Based in Honolulu, Groovology was formed during the pandemic. It comprises four talented and busy musicians: Aaron Aranita on woodwinds and piano, David Yamasaki on guitar, Ernie Provencher on bass, and Scott Shafer on drums. The four musicians perform their own fresh and original compositions on Almost Home with four composed by Aranita, two each by Shafer and Yamasaki, and one from Provencher. Due to the group’s high level of musicianship, Almost Home features an impressive variety that explores many moods and styles.
The set begins with the title cut which has a sweet melody and fine spots for tenor sax and guitar. “Mambosaki” features the group romping on a joyful mambo. Provencher’s bass lines and Aranita’s rhythmic piano set the foundation behind a complex theme leading to inspired improvisations by Yamasaki on guitar and Aranita on flute. Yamasaki’s “Groovology” is funky and infectious with Aranita playing colorfully on bass clarinet while Shafer’s “Bubbles the Clown” is a good-humored medium-tempo blues featuring a tradeoff between Aranita and Shafer.
“The Path,” an atmospheric contemporary piece in which Yamasaki sets a dreamy mood, is heard in two different yet complementary versions. Other selections include the energetic “Brisa Tropical,” the introspective but ultimately passionate “The Road Less Traveled,” a bluesy “Headroom,” and the slow but swinging strut, “Slybone.” Sandy Tsukiyama guests on the bossa nova, “Manoa,” singing with a happy spirit.
Aaron Aranita, a multi-talented musician who plays flute, tenor sax, bass clarinet, and piano, draws his inspiration from Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley, Hubert Laws, and Joe Farrell. Also a talented composer and arranger, Aranita has run his own label, Sugartown, for over 30 years and produced many recordings for others as well as his own impressive catalogue which includes Eastbound, Coolhead Jazz, Aaron Aranita Big Band, Rough Jazz, and Connection.
Guitarist David Yamasaki has recorded and performed with such notables as Tito Puente, Pete Escovedo, John Santos and the Machete Ensemble, Wayne Wallace, Louie Bellson, and Diane Schuur, and has written arrangements for Ramsey Lewis.
Bassist Ernie Provencher has performed everything from classical and jazz to salsa, Middle Eastern, and Balkan music. He has performed with Ray Bryant, Joanne Brackeen, Michael Franks, Eartha Kitt, Mick Taylor, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, and the Maui Pops Orchestra.
Drummer Scott Shafer plays a wide variety of styles and has worked with many musical theater productions and with Jazz Hawaii Big Band, Hawaiian Soul, Nalu Collective, eight0eight, and Stone Sounds.
The four musicians combine their talents to form Groovology, a highly appealing band that is heard in impressive form throughout.
1. Almost Home (Aaron Aranita) 5:38
2. Mambosaki (Aaron Aranita) 6:06
3. Groovology (David Yamasaki) 5:45
4. Bubbles The Clown (Scott Shafer) 6:44
5. The Path (David Yamasaki) 7:20
6. Brisa Tropical (Aaron Aranita) 6:50
7. The Road Less Traveled (Aaron Aranita) 7:05
8. Headroom (Scott Shafer) 5:46
9. Manoa (Music: Alberto Bessera, Lyrics: Carlinhos de Olivera) 5:33
1010. Slybone (Ernie Provencher) 7:04
1111. The Path (Extended Version) (David Yamasaki) 9:17
MUSICIANS: Aaron Aranita – Woodwinds, Piano, David Yamasaki – Guitar, Ernie Provencher – Bass, Scott Shafer – Drums, Sandra Tsukiyama – Vocals on “Manoa”