MK Groove Orchestra

“The NYC scenesters in The MK Groove Orchstra are the pin up boys for where big band music is heading. The band bops all over the map with brass knuckle brass and pornographic funk. The first time I heard this band my socks kept rolling up and down on their own.
The 10-odd piece band's progressively vintage sound is big and mind-blowingly cool. But hey, don't fence them in, as much as the classic big band wail of Goodman, Miller, Dorsey, Brown, Shaw et al was the soundtrack for a generation, The MK Groove Orchestra transcends timeline classification by goosing classic lushness with a contempo haphazardry - all the while brazenly staring down the apocalypse.
Often when jazz gets funked up it also gets smoothed out. But you don't have to worry about that here. MKGO exhibits raw realism with frayed edges. The horns build a Berlin Wall of jazzy sour to counter the groove's sweet. And the electric guitar shows up occasionally as if in the passing lane.
So despite the backbreaking funk and their reverent big big band irreverence, MKGO is still a jazz band at heart - a jazz band that can't sit still, like an 8 - year old with a chocolate saxophone.”

-Frank De Blase, City Greater Rochester's alternative newsweekly Music - This Weeks short takes March 23-29 2005
- City-Greater Rochester's alt news weekly

“Hailing from NYC, this ten-plus piece collective is making a name for themselves in the underground jazz-funk-fusion scene. Incorporating heavy funk textures with jazz melodies and lots of explosive horns, MK Groove have enticed audiences throughout the area with their head bobbing horn driven funk. Their horn players are out of this world, as is their composition skills and instrumentation. Reminiscent of the incarnation of Soulive that boasted several horns and an immensity of sound, they bring the funk with them and make it nasty while they're at it.”
- The Revolving Door

“Comprised of a rotating ensemble of approximately 13 members, they encompass a massive entirety of sound. Possessing 8 horns, MK Groove can become full-blown chaotic polyphony one moment and straight funk the next. Flexibility and resourcefulness characterize this young band with a tremendous knack for song writing and structure and the often difficult task of improvising in a large band setting.” - The Spectrum, University of Buffallo

“A friends father is noted in my circle for one of many infamous quotes, this one uttered whenever we'd try to turn him on to whatever weirdo rock we were hot on at the time: “It's not too bad, son, but where are the horns?”
This always brought howl of laughter, not least beause he, a veteran of years with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, wasn't exactly being objective about his love for trumpets, 'bones and saxophones. I, however, think if we tried to turn him on to New York City's MK Groove Orchestra, it would be a short leap for him to hop on board the bandwagon.
At any given time, there are some five horns filling out the orchestra's sound, as it veers from polyphonic abstraction to full-on, in your face funk, with most of the broad expanse in between falling under a jazz umbrella.
The rotation cast, usually in the area of 13 members, plays songs with nifty - and revealing - titles like “Jamband Sweet part 1 & 2,” “Afro Cuban americana,” and “Tomo's Tenacious Trio of Masked Marauders,” which is a Zappa -esque conceit, both in terms of text and music. This is brave, funny, ambitious and incredibly well - played stuff, the sort of music that fits neatly into no one genre - specific cubby hole.”

-Jeff Miers, News Pop Music Critic, Gusto March 25, 2005 - Buffallo
- Buffallo Gusto

“New york City's MK Groove Orchestra is making an impact on the jazz-funk-fusion scene with a 14 piece big band collective. The brains behind the band, Mike Kammers, sought refuge in NY in 2001, meeting musicians of every type while attending the New School for music performance. The ultimate result is a huge band, talent a - plenty, that showcases the most influential aspect of Kammers' musical life - the big band.
Individually, the members represent a well - seasoned group of musicians that are quickly rising to the top of the jazz scene. Collectively, this band showcases talent and diversity. Their combination of underground chic and passion for one of the first American pop music traditions has created a refreshingly new musical format, one that can be embraced by both jazz aficionados and fans of contemporary pop genres alike.”

-Freetime Rochester March 16th - 30th

- Freetime - Rochester