Written July 2003

The Band

The idea of a tight and groovy retro jazz funk/rare groove band was originally formed in the mind of Rob Booth back around March of 1998 having spent the previous year writing an original set and fronting “Spiral Out” an interesting but ill fated crossover of Britpop and Pop Rock (Kula Shaker meets Pink Floyd) that no one wanted to listen to.

Prior to this an eight piece band aptly called The Funk Zone had enjoyed almost two and a half years of gigs and laughs, finally coming to an end due to the usual politics associated with a large bands.

Although this was an untimely demise it did produce a certain “Mr Phil Harris”, Sax man (who incidentally also played in Spiral Out) and “all the way from Wareham” Mr David Hooper”, Bass man (who was also asked to play in Spiral Out, but declined…sensible man!).

In May 1998 after several auditions for drums and keys, Groove O Matic Deluxe finally hit the shops (well, the Ship pub in Christchurch actually) with about a dozen numbers to the set, half of which were old Funk Zone arrangements. Little did we know it at the time but drummer Adam Betts, (then at the tender age of 18) would be one of the fundamental influences on the overall feel of the bands live performances. Keys player Gavin Underhill joined a week later and gigged till August, finally leaving the band (with gigs in hand) for a place at Leeds University to study music.

With no keys and therefore no performable set, Dave suggested that Rob got in touch with a certain Keys player name of Dean Baker whom he had formed a band with (just about the same time as Spiral Out was conceived) and that this bloke was a good player and had “loads of kit”. Rob did the spiel and the already busy Mr Baker succumbed to the patter and decided to give it a go saying “but I’ve never done any jazz improvisation before”. Swift was the reply of “you'll pick it up” and the ensuing delivery of the whole set on tape to the Baker household with 3 weeks and 4 days to go before the next gig date. Rob then promptly went on a three-week tour of the Greek Islands leaving Phil to deal with any “queries” that Mr Baker might possibly raise.

On Robs return, a panicky Dean Baker phoned him saying that he hadn’t realised that there would be so much to learn and reminded him that he had “never done any jazz improvisation before”. Rob did the spiel (again), Dean played the Gig and whilst packing away his “loads of kit” remarked that he hadn’t had so much fun in ages…. or words to that effect. He was offered the position and accepted there and then, the line up was complete and the rest as they say is history….this was September 1998.

In September of 2002, Adam Betts left us for The Royal Academy of Music to study for a Jazz Degree. We wish him well and he still turns up to the odd gig like the proverbial bad penny to sit-in and show us how it’s done. Prior to Adams departure, our now Drummer “the Fabulous Peter Mundy” known to the band through Dean was approached to bridge the impending gap. He did around eight dep jobs for Adam having learnt the entire set from scratch and now enjoys the full time hot seat with the band bringing his own style and enthusiasm to our sound.

Groove O Matic Deluxe is five years old this September.

click here to read a resume on the band