Groovopolis

Guitarist Chris Cortez spent the 80's and 90's primarily as a sideman, accompanying musicians as varied as Herbie Mann and Lou Rawls. But as a composer, he was a highly praised secret, often getting more critical recognition than anything else. But after releasing several solo CDs, he put together Groovopolis, a collaboration featuring trumpet player Jay Webb, bassist Lenny DiMartino, keyboardist Dan Fransen, and drummer Jeff Mills. Expanding on their influences and giving artists like Cab Calloway and Sun Ra an update via psychedelic rock and acid jazz, Groovopolis still managed to craft a rhythmic and catchy sound that offered all of these various flourishes without committing to any one specific genre. Their debut record appeared in the fall of 2002. ~ Bradley Torreano