vocalist Westera, the lineup has featured Maurits Fondse on acoustic piano, electric keyboards, and organ, Angelo Verploegen and Rink Swinkels on trumpet, Mete Erker on tenor sax, Miguel Boelens on alto and baritone sax, Guido Nijs on tenor sax, Louk Boudenteijn and Jeroen Rol on trombone, Eric van der Westen on acoustic and electric bass, Sander Hop on electric guitar, Jan Stavenuiter on drums and percussion, and Makki van Engelen on drums.
In late 2002 and early 2003 the ensemble recorded its debut album, Zoom Zoo, issued on JJ-Tracks, a label created in 2003 by Holland’s Challenge Records to explore territory beyond straight-ahead jazz.
Albums